WASHINGTON — GM found a surprise hit a few years ago with a small crossover, the Buick Encore. Now its Chevy’s turn to see if it can take the same basic vehicle, offer a lower-priced version, and be in on the ground floor of the smaller crossovers. This is basically a new class and many manufacturers are rushing to get vehicles out and meet demand.
The first thing you notice about the Trax is the size and how it looks small and lean for a crossover. It’s a somewhat smaller version of the larger Equinox or a roomier, taller, crossover version of the Chevrolet Sonic. It’s easy to drive and park in the city, even when compared to the regular small crossover class. The Trax has a starting price under $21,000 and you if you need more than front wheel drive you can choose AWD for an additional $1500, making it an affordable AWD vehicle from GM.
I drove the mid-level Trax LT with a price under $24,000 -– not very much for a crossover and a solid crossover for that price. The engine is the small 1.4L turbo found in many of the smaller Chevrolets. It’s good for 138hp. That may not be the most power, but it’s easy on gas and does an OK job of moving the Trax in the city. It’s a bit labored when loaded and trying to merge into traffic on the highway. The six speed transmission is smooth, but it’s always trying to quickly select a higher gear for fuel economy. The Trax is rated 26 mpg city/34 highway and I managed 29.1 mpg over a week of mixed driving on regular fuel.
I really wasn’t expecting much out of driving the Trax, but after a few miles I found it a competent little crossover and more car-like. This is really a right-sized crossover for someone just starting out. Although the whole family fit inside without much hassle and small parking spaces are no problem. It drives well and eats up most bumps in the city which is where the car shines, because on the highway it can get a little twitchy in higher winds and when some big trucks pass.
The interior is built to its lower price. The seats are comfortable and there’s space for four adults. It has good headroom and legroom for most people. There is also ample storage and cubbies with a neat bin under the passenger seat for extra storage. No space is wasted in this small crossover. The dash and some other trim pieces are mostly hard plastics. The seven-inch color touch screen is large and easy to use and there is also a 4G LTE WI-Fi hot spot and the first three months of data is free.
The 2015 Chevrolet Trax is a little crossover with a bit of personality ready to tackle city streets and fit into those places a regular crossover just couldn’t handle. With a low starting price and available AWD, the 2015 Trax could make tracks into a driveway near you very soon.
