Ride & Drive: 2015 Chevrolet Trax
This week, I had the opportunity to evaluate the 2015 Chevrolet Trax, an all-new vehicle in the lineup and Chevy's seventh small-vehicle launch in the past four years.
Marketed as an urban crossover vehicle, the five-passenger small SUV is available in front- or all-wheel drive configurations.
While it provides comfortable seating for five, it also provides up to 48.4 cubic feet of available cargo area with the rear seats folded flat (18.7 cubic feet with the rear seats in use). With the front passenger seat folded, you can even fit an 8-foot surfboard inside.
With a base price starting at $20,995, the Trax is designed to deliver the versatility of an SUV, with the car-like handling of a compact car: well-suited for city driving.
The 1.4-liter turbocharged I-4 engine is ideally suited for the task. Mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, it has an EPA fuel economy rating of 26 mpg city, 34 mpg highway using regular unleaded gasoline.
Designed to go head-to-head with the Nissan Juke and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, the Trax is ideal for consumers who want the versatility of an SUV but don't need a large, full-size vehicle and the operational costs that go along with it.
While the 1.4-liter turbo I-4 produces plenty of torque to quickly propel the Trax up to freeway cruising speed, it is not designed for towing. It is designed for folks who spend most of their time driving in town, yet well-suited for weekend outings.
Standard features include 15 interior storage compartments and Chevrolet MyLink Infotainment with a 7-inch color touch screen. Trax's next-generation MyLink provides easy, intuitive operation of basic functions, and is highly customizable and capable of linking devices such as smartphones and MP3 players. The system includes Bluetooth streaming for audio and select phone, as well as Pandora, TuneIn radio and Stitcher.
It also comes with standard OnStar with 4G LTE and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, providing a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected.
Other features include Siri Eyes Free for iPhone, enabling voice-controlled connectivity so customers can keep phones stored and their hands on the wheel. Trax is also the first vehicle in its class to offer Siri Eyes Free.
The upper trim levels also offer BringGo navigation app and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. The BringGo app brings smartphone-enabled navigation that can be displayed on the large MyLink screen — including the touchscreen to control the navigation.
I was also impressed with the long, long list of standard safety features, which include eight airbags, standard rearview camera, electronic stability control with traction control and anti-lock brakes, to list but a few.
I'm impressed with the Chevrolet Trax. For those in the market for a small crossover utility, I highly recommend it for a test drive.
Neal White has been covering the automotive industry for more than 20 years and is affiliated with the Texas Auto Writers Association. Contact Neal at neal.white@waxahachietx.com.
THE NUTS AND BOLTS
MODEL: 2015 Chevrolet Trax 5-seat small crossover Front-, or all-wheel drive Trim packages: LS, LT, LTZ
PRICE RANGE: $21,000-$28,000
ENGINE: 1.4L turbo I4 (138 hp/148 torque)
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic
EPA: 26 mpg city, 34 mpg highway
FUEL: Regular unleaded
STABILITY CONTROL: StabiliTrak stability control with traction control and rollover mitigation
BRAKES: ABS
LENGTH: 168.5 inches
WHEELBASE: 100.6 inches
WIDTH: 69.9 inches
HEIGHT: 65.9 inches
WEIGHT: 3,048-3,340 pounds
TRACK: 60.6/60.6 (front/rear)
FUEL TANK: 14 gallons
TIRES: 16- or 18-inch
CARGO: 18.7/48.4 cubic feet (behind second/first row)