Prototype Drive
Originally designed for Europe and currently sold in Mexico and Canada, the Chevrolet Trax will soon be offered in the U.S. Pitted against affordable small crossovers such as the Kia Soul, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, and Nissan Juke, the Trax is designed to appeal to an audience that places a priority on style, connectivity, and practicality a bit more than on driving dynamics. This “youth focused” Chevrolet is the sister model of the Buick Encore, and it shares the Buick’s chassis and powertrain. Assuming a position in Chevrolet’s pricing structure below the larger Equinox, the Trax will likely slot in near the $20,000 point like the Juke and Outlander Sport. That will make it much cheaper than the Encore, which commands $25,085 to start.
Like the Buick, the Trax has a single engine choice: a turbocharged, port-fuel-injected, 1.4-liter four that produces 148 lb-ft of torque at 1850 rpm. It doesn’t reach its peak power of 138 horsepower until the crankshaft is spinning at 4900 rpm. The smoothness of this powerplant begins to wane just before 5000 rpm, at which point the noise and the character turn unpleasant and stay that way to the 6500-rpm redline. However, this engine—also shared with the lighter Sonic sedan and hatchback—is reasonably responsive, and its turbocharger operates with little lag. Unfortunately, it provides less punch than you might hope for, and the 0-to-60 estimate of 9.2 seconds—for the quickest and lightest front-wheel-drive configuration—is pretty poky.
The only available transmission is the six-speed 6T40 Hydra-Matic, which can take its sweet time to downshift. Upshifts and downshifts can be manually commanded via a tap shift switch that is awkwardly positioned atop the console-mounted shift lever. Front-wheel drive is standard, and a variable all-wheel-drive system is optional. The AWD system adds a couple hundred pounds to the curb weight, with vehicles so equipped tipping the scales at an estimated 3300 pounds.
Trax-ster, Yes. Track Star, No.
As you might expect for a general-purpose vehicle, the Trax understeers solidly. Its light-effort, rack-mounted electric power steering, however, provides ample feedback, and this little crossover SUV remains composed even on bumpy roads. It does a good job of shielding its occupants from bumps and uneven surfaces. Clearly, the Trax is tuned to please the nonenthusiast driver and to get passengers from point A to point B in safety and relative comfort.
These passengers will appreciate the generous interior space. The Trax is short, spanning a mere 168.5 inches nose to tail, but it’s tall, at 65.9 inches. At 69.9 inches, it is relatively wide. As a result, the cabin feels roomy and airy, and there’s ample room for four aboard. Cargo volume with all seats raised is generous at 18.7 cubic feet, and it can be expanded to 48.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. And even though visibility is good, the Trax enhances it with a standard rearview camera, but we wish the trajectory lines swiveled with steering angle.
Packed with Tech
The passengers can fiddle with a plethora of telematics and connectivity features. Depending on trim package, the Trax is available with 4G LTE connectivity, USB ports, the MyLink system with a large touch screen, and Siri “eyes free” service. The interior features multiple storage areas.
The list of standard and optional equipment is impressive, but one trait is distinctly lacking: style. In our test car, the interior was a sea of gray, with way too much hard plastic. But this is a Chevy, and there need to be ways for its Buick sibling to set itself apart. We are not sure this kind of interior ambience will cut it in this segment. The Trax cabin is better than the toylike Nissan Juke’s, but it falls far short of the new Kia Soul’s.
Offered in LS, LT, and LTZ trim, the compact Chevy crossover will hit the market in late 2014. As mentioned, we expect prices to start just below $20,000. The Trax is a comfortable, competent offering, but it doesn’t deliver the same level of style as its competitors from Nissan and Kia. However, with an agreeable price and overall inoffensive persona, expect to see these swarming everywhere, from the suburbs to city centers.
