Updated 12.1.14
The Chevy Trax is arriving to Chevy dealers very, very soon! As these latest photos and top 20 features below show, Chevy is eager to make Trax in the compact crossover market sales charts!
We were pretty far below the Trax’s actual prices in our ballpark below of $19k to $25k — the Trax will actually start from $21,000 as a front-drive and $22,500 with AWD. Simple trim levels at least mean the LTZ AWD will not be much of a jump up the price ladder – with our new estimate being $27,000 with every available option.
Fuel economy of the Trax is also still semi-official, but impressive nonetheless: 26 city and 34-mph highway in FWD form. Stay tuned for full specs and full-line pricing as it becomes available.
2015 Chevrolet Trax
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Can you blame Chevrolet for bringing the Trax to the US market? Of course not! There is no bigger growth segment in the car market than the mini SUV.
This one shares most of its platform and running gear with the Sonic and other little guys in the Chevy portfolio, but will command a $3,000 premium just for sitting a bit higher up and having some SUV body cladding.
This model is required to slot in below the ever-larger and very dated Equinox and very-old-indeed Captiva Sport that is a fleet-only model.
Chevrolet and GM have been rightly lambasted for their appalling small cars for decades – but this really started to change in 2012 or so. With Spark, Sonic and Cruze — the Chevy bow-tie badge is now the best-selling brand in the compact and subcompact car markets. This is thanks to hip styles and good tech integration – combined with always-low actual transaction prices.
As for sticker levels on the Trax, look for a $19,000 base price and a $25,000 loaded LTZ.
20 WAYS THE ALL-NEW CHEVROLET TRAX MAKES ITS MARK
Chevy’s small SUV rolls into U.S. with versatility, technology and maneuverability
SAN DIEGO – With the utility of an SUV and agility of a compact car, the 2015 Chevrolet Trax is a city-smart vehicle ready for almost any adventure.
Packed with the technology city dwellers depend on for their connected lifestyles – including 4G LTE Wi-Fi and Siri Eyes Free – Trax is also an efficient performer, with a standard turbocharged engine delivering power on demand and segment-leading EPA-estimated 34 mpg on the highway.
“Chevrolet is making a huge inroads with small cars around the world and Trax is the latest example,” said Steve Majoros, Chevrolet director of car marketing. “It is the right vehicle at the right time in the U.S., building on Chevrolet’s strong SUV heritage with a package of features combining value, versatility, technology and maneuverability.”
Trax is Chevrolet’s seventh small vehicle launch in four years, a diverse lineup that’s seen the brand’s share of the small-, compact- and mini-car segments more than triple. In fact, the Chevrolet Cruze recently surpassed 3 million global sales, while the Spark reached the 1-million sales milestone.
Getting a head start on the competition, the Trax goes on sale in the United States in early 2015, where the emerging small-SUV segment is estimated to grow more than 80 percent in the next few years. Trax is already on sale in 66 global markets, where it has generated approximately 180,000 sales since its 2012 introduction.
TRAX VERSATILITY
1. Seating for up to five with up to eight seating/cargo-carrying configurations.
2. A 60/40-split, flat-folding rear seat and a segment-exclusive fold-flat front passenger seat combine to allow storage of long items such as skis or a surfboard, up to eight feet long.
3. Up to 48.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat folded – and 18.7 cubic feet of storage space behind the split-folding rear seatbacks. That’s more than Nissan Juke and comparable to Kia Soul and Jeep Renegade:
- Nissan Juke – 35.9 cu. ft. total / 10.5 cu. ft. behind rear seat
- Kia Soul – 49.5 cu. ft. total / 18.8 cu. ft. behind rear seat (with luggage tray)
- Jeep Renegade – 50.8 cu. ft. total / 18.5 cu. ft. behind rear seat.
4. Segment-leading 15 interior storage compartments including upper and lower storage in each door, upper and lower glove box, upper and lower center stack, left and right of the center stack and left of the steering wheel.
5. Standard and dealer-available cargo management features. Standard features include a rigid, removable cargo security cover and a storage area under the rear cargo floor. Dealer-available accessory items include a collapsible cargo organizer and cargo net.
TRAX TECHNOLOGY
6. Chevrolet MyLink Infotainment with a 7-inch-diagonal color touch screen is standard. Trax’s next-generation MyLink provides easy, intuitive operation of basic functions, and is highly customizable and capable of linking devices such as smartphones and MP3 players. The system includes Bluetooth streaming audio for music and select phone, as well as Pandora, TuneIn radio and Stitcher.
