The Chevy Trax is the least expensive SUV Chevrolet sells, and since its 2024 redesign it is no longer the cramped little runabout the name used to describe. It grew almost a foot longer, gained a genuinely usable back seat, and landed at a starting price that undercuts nearly every competitor in the segment. There is one catch that decides the purchase for a lot of Bergen County shoppers, and we will get to it in the first thirty seconds.
This guide covers the full trim ladder, the single engine and what it actually feels like on Route 17, real-world fuel economy, how the Trax compares to its closest rivals, and who should be looking at a Trailblazer instead.
Bottom Line: The Trax is the right call for commuters, first-time buyers, and two-car households that want a new SUV with a warranty for close to used-car money.
- Starts near $21,500 - among the lowest entry prices of any new SUV in America
- 25.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats, more than some compact SUVs a size up
- 11-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay standard on every trim
- Front-wheel drive only - there is no AWD Trax at any price
What’s in This Guide
- Trax Overview and Generations
- Trim Levels at a Glance
- The 1.2L Turbo Explained
- Which Trax Trim Is the Best Value?
- Trax vs. Trailblazer: The AWD Question
- Trax vs. Kicks vs. Venue
- Real-World Fuel Economy
- Is the Trax a Good First Car?
- Five-Year Cost of Ownership
- Buying a Certified Pre-Owned Trax
- Why Bergen County Drivers Choose the Trax
- Why Buy at Paramus Chevrolet
- Frequently Asked Questions
Trax Overview and Generations
The current Trax is the second generation, launched for the 2024 model year and carrying into 2026 with only minor changes. The redesign was not a facelift. Chevrolet stretched the wheelbase to 106.3 inches and the overall length to roughly 178 inches, which is about eleven inches longer than the outgoing car.
That growth changed what the vehicle is for. The first-generation Trax was a tall, narrow city car with a back seat that adults tolerated for short trips. The current one seats four adults without complaint and carries 25.6 cubic feet behind the second row.
Chevrolet also dropped the old model’s optional all-wheel drive. That is the single most consequential decision in the car, and it is the reason the price starts where it does. Trax now competes on space and equipment per dollar rather than on capability.
The typical Trax buyer falls into one of three groups. First-time buyers and recent graduates who want a new vehicle with a factory warranty instead of a used car with unknown history. Commuters who put miles on a car daily and want the fuel economy without stepping down to a sedan. And two-car households buying a second vehicle for errands, school runs, and the drive to the Ridgewood or Hackensack train station.
What separates it from the rest of the segment is interior room relative to price. Competitors either match the price and give up space, or match the space and cost several thousand dollars more.
What Changed in the 2024 Redesign
The outgoing Trax rode on a platform shared with the Buick Encore and felt every inch of its compact footprint. The current car moved to GM’s VSS-F architecture, the same basic underpinnings as the Trailblazer.
Rear legroom went up by roughly three inches and cargo volume behind the second row improved substantially. The driving position also dropped slightly, which makes the car feel more planted than the tippy first generation did.
Chevrolet simultaneously simplified the equipment strategy. The 11-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and the full Chevy Safety Assist suite became standard on every trim rather than option-package upgrades.
Where the Trax Sits in Chevy’s SUV Range
Trax is the entry point. Above it sit the Trailblazer, then the Equinox, then the Blazer, with the three-row Traverse above those.
The practical dividing line is all-wheel drive and towing. Everything from Trailblazer up offers AWD; the Trax does not, and only the Equinox and larger have a meaningful tow rating.
Trim Levels at a Glance
Five trims, one engine, one transmission. The ladder is about equipment and appearance rather than performance, which makes the decision unusually simple.
| Trim | Approx. MSRP | What It Adds |
|---|---|---|
| LS | $21,495 | 11-inch screen, wireless CarPlay, full safety suite |
| 1RS | $22,700 | Black exterior accents, 18-inch wheels, sport styling |
| ✓ LT | $23,400 | Heated seats, keyless entry, alloy wheels, driver display |
| 2RS | $24,600 | LT content plus RS appearance, 19-inch wheels, sunroof available |
| ACTIV | $24,900 | Rugged styling, unique grille, all-terrain look, roof rails |
Every Trax includes Chevy Safety Assist - automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, forward collision alert, and following distance indicator - with no upcharge. That is not universal at this price.
Read our full guide: every 2026 Chevy Trax trim compared, LS through ACTIV
The 1.2L Turbo Explained
There is one powertrain: a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder making 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, driving the front wheels through a six-speed automatic.
Three cylinders sounds alarming on paper and is unremarkable in practice. The torque peak arrives at 2,500 rpm, which is where you actually drive in Bergen County traffic. Pulling away from a light on Route 4 or merging onto the Garden State Parkway from a short ramp, it does the job without drama.
Where you notice the deficit is a full car climbing a long grade, or a highway pass at 70 mph that needs to happen right now. The Trax is not slow so much as unhurried, and buyers stepping out of a V6 will feel it.
The six-speed automatic is worth a word of praise. Most rivals use a continuously variable transmission, and the Trax’s conventional gearbox simply feels more natural in stop-and-go driving.
Which Trax Trim Is the Best Value?
The LT is the trim to buy. It is the first rung with heated front seats, keyless entry with push-button start, and the configurable driver information display, and it lands under $24,000.
The 1RS below it is an appearance package on the LS - you get black trim and bigger wheels but keep the cloth-and-crank-key experience. In a Bergen County winter, heated seats are not a luxury item.
Above the LT, the 2RS and ACTIV are styling choices rather than capability upgrades. Both drive identically to the LT. Buy them because you prefer how they look, not because you expect more vehicle.
Trax vs. Trailblazer: The AWD Question
This is the decision most Trax shoppers actually face, and it comes down to one specification. The Trax cannot be ordered with all-wheel drive. The Trailblazer can.
The two are closely related and priced within a few thousand dollars of each other. The Trailblazer is slightly shorter but taller, offers a second engine option, and gives up a little cargo room to the Trax.
If you park on a hill in Ridgewood, commute through unplowed side streets in February, or simply want the traction, the Trailblazer is the correct vehicle and the extra spend is justified. If your winter driving is Route 17 and the Parkway - roads that are plowed and salted before dawn - a front-wheel-drive Trax on proper winter tires handles a New Jersey winter perfectly well.
Read our full guide: Chevy Trax vs. Chevy Trailblazer for Bergen County drivers
Trax vs. Kicks vs. Venue
The Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue are the Trax’s natural rivals, and all three are front-drive subcompacts built to a price.
The Trax wins on size and screen. Its 11-inch touchscreen is the largest of the three and standard across the range, and its rear seat and cargo hold are meaningfully bigger than the Venue’s.
The Kicks counters with slightly better fuel economy and a strong reliability record. The Venue undercuts both on price but is noticeably smaller inside and slower on the highway.
Read our full guide: Chevy Trax vs. Nissan Kicks vs. Hyundai Venue compared
Real-World Fuel Economy
EPA figures are 28 city and 32 highway, for 30 combined. Those numbers are realistic rather than optimistic, which is not always true of small turbocharged engines.
Mixed Bergen County driving lands most owners between 28 and 31 mpg. A commute that is mostly Route 17 and Route 4 with traffic lights sits at the lower end; a steady Parkway run to the George Washington Bridge does better.
The Trax takes regular 87 octane and holds 13.2 gallons, which works out to roughly 380 to 400 miles of usable range per tank.
Read our full guide: what Bergen County Trax owners actually get for fuel economy
Is the Trax a Good First Car?
For a new or newly licensed driver, the Trax makes a strong case. The full Chevy Safety Assist suite is standard on the base trim, so a first-time driver gets automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist without a parent negotiating up a trim ladder.
Insurance is the quiet advantage. A 137-horsepower front-drive SUV rates far more kindly than a turbocharged sedan or a used performance car at the same purchase price.
The honest caveat is the same one that runs through this guide - no all-wheel drive. For a teenager driving to school in Fair Lawn on a snowy morning, a set of dedicated winter tires is not optional.
Read our full guide: is the Chevy Trax a good first car for a Bergen County family?
Five-Year Cost of Ownership
Purchase price is only the opening figure. Over five years, the Trax’s low fuel consumption, modest insurance rates, and inexpensive routine maintenance compound into real savings.
Depreciation is the line item to watch. Inexpensive vehicles tend to lose a smaller absolute dollar amount than expensive ones, but a larger percentage.
