Compact SUV; Built in South Korea
  • 4-door wagon
Good condition price range: $13,700 – $20,600*


2015 Chevrolet Trax LTZ


2015 Chevrolet Trax LTZ


2015 Chevrolet Trax LTZ


2015 Chevrolet Trax LTZ

Pros:
  • Maneuverability in close quarters
  • Quietness
  • Ride
Cons:
  • Acceleration
  • Cargo room
  • Rear-seat room

The subcompact SUV segment was growing fast, and Chevrolet had a compelling entry in the class.

Overview

Chevrolet gained a new compact SUV for 2015. Actually, subcompact SUV is more like it… the Chevrolet Trax was about 10 inches shorter and 2 inches narrower than the Ford Escape compact SUV. Trax shared its basic design with the Buick Encore, but it had less-luxurious trimmings and a more mainstream feel. Trax’s ultra-compact dimensions made for tight rear-seat space and limited cargo versatility compared to larger vehicles. However, Trax also boasted outstanding close-quarters maneuverability and usefully tall driving position that made it exceptionally easy to drive and park.

Yearly Updates

Engines

Trax had one engine when introduced; a turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder with 138 horsepower. A 6-speed automatic was the sole transmission. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive were available.

Turbocharged ohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 1.4/83
Engine HP 138
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 148
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic

24/31

30

Road Test

Size-wise, Trax is about 10 inches shorter and 2 inches narrower than the popular Ford Escape. For those driving in an urban environment, that’s a plus. Predictably, we found the Trax to be very maneuverable, thanks not only to its tidy dimensions, but also to a turning circle that’s 2 feet tighter than that of the Escape. Although its smaller size would imply that the Trax is short on passenger and cargo space, that’s not exactly the case. There’s plenty of head and leg room up front. However, the rear has limited knee room. There isn’t much cargo room behind the back seat, but folding the rear seat creates a nearly flat and level load floor. Furthermore, the front seat back can also be folded flat, resulting in a long channel that can accommodate 8-foot lengths. There’s also some under-floor storage in back along with a small side pocket. Impressive as that is, it pales next to the interior storage space. Chevrolet claims there are 15 “clever and convenient storage areas.” We’re not sure what’s included in that total, but we can say that within reach of the driver are (deep breath) a large lower glovebox, a small upper one with Aux and USB plugs, a covered dashtop bin, twin vertical bins flanking the audio/climate controls (great for sunglasses), a forward console bin with 12-volt plug, four console cupholders, a flip-out left-side dash bin, small bins beneath the door armrests, and the expected map pockets below. Furthermore, all but the door bins have cushioned bottoms to help prevent stuff from rattling. The only oversight is the lack of a center console, though that may be due to space limitations in the narrow cabin.

By contrast, visibility is just … okay. Front and side roof pillars are of moderate width, so they don’t block a lot, but the rear pillars are quite thick; thankfully, a rearview camera is standard. Underway, the aforementioned retractable rear headrests really help unclutter the view straight back. However, when rotated to the sides, the sun visors don’t extend to fully cover the side windows, a rather odd omission. Audio and climate controls are quite handy and easy to use. Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system with 7-inch touchscreen is standard, and it’s simple enough to adjust. Also standard is OnStar assistance system with 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, but—in a sign of the times—not a CD player. Available features include Siri Eyes Free for voice commands and Chevy’s BrinGo navigation, the latter of which replaces an expensive navigation system with a low-cost app that allows you to use your cell phone’s navigation capabilities through the car’s screen and controls. Climate is adjusted using three simple rotary knobs—a somewhat “old fashioned” but highly practical layout we wish more cars employed.

Like the Buick Encore, the only powertrain offered on the Trax is a 138-horsepower 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is available as a reasonable $1500 option. While this combination offers adequate acceleration, it suffers the usual “turbo lag” both from a stop and when stabbing the throttle at speed; in both cases, it takes a beat before power comes on strongly. The upside is that the small engine provides impressive EPA fuel-economy ratings: 26 city/34 highway with front-wheel drive, roughly 2-3 mpg less with all-wheel drive. Combined with a 14-gallon fuel tank, that makes for a hypothetical freeway cruising range of well over 400 miles either way. Equipping the Trax with a turbocharged engine is a relatively expensive proposition, and to keep prices competitive, that money had to come from somewhere. And that “somewhere” is partly interior materials. The door armrests are not so much padded as just flexible, and those are the softest surfaces you’ll find aside from the fold-down armrests. However, some silver trim and an available two-tone treatment help keep the cabin from looking “cheap.” We drove two versions of the Trax: a base front-drive LS and a top-line all-wheel-drive LTZ. Between them is the LT, which is expected to be the most popular model. The LS rode quite well—at least over what count as “bumps” on San Diego roads (imperfections that are laughably minor by Chicago standards)—but the LTZ was somewhat stiffer. According to Chevrolet, that’s strictly due to tire choice; the LS has 16-inchers on steel wheels, while the LTZ rides on lower-profile 18s on alloy wheels. (The mid-line LT uses 16s on alloy wheels.) In return, the LTZ has a bit quicker steering response, but we’re not sure that’s a good tradeoff for most drivers.

Trax is well equipped with automatic transmission, air conditioning, power windows and mirrors, and remote power locks. It also includes some unexpected niceties such as a compass, Bluetooth wireless cell-phone link, and driver-seat power lumbar adjustment. On the safety front, Trax impresses with 10 standard air bags, including unusual-for-the-class rear-side airbags.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2015 Chevrolet Trax

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 4
40%
Fuel Economy - 8
80%
Ride Quality - 6
60%
Steering/Handling - 6
60%
Quietness - 7
70%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 4
40%
Room/Comfort Front - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Rear - 4
40%
Cargo Room - 7
70%

Other

Value - 6
60%

Total: 59

Specifications

4-door wagon
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
100.6 168.5 69.9 65.9 3048
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
48.4 14.0 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.6 38.8 40.8 35.7
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2015 Trax 4-door wagon

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Front Passenger Injury - 5
100%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Rear Passenger Injury - 5
100%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

None
Description:

Recall History

2015 Trax
Description: Faulty software may cause radio to cease functioning. Because of this, there would be no warning chimes to buckle seat belt or remove key from ignition when exiting vehicle.
2015 Trax
Description: The tire placards on some vehicles do not include wheel-rim size.
2015 Trax
Description: The steering column assembly may rub against the power steering circuit board and cause a sudden loss of power steering assist.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

Share this: