It’s Trax Vs. ‘Treks In A Subcompact Showdown
The Chevy Trax has been on the market for over a decade, but the 2024 version is unlike any model to come before. Chevy has given its subcompact crossover a long-awaited overhauling, introducing a new second-generation model proving to be a significant improvement over the previous version. With updated styling, a new, larger body and a host of helpful interior tech that brings the SUV firmly into the modern era, the 2024 Trax could almost be considered an entirely new model.
The Trax is also a real standout in terms of price. Starting at around $20,400, the Trax is one of the more affordable subcompact crossovers on the market.[a] Its low starting price places it in the top three of the ultra-competitive segment, providing drivers with a value-packed SUV that feels like anything but a budget model when considering its design, capability, and convenience. So how does the second-generation model compare to one of its closest competitors, and which model should drivers choose when it comes to the 2024 Chevy Trax vs 2024 Subaru Crosstrek? DePaula Chevrolet is here to answer that in our guide to these two crossover contenders.
Design and Styling
The new Trax challenges its subcompact designation with a roomy interior that’s longer, wider, and lower than the outgoing version. Chevy hasn’t taken any half-measures with this redesign, stretching the Trax by 11 inches while widening the body by two inches. Six extra inches of wheelbase have improved the Trax’s rear legroom and interior dimensions, creating a more comfortable, roomier ride with 54 cu.ft. of cargo space and a total passenger volume of 99.8 cu.ft. This changes up the SUV’s utility without sacrificing its sporty aesthetic, providing drivers with the best of both worlds. As far as pure volume goes, the Trax and Crosstrek are pretty well-matched, though the Chevy does get a slight edge in passenger space. While these two metrics have never been the specialty of the subcompact crossover segment, the Trax manages to outshine much of the competition with an interior that comfortably fits five passengers.
But a vehicle’s interior is about more than just pure size. The refreshed Trax is built with a stylish new cabin that will have drivers wondering how Chevy managed to keep the price under $25,000.[a] Sure, there’s plenty of hard plastic to be found throughout the interior, but the Trax proves that it’s about how the material is deployed, not the material itself, that really makes the difference. The Trax offsets these plastic finishes with plush upholstery, especially on the higher-end trims, which are treated to perforated synthetic Evotek seat coverings decked out in a clean two-tone gray color scheme with yellow accent stitching. This upholstery is a great match for the SUV’s heated front seats, which come with six-way manual adjustment or an optional eight-way power-adjustable version complete with customizable lumbar support.
The Crosstrek might cost around $4,000 more than the Trax, but it certainly doesn’t look like that money went toward sprucing up the interior. The crossover isn’t too far behind the curve when weighing the interior styling, but Subaru is a brand that’s long focused on function over form, and that approach is almost a little obvious on the Crosstrek. The SUV’s patterned seating inserts can look a little too busy, though the silver accent stitching is a nice touch.
The Trax also claims the advantage when it comes to exterior styling. With a design inspired by the midsize Chevy Blazer, the Trax takes a familiar formula and makes the most of it. The subcompact’s smaller dimensions play well with the Blazer’s style, creating a fluid, sporty SUV in a tidy little package. The front fascia has a thoroughly modern look with a sleek upper grille that melds seamlessly with the LED accent lights, while the top-tier ACTIV trim adds a larger lower grille, 18-inch black wheels, and optional Nitro Yellow paint to the equation.
The Crosstrek’s asymmetrical wheel arches might impart the crossover with a sportier look, but they might look a little clunky for everyday driving. This is especially true of the Crosstrek’s Wilderness trim, which features a lifted suspension, all-terrain tires and additional off-road-inspired design elements. The hood features ridges along the side that give the Crosstrek an almost reptilian look, while black-clad, almost trapezoidal rear accent lights hurt the flow of the back end. We get what Subaru was going for with the Crosstrek––this is a brand that’s made its name on light off-road appeal––but given the fact that the subcompact is really designed for city streets, it all seems a little overwrought.