Run your own numbers with our five-year cost of ownership calculator before you commit to a payment.
Read our full guide: total cost of owning a Chevy Trax for five years
Buying a Certified Pre-Owned Trax
Because the current Trax only arrived for 2024, the certified pre-owned pool is still young - which is good news. Most CPO examples are two to three years old with low mileage and plenty of factory warranty remaining.
GM’s CPO program adds a 172-point inspection, a 6-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty from original in-service date, and 12 months of scheduled maintenance.
Read our full guide: buying a certified pre-owned Chevy Trax at Paramus Chevrolet
Why Bergen County Drivers Choose the Trax
Parking decides more purchases here than horsepower does. At just under 178 inches, the Trax slots into the tight decks at Garden State Plaza and the street spaces around downtown Hackensack that defeat a midsize SUV.
The Route 17 and Route 4 commute is the second reason. Bergen County driving is short bursts between lights rather than sustained highway cruising, and a small turbo engine with a conventional automatic suits that pattern well.
Third is the last-mile trip to NJ Transit. Plenty of Ridgewood, Fair Lawn, and Paramus households want a dependable second vehicle for the station run and the weekend errand loop without a second large payment.
If you need a third row or serious towing, look at our guide to the best three-row SUVs for family duty instead.
Why Buy at Paramus Chevrolet
Paramus Chevrolet sits on Route 17 and serves Paramus, Hackensack, Ridgewood, and Fair Lawn. Buying a Trax here comes with the VIP+ program, which is the reason a lot of customers come back for a second and third vehicle.
VIP+ includes lifetime complimentary oil changes and tire rotations for as long as you own the vehicle. On a car driven daily by a commuter, that is a meaningful annual saving rather than a marketing line.
The program also covers free loaner vehicles during service, so a scheduled visit does not cost you a day of work. Our technicians are factory-certified on the 1.2L turbo and the Trax’s electrical architecture.
The buying process is transparent and unhurried. You will get straight answers about trim differences and the front-wheel-drive question rather than a push toward the most expensive car on the lot.
"The Trax surprises people. They come in expecting a penalty box at that price and they sit in the back seat and change their mind. The one thing I always tell them up front is that it's front-drive only - if they need all-wheel drive, I walk them over to a Trailblazer instead of selling them the wrong car."
General Manager, Paramus Chevrolet
Browse our new Chevy Trax inventory or schedule a test drive to see one in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Chevy Trax come with all-wheel drive?
No. The current-generation Trax is front-wheel drive only, on every trim from LS to ACTIV. If you need AWD in a small Chevy SUV, the Trailblazer is the model to look at.
Is the Trax big enough for a family of four?
Yes, for most families. The 106.3-inch wheelbase gives adults usable rear legroom, and 25.6 cubic feet behind the second row handles a stroller or a full grocery run.
How much does a Chevy Trax cost at Paramus Chevrolet?
The LS starts near $21,495 and a loaded ACTIV or 2RS lands around $25,000 before options. Current inventory and pricing is the fastest way to see real numbers.
Trax or Trailblazer - which should I buy?
Buy the Trailblazer if you want all-wheel drive or a second engine choice. Buy the Trax if you want more interior room and cargo space for less money and can live with front-wheel drive.
Is a three-cylinder engine reliable?
GM’s 1.2L turbo three-cylinder has been in service across several models since 2020 with no systemic issues. Routine oil changes on schedule matter more on a small turbo engine than on a larger naturally aspirated one.
What does the Trax cost to insure compared to a sedan?
Generally less than a comparably priced sedan. Modest horsepower, front-wheel drive, and a full standard safety suite all work in your favor with underwriters.
Is a certified pre-owned Trax worth it over a new one?
Often yes, if you find a 2024 or 2025 example. The savings are real and GM’s CPO warranty runs 6 years or 100,000 miles from the original in-service date.
Can the Trax tow anything?
No. Chevrolet does not publish a tow rating for the Trax and it should not be used for towing. If you need to pull a trailer, step up to an Equinox or larger.
Find Your Trax at VIP Automotive Group
Ready to drive one? The VIP+ program - lifetime oil changes, free tire rotations, and loaner vehicles during service - comes with every Chevrolet we sell.
Browse new Trax inventory, check our certified pre-owned Chevrolet selection, or contact us to schedule a test drive.