7. OnStar with 4G LTE and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot is standard. It provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected – allowing the connection of multiple personal devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets to high-speed wireless Internet. The hotspot is on whenever the vehicle is on and comes with a three-month/three gigabyte data trial (whichever comes first), after which the customer can purchase additional data.
8. Siri Eyes Free for iPhone iOS 6, iOS 7 and iOS 8 users enhances connectivity and convenience. It enables voice-controlled connectivity so customers can keep phones stored and their hands on the wheel. Trax is the first vehicle in its class to offer Siri Eyes Free.
9. Standard USB port with MP3 playback/iPod music device support. The USB port also enables users to upload photos and videos on the MyLink screen.
10. Available BringGo navigation app and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. The available BringGo app brings smartphone-enabled navigation that can be displayed on the large MyLink screen – including using the touch screen to control the navigation. Sirius XM Satellite Radio is standard on LT and LTZ models and for three months of trial service. Sirius XM Travel Link and Tune Select are available for an additional cost.
TRAX MANUEVERABILITY
11. Trax is powered by an Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged engine that’s backed by an efficiency-enhancing six-speed automatic transmission. The engine is rated at an SAE-certified 138 horsepower (102 kW) and 148 lb-ft of torque (200 Nm), between 1,850 and 4,900 rpm. The wide rpm range for the maximum torque helps Trax deliver a more confident driving experience, with a strong feeling of power across the rpm band. Most importantly, it contributes to the Trax’s EPA-estimated 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway efficiency.
12. Available all-wheel drive enhances driving confidence in slippery conditions. The automatically engaging system seamlessly splits torque between the front and rear wheels, when required, for better traction and handling.
13. Dimensions designed for confidence and maneuverability. A 100.6-inch wheelbase and wide stance – 60.6-inch front and rear track – contribute to a planted stance that fosters a more-confident driving experience, while a tight 36.7-foot turning circle enhances maneuverability and nimbleness in tight urban environments, helping make the Trax easy to park.
14. MacPherson-strut front suspension and compound crank rear suspension deliver driving agility. The strut-type front suspension is used with coil springs, a large stabilizer bar and side-load-compensated front strut modules – a combination that delivers ride comfort with sporty, direct responsiveness. The rear compound crank (torsion beam) design, with a double-wall, tubular V-shape beam profile and gas-charged twin-tube shocks combines all the advantages of a conventional torsion beam axle, including minimal space requirements, with low weight and consistent camber control. Noise-damping urethane spring isolators dampen noise.
15. Direct-acting, fuel-saving column-mounted electric power steering system. All models feature an electric power steering system that helps save fuel by drawing energy only when the steering wheel is turned. Designed to complement Trax’s balance of responsiveness and comfort, the EPS’s feel is light yet direct, enhancing the vehicle’s feeling of maneuverability – particularly at low speeds and during parking.
TRAX VALUE
16. Starting price of $20,995 for LS trim level includes standard Chevrolet MyLink infotainment with a 7-inch-diagonal touch screen, OnStar 4G LTE with built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, segment-leading 10 standard air bags, segment-exclusive standard rearview camera system (excluding other GM vehicles), rear fold-flat and front-passenger fold-flat seats, USB port, air conditioning, power locks and windows, power outside mirrors and remote keyless entry.
17. LS, LT and LTZ trim levels, with premium features offered across the range, including:
- Sixteen-inch wheels are standard on LS and LT models; 18-inch aluminum wheels are standard on LTZ
- Rear park assist – available on LT and standard on LTZ
- Contemporary interior environment featuring an instrument cluster with a large, performance-style analog tachometer combined with a prominent digital display for the speedometer and other readouts; also includes 3.5-inch-diagonal driver information center display with ice blue backlighting
- Heated front seats with leatherette trim – standard on LTZ
- Deluxe cloth/leatherette seating trim – available on LT
- Bose seven-speaker sound system – available on LT and standard on LTZ
- Leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel – available on LT and standard on LTZ
- Fog lamps – standard on LTZ
- Roof rails – standard on LT and LTZ
- Six-way power driver seat adjuster – available on LT and standard on LTZ
- Power sliding sunroof – available on LT and LTZ
- Heated power-adjustable mirrors – standard on LT and LTZ
- Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror – standard on LTZ.
18. All-wheel drive is offered for $1,500 – the most affordable AWD option in Chevrolet’s portfolio is available on all trim levels.
19. Strong roster of safety features – including class-best 10 standard air bags. Trax’s body structure forms a protective cage around the passenger compartment, with 66 percent of it composed of high-strength steels – including ultra-high-strength steel in strategic areas. That strength is complemented by technologies that help avoid crashes and protect occupants in case one occurs, including:
- Driver and front passenger frontal air bags
- Driver and front passenger knee air bags
- Front and rear thorax air bags for all outboard positions – including the segment’s only rear-seat-mounted thorax air bags
- Side curtain air bags for front and rear outboard passengers
- Standard rearview camera
- Standard front safety belt pretensioners
- StabiliTrak electronic stability control, incorporating traction control and rollover mitigation features
- ABS and electronic brake force distribution, as well as cornering brake control and brake assist
- Rear park assist is available on LT and standard on LTZ.
20. Chevrolet Complete Care includes two years/24,000 miles (whichever comes first) of scheduled maintenance, which complements the three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty – whichever comes first.
Global small SUV arrives stateside, offering versatility, connectivity and efficiency
NEW YORK – At the New York International Auto Show today, Chevrolet announced it will add the Trax, a new small SUV, to its portfolio. The 2015 Trax will offer versatility, connectivity and turbocharged performance in an efficient package.
Sporty and modern, Trax blends small-car agility with the utility of an SUV, including up to 48.4 cubic feet (1,371 liters) of cargo space. It’s Chevrolet’s seventh small-vehicle launch in less than four years. During that time, the brand’s share of the small-, compact- and mini-car segments has more than tripled – up 221 percent.
“Trax offers customers another option in the Chevrolet family and will be a strong competitor in the emerging small-SUV market, which is expected to grow more than 80 percent by 2016,” said Alan Batey, General Motors senior vice president, Global Chevrolet. “Trax also leverages our global resources and builds on Chevrolet’s strong SUV heritage.”
When it arrives in dealer showrooms early next year, Trax will accommodate customers’ increasingly connected lifestyles with available OnStar 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, as well as MyLink technology featuring the segment’s only seven-inch color touch screen. Trax also will be the first in its class to offer Siri Eyes Free.
Trax technologies also enhance passenger safety, with more standard air bags than its competitors, a standard rearview camera and available rear park assist.
Additional vehicle highlights include:
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Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged engine that delivers the efficiency of a small-displacement engine with the power of a larger engine on demand
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Available all-wheel drive
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Electric power steering
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Available next-generation OnStar and MyLink
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Ten standard air bags, including side-curtain and knee air bags – and the segment’s only rear seat-mounted thorax air bags
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Clever and convenient storage areas, including upper and lower glove boxes – with a USB port and auxiliary jack in the upper glove box for plug-in media
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60/40-split fold-flat rear seat and fold-down front passenger seatback for storing and transporting items up to eight feet long
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Standard remote keyless entry and available remote start.
Trax will be offered in LS, LT and LTZ trims. Pricing will be announced closer to the start of production.
A Chevy inside and out
With its signature dual-port grille, prominent bowtie emblem and swept headlamps, the Trax is immediately identifiable as a contemporary Chevrolet. Its grille design – with chrome accents – emulates other Chevrolets and provides a more cohesive appearance across the brand’s lineup of crossovers and small cars.
Available cues such as front fog lamps and simulated front and rear skid plates lend a sportier presence, while vertical tail lamps flank the tailgate, accenting taught body lines and pronounced wheel arches that give the Trax a confident stance.
The 10 exterior are: Brilliant Blue Metallic, Orange Rock Metallic, Satin Steel Metallic, White Pearl Tricoat, Black Granite Metallic, Summit White, Silver Ice Metallic, Ruby Red Metallic, Deep Espresso Metallic and Blaze Red.
Inside, Trax’s distinctive styling carries over to a dual-cockpit instrument panel. In the center, it houses a seven-inch, high-resolution, full-color display for the standard MyLink voice-activated infotainment system. It also features displays for available SiriusXM satellite radio and standard rearview camera, as well as the available GPS-enabled app navigation system that customers can download.
The instrument cluster is inspired by the bold design in the Sonic, featuring a large, performance-style analog tachometer combined with a prominent digital display for the speedometer and other readouts. A small-diameter, thick-rimmed steering wheel enhances the sporty ambience. The wheel is leather-wrapped on LTZ and some LT models.
LS models feature standard cloth seating, with deluxe cloth standard on LT, along with an available cloth/leatherette seating trim. LTZ models feature standard full leatherette trim. Interior colors are Jet Black, Jet Black/Light Titanium and Jet Black/Brownstone.
For versatility, the 60/40 flat-folding rear seat features a fold-down armrest with cup holders, storage in all four doors, four bins in the dash, pockets in the seatbacks and bins under the rear load floor and a hidden storage drawer under the front passenger seat. It also offers 18.7 cubic feet (530 liters) of storage behind the split-folding rear seat and 48.4 cubic feet (1,371 liters) with the rear seat folded. The front passenger seat also folds flat to extend the cargo length and accommodate items up to eight feet long.