Tech and Convenience
The Trax’s second generation also represents a significant improvement in interior design and technology. While the original first-generation Trax was certainly no slouch in this department, the new version includes some modern updates that go a long way towards creating a clean, unified aesthetic. Chevy has integrated many of the crossover’s controls into the infotainment screen and, in doing so, has created a less cluttered dashboard that ensures minimal distractions when you’re behind the wheel. It’s a trick that’s been employed by a number of automakers as of late, and it’s easy to see why. Clunky dashboard controls can ruin the flow of any interior, but by leveraging the infotainment screen, Chevy has managed to tidy up the interior without sacrificing functionality.
Speaking of the infotainment screen, Chevy has taken a page out of some high-end luxury models by subtly orienting the display towards the driver. It might seem like a subtle adjustment, but this design provides a noticeable boost to the interior’s ergonomics by putting the infotainment screen right at the driver’s fingertips. Offered in both 8.0- and 11.0-inch configurations, the angled infotainment screen should also help to reduce glare and improve visibility when you’re behind the wheel. Those springing for the Trax’s LT, 2RS, and ACTIV trims will see an 8.0-inch digital gauge cluster added to the mix, which increases the SUV’s convenience factor even further by allowing drivers to easily track various performance and efficiency metrics, monitor the available Adaptive Cruise Control and select between different audio sources without ever taking their hands off the wheel.
The Trax looks especially slick when compared to the Crosstrek, which, despite also being entirely new for the 2024 model year, lags behind when it comes to certain design and tech features. Sure, the SUV’s 11.6-inch infotainment screen offers plenty of real estate, but the base model is stuck with a 7.0-inch version that seems a little undersized by modern standards. The orientation could also be a sticking point for some customers. While the display’s vertical orientation should be familiar to any tablet users, it can be a bit awkward to navigate. It’s also more prone to cause distractions than the Trax’s horizontal infotainment screen, as drivers will have to let their eyes wander pretty far down the dashboard to adjust some key features, the most notable being the Crosstrek’s climate controls. These are not only stuffed at the bottom of the display, but they’re also fully digital, which could create some confusion for those looking to make on-the-fly adjustments to what can often be a laggy interface. Chevy has wisely kept its own A/C interface analog while proving that just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
Our last quibble comes in the form of the Crosstrek’s instrument cluster. Subaru has stuck with a more traditional design that features a tachometer on the left and a speedometer on the right, eschewing the digital roach and limiting the sort of information that can be easily accessed. The automaker has made some concessions to the prevailing trend by outfitting the instrument cluster with a small digital screen between the two gauges, but its dimensions and single-color design are a little underwhelming in a segment where full-color digital gauge clusters are quickly becoming the norm.
The Trax might have the edge as far as exterior styling, technology, and interior design are concerned, but those aren’t the only categories where the Chevy dominates. The Trax is also an exceedingly efficient model thanks to its new, 1.2-liter inline-three engine that allows the SUV to achieve an EPA-estimated 28 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. This economic engine is paired with an engine air filter life monitor that improves efficiency by alerting drivers when it’s time to switch out the filter, allowing Trax to maximize efficiency with the ideal fuel-to-air ratio. The Crosstrek lands in the same ballpark in terms of fuel economy, though the Wilderness model sees the SUV’s efficiency drop in the name of sportiness.
The Chevy Trax is the Subcompact SUV for You
The Crosstrek provides a bit more utility thanks to the SUV’s standard all-wheel drive, but the Trax’s low starting price, clean styling, and intuitive interior tech certainly make it tough to beat. Ultimately, it’s up to drivers to decide what they really value when choosing between the 2024 Chevy Trax and Subaru Crosstrek, but we certainly know which one we’d pick.
0 comment(s) so far on It’s Trax Vs. ‘Treks In A Subcompact Showdown