“I wish there was a way for the customers to tell you how to make a better vehicle for the average person. Sort of like take features from well known vehicles with excellent ratings and add to new vehicles. There were features on the Chevy Cruze that I miss on the Chevy Trax.”
Chevrolet Trax: Trims, Generations & Buyer's Guide
Last updated August 13, 2026
The Chevrolet Trax is a compact five-seat SUV known for affordable everyday transportation, useful interior space, and easy phone connectivity. It is aimed at drivers who want more room and versatility than a sedan without moving to a larger SUV.
The Trax has always been Chevrolet’s entry-level small SUV, built around straightforward value and city-friendly dimensions. Its first generation kept things simple and offered all-wheel drive, while the 2024 redesign brought a roomier, more modern cabin, more standard safety technology, and front-wheel drive only. Across both generations, the main idea has stayed the same: provide practical SUV space without unnecessary size or complexity.
Strengths
- Its small size and straightforward layout make it well suited to commuting and city driving.
- The redesigned generation has useful room for people, including 38.7 inches of rear legroom in 2026.
- Cargo space is practical for a small SUV, reaching 54.1 cubic feet in the 2026 model with the rear seats folded.
- Recent models make phone use simple with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- The 2024-and-newer Trax includes a standard suite of driver-assistance features.
- The 2026 front-wheel-drive Trax is rated at 28 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
Who it's for
The Trax suits first-time owners, commuters, and small families who need an easy everyday vehicle with room for passengers, groceries, or weekend gear. Newer models make the most sense for shoppers who value modern screens, phone connectivity, and standard driver assistance, while older models may appeal to buyers who need all-wheel drive.
Chevrolet Trax lineup
LS is the straightforward entry trim and is the one to pick when keeping things simple matters most. LT has traditionally been the step up for added everyday convenience, while the older Premier sat at the top with more comfort and safety equipment. Since the 2024 redesign, the lineup has also included 1RS, ACTIV, and 2RS alongside LS and LT, giving used shoppers more trim choices within the same basic front-wheel-drive formula. Equipment varies by year, so similarly named trims from the two generations should not be treated as identical.
Chevrolet Trax generations
From 2015 to 2026, the Trax spans two generations. The current 2nd Generation arrived for 2024, following the 1st Generation (2015–2022).
2nd Generation (2024–Present)
This redesign made the Trax longer, lower, and wider, with a roomier, more modern cabin and more standard safety technology. Every version uses a 1.2-liter turbo engine, a six-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive.
747 In Stock
2026
Largely carries over with the same five trims, engine, safety features, and technology.
2025
Carries over the 2024 design, five-trim lineup, and standard driver-assistance features.
2024New generation
All-new, larger design with five trims, a modernized cabin, more standard safety technology, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
1st Generation (2015–2022)
The first U.S. Trax was a small SUV with a 1.4-liter turbo engine, a six-speed automatic transmission, and front- or all-wheel drive. A substantial 2017 update brought new styling, a redesigned dashboard, and newer touchscreen features.
193 In Stock
2022
A stronger 155-horsepower 1.4-liter turbo engine became standard across the lineup.
2021Trim changes
The Premier trim left the lineup, leaving LS and LT. Some late-built examples received the stronger engine later standardized for 2022.
2020
Carries over with LS, LT, and Premier trims and no significant lineup-wide updates.
2019
No meaningful equipment or engineering changes.
2018
Every trim received newer touchscreen software. Premier gained standard forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and a sunroof.
2017Mid-cycle update
Refreshed exterior styling, a redesigned dashboard, newer touchscreen features, and a standard rearview camera. LTZ was renamed Premier.
2016
Carries over from 2015 with the same three trims, engine, transmission, and front- or all-wheel drive.
2015New generation
First U.S. model year, with LS, LT, and LTZ trims, a standard touchscreen and rearview camera, and front- or all-wheel drive.
What's new by year
See what changed in a specific model year of the Chevrolet Trax.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of vehicle is the Chevrolet Trax?
The Chevrolet Trax is a small, five-seat SUV aimed at city driving, commuting, first-time ownership, and small-family use. It gives you more passenger and cargo flexibility than a sedan without moving up to a larger SUV.
Does the Chevrolet Trax come as a hybrid?
No. The Chevrolet Trax covered here uses gasoline engines, not a hybrid system. Newer models use a 1.2-liter turbo engine, while first-generation models use a 1.4-liter turbo engine.
Does the Chevrolet Trax have all-wheel drive?
It depends on the generation. First-generation Trax models were sold with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Since the 2024 redesign, every Trax has front-wheel drive only, so shoppers who need AWD should focus on older examples.
How many people fit in a Chevrolet Trax?
The Chevrolet Trax seats five people. In the newer generation, rear legroom is 38.7 inches, and folding the rear seats opens up as much as 54.1 cubic feet of cargo space.
Who is the Chevrolet Trax a good fit for?
The Chevrolet Trax suits commuters, first-time SUV owners, and small families who want an easy-to-manage vehicle with useful interior room. It makes sense when a sedan feels limiting but a larger SUV feels unnecessary.
How many generations of Chevrolet Trax are there?
There are two U.S. generations. The first ran from 2015 through 2022. Chevrolet skipped the 2023 U.S. model year, then introduced the larger and more modern second generation for 2024.
What is the main difference between older and newer Chevrolet Trax models?
Newer Trax models are larger, roomier, and more modern inside. The 2024 redesign added a five-trim lineup, standard phone connectivity and safety features, and front-wheel drive only. Older models are smaller and were offered with AWD.
Is the Chevrolet Trax powerful?
The Chevrolet Trax is tuned for everyday driving rather than strong acceleration. Newer models use a 137-horsepower 1.2-liter turbo engine and six-speed automatic. Late first-generation models use a stronger 155-horsepower 1.4-liter turbo engine.
Chevrolet Trax Reviews
What owners are saying about the Chevrolet Trax.
4.0
Chevrolet Trax
(2,534 reviews)
“I absolutely love my Chevy Trax. It fits me perfectly, doesn't burn much gas, the body of the vehicle is nice and compact, and it drives really well.”
“This vehicle is reliable and family oriented and great on gas! I recommend this vehicle for anyone who loves driving as much as I do.”
“With the new vehicle, the driving visibility is not as good as I'd like it to be.”
“I have the 2017 Chevy Trax and I absolutely love the SUV style, is big enough and also small enough (easy to manage). Gas mileage is great also, but sometimes I do have a difficult time connecting my phone. This could simply be a needed update, but I'm unsure.”
“Love the vehicle, but it desperately needs an automatic liftgate. Even a button inside the vehicle or on the fob to unlock would be great, but is missing. Also the display for setting cruise control speed is too small to read at a glance.”