Used 2021 Chevrolet Trax

When it debuted several years ago, the Trax was a welcome and needed addition to Chevrolet’s crossover-SUV lineup. Its tidy size and value-oriented pricing appealed to those on a budget who didn’t need a giant SUV.

Fast forward a few years, and the 2021 Chevrolet Trax faces an uphill battle against fresher and better competitors. Those rivals range from the excellent new Kia Seltos to the ultra-practical Honda HR-V, not to mention the Hyundai Kona and sultry new Mazda CX-30.

But the Trax’s fiercest rival may just be within its own family: the all-new 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The reborn Chevy Trailblazer is ostensibly meant to slot below the aging Trax, but is actually slightly larger, has more cargo space, comes with more standard safety features, and is more stylish, all for a lower price. The new Trailblazer also offers features not even available in the Trax, including adaptive cruise control and an 8-inch touchscreen. And with the discontinuation of the topline Premier trim, the 2021 Trax does not offer active safety features like forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking that are standard on many rivals.

This will likely lead smart Chevy shoppers to gravitate toward fresher models. Still, if you’re dead set on the Trax, it does bring a standard turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, plus tech like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

As an urban runabout with some brief highway commutes thrown in, the 2021 Chevrolet Trax is adequate. The small SUV doesn’t have the verve and fun-to-drive traits of a Mazda CX-30 or turbocharged Hyundai Kona or Kia Seltos, but it’s acceptable.

The Trax’s turbocharged 4-cylinder engine provides a reasonable amount of muscle, although going uphill while fully laden may make you wish for something beefier. Highway stretches are also reminders that Chevy didn’t go crazy with the sound insulation. The Trax uses a 6-speed automatic transmission that, while not the most modern or most efficient, will appeal to drivers who don’t want a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) like that found in the Honda HR-V. The Mazda CX-30, which has more athletic manners, also uses a 6-speed automatic. The new Chevy Trailblazer has moved on to a 9-speed or CVT depending on the engine.

However, if you regularly find yourself fighting for a parking spot or squeezing into a small garage, the Trax’s diminutive size plays in its favor.

Note that most active driver-assistance systems are no longer available on the 2021 Chevrolet Trax. It never offered adaptive cruise control, and its simplified lineup now excludes features like lane-departure and forward-collision warning that came on the now-deleted Premier trim. Blind-spot monitoring, though, is available as an option.

The Chevrolet Trax has a tidy 2-row/5-passenger cabin. Space is OK up front, but as you can probably guess from the Trax’s small footprint, rear passenger space is limited. If it’s just you and one other person and some gear, cargo room is respectable. There’s up to 48.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and a useful 18.7 cubic feet with them up. But the Trax lags rivals like the HR-V, Seltos and new Trailblazer in total cargo capacity.

The Trax has a nifty feature in which the front passenger seat folds flat to accommodate items up to 8 feet long in the interior.

Also up front, the Trax has a standard 7-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dash and simple dials to operate climate controls. Cloth seating is standard, with deluxe cloth/leatherette in the LT trim. Full leatherette is optional in the LT.

From several steps back, the Chevy Trax has a confident SUV stance thanks to its short overhangs. Compared to its new Trailblazer sibling, the Trax is shorter and has a taller profile. Unlike the Trailblazer, you won’t find an available power-operated tailgate.

Both the Trax LS and LT trims wear 16-inch aluminum wheels. The higher-trim 2021 Trax LT has heated, body-color side mirrors, and taillights with LED accents. The new Trax Midnight edition based on the LT trim adds 18-inch gloss-black aluminum wheels, front and rear black skidplates, and other darkened aesthetics.

APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO
Even the least-expensive 2021 Trax comes with a 7-inch touchscreen display and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration.

4G LTE WI-FI
An integrated 4G LTE Wi-Fi system brings fast internet access using passengers’ phones, tablets, or laptops — up to seven devices. After the trial period, a subscription is required.

For this model year, the Trax is available in just two trims: LS or LT. At its simplest, a base Trax LS includes remote keyless entry, 4-way manual-adjust driver’s seat, single-zone air conditioning, and a compass. The Chevy Trax’s infotainment system bundles a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and a 6-speaker AM/FM audio system with SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth streaming, and two USB inputs.

The higher-trim Trax LT includes cruise control (optional on LS trims), remote vehicle start, cloth/leatherette upholstery, and LED daytime running lights, plus a luggage rack, cargo cover and tinted rear windows.

All-wheel drive is optional on either trim. As we mentioned, cruise control is an option on base LS trims, as is remote vehicle start. A 6-way power driver’s seat is also optional on both trims. For added convenience, the LT model can be had with keyless entry and start, and heated front seats.

There aren’t many advanced safety options available for the Chevrolet Trax, but you can add the Driver Confidence Package to the LT that bundles blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors.

The only engine available for the 2021 Trax is a 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder connected to a 6-speed automatic transmission. With 138 horsepower, it won’t be winning many races, but it’s a respectably fuel-efficient SUV achieving up to 31 mpg. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is the default setup, while all-wheel drive (AWD) is available.

1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4
138 horsepower @ 4,900 rpm
148 lb-ft of torque @ 1,850 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/31 mpg (FWD), 24/29 mpg (AWD)