Connectivity and infotainment details
Available Siri Eyes Free for iPhone iOS 6 and iOS 7 users enhances connectivity and convenience. Each enables voice-controlled connectivity so customers can keep phones stored and their hands on the wheel.
Additional standard and available features include:
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Seven-inch-diagonal color touch screen and additional USB ports
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Available Chevrolet connected by OnStar 4G LTE with built-in Wi-Fi hotspot
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Available next-generation OnStar and MyLink
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Available BringGo navigation app
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Available SiriusXM Satellite Radio (with three months of trial service), SiriusXM Travel Link and SiriusXM Tune Select (requires XM subscription)
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Supports playback of MP3 files stored on USB flash memory drives.
With Chevrolet’s connected by OnStar 4G LTE connection, Trax provides an available Wi-Fi hotspot that allows passengers to connect multiple personal devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets, to high-speed wireless Internet.
Turbocharged performance
Trax is powered by a power-dense Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine backed by an efficiency-enhancing six-speed automatic transmission. The engine is expected to be rated at an SAE-certified 138 horsepower (102 kW) and 148 lb-ft of torque (200 Nm) between 1,850 and 4,900 rpm.
The wide rpm range for the maximum torque – a specific trait of turbocharged engines – helps it deliver a more confident driving experience, with a strong feeling of power across the rpm band. The turbocharger’s on-demand performance also contributes to efficiency because it enables greater power when needed with the lower fuel consumption of a small-displacement engine when it’s not.
The turbocharger is integrated within the exhaust manifold, for reduced weight and greater packaging flexibility. A solid cast crankshaft and forged connecting rods deliver additional durability to support the engine’s pressurized power and torque.
A Hydra-Matic 6T40 six-speed automatic transmission with TAPShift control is matched with the 1.4L turbo engine. It has a unique design, with the planetary gearsets positioned on the same axis as the engine crankshaft centerline, making the entire powertrain unit shorter fore-to-aft. This design enables a shorter overall vehicle length, increased interior space, enhanced safety crush zones and lower weight.
A “steep” first gear and a “tall” overdrive top gear to achieve a wide ratio spread of 6.14:1. This allows Trax to achieve robust acceleration, as well as fuel efficiency and lower engine noise at highway cruising speeds.
Refined ride and handling
Trax is built on a robust global platform and engineered with precise suspension tuning to deliver one of the segment’s quietest and most refined driving experiences. Available all-wheel drive seamlessly shifts power to the rear wheels when required for better traction and handling.
A 100.6-inch (2,555 mm) wheelbase and wide stance – 60.6-inch (1,539 mm) front and rear tracks – contribute to a confident driving experience, while a strong structure enables greater suspension precision and a quiet ride.
A MacPherson strut front suspension is used with coil springs, a large stabilizer bar and side-load-compensated front strut modules.
The rear suspension incorporates a compound crank (torsion beam) design, with a double-wall, tubular V-shape beam profile with gas-charged twin-tube shocks. It combines all the advantages of a conventional torsion beam axle, including minimal space requirements, with low weight and consistent camber control. Noise-damping urethane spring isolators improve ride isolation and dampen noise.
Trax also features a column-mounted, variable-effort electric power steering system that saves fuel compared to a conventional engine-driven power steering pump.
Sixteen-inch wheels are standard on LS and LT (aluminum wheels on LT). LTZ has standard 18-inch aluminum wheels.
Built to protect
Trax incorporates technologies that help avoid crashes and protect occupants in case one occurs. Crash-avoidance technologies include:
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Standard rearview camera
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Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control, incorporating traction control and rollover mitigation features
-
ABS and electronic brake force distribution
-
Cornering brake control and brake assist
The body structure forms a protective cage around the passenger compartment, with 66 percent of the structure composed of high-strength steels, including ultra-high-strength steel. That structural protection is complemented with 10 standard air bags:
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Driver and front passenger frontal air bags
-
Driver and front passenger knee air bags
-
Front and rear thorax air bags for all outboard positions – including the segment’s only rear-seat-mounted thorax air bags
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Side curtain air bags for front and rear outboard passengers.
Trax’s safety and security features also include exclusive OnStar technology with Advanced Crash Response System, emergency assistance and more.
Global Trax
Chevrolet Trax was launched in late 2012 in Mexico and Canada as a 2013 model; about 90,000 have been sold in more than 60 global markets. The 2015 Trax is currently on sale in China, and will arrive in U.S. dealer showrooms early next year, adding the small SUV to Chevy’s two largest markets. Trax is named after a 2007 concept vehicle.
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.9 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.