Late in 2013, General Motors introduced the Buick Encore to the North American market. It was an odd duck, smaller than a crossover but taller than a compact, not as purposefully odd as the Kia Soul and Nissan Juke yet not conforming to traditional segmentation. It was the vanguard of a wave of subcompact crossovers meant for urbanites and empty nesters, including for 2016 the Honda HR-V, Fiat 500X, Mazda CX-3, and Jeep Renegade.
Those automakers can only hope to match the Encore’s success: it was the third best-selling Buick of five models in 2014.
GM aims to duplicate the success of the Buick Encore with the Chevy Trax. Starting at $20,995 for the base of three trim levels, it’s about $4,000 less and a bit boxier than the Encore, which has body lines that are more rounded than edged. The lid reminds me of an HHR with a face-lift. The most distinguishing trait is the snub tail particular to all subcompact crossvers, tucked tight to the rear axle and giving the overall body design a front-heavy asymmetry that stands out much more on the Trax than the Encore and others.
Derived from the Chevy Sonic compact platform, the Trax comes with one engine, a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes only 138 horsepower. There’s not much from the line, but with 148 pound-feet of torque maximized early in the driving cycle (at 1850 rpm) it feels a bit more nimble in passing situations. The engine is paired to a six-speed automatic transmission that excels at being exactly what you expect, instead of an always shuffling CVT. The automatic is far better than using the plus/minus buttons on the driver’s side of the gear stick in the center console. The thumb generation may like it, but if there have to be buttons to make an automatic feel like a manual, at least give us a trigger.
The Trax comes with an all-wheel-drive option that adds only $1,500 and lowers fuel economy by 2 mpg city and 3 mpg on the highway (24 mpg city/31 mpg highway in AWD). Our test model came with AWD in LT trim, the middling of three trim levels offered. Fuel economy expects to weigh heavily on the targeted consumer, and in our week around town we mostly matched the EPA average but at 55 mph on the highway we hit a sweet spot averaging just under 36 mpg. That was the speed average over several 26-mile trips, so it’s not like you need to set the cruise at 55 mph to exceed EPA numbers — we take what Chicago gives us in terms of speed.
In winter conditions the AWD Trax handled competently. The 16-inch wheels held the road and enabled safe driving in freezing conditions though the 18-inchers offered on the top of the line LTZ trim would’ve looked cooler. At 6.2 inches of ground clearance, Trax is two inches higher than the Sonic, but I would have reservations about taking the Trax off road.
The cabin left me with mixed emotions. The driver’s area is somewhat narrow, and that impression largely comes from my inability to match the narrow optional arm rest at the same level as the arm rest on the door. Minor but annoying. The hard plastic feel can seem cheap, specifically the blocky buttons and handles, but they enable 15 modular storage spaces, including a two-tiered glove box that is surprisingly useful for the passenger’s gadgets. Chevy should be commended for making space wherever possible.
The car is a hot spot with 4G LTE connectivity, so passengers can download whatever they want with plenty of speed. The 7-inch touch screen is uncomplicated and GM’s voice commands have better fidelity than most in the market.
The instrument cluster is interesting, with a traditional dial for the tachometer overlaid partly by a rectangular digital display for speed and other information. Neat trick in appealing to an analog and digital generation without turning off either.
The rear seats can’t be adjusted for comfort, and two adult passengers will be aware of their size, but the seats enable some nifty space optimization once you pull the seat bottoms up to fold down the backs. The front passenger seat can also be folded flat to haul a bike without having to break it down or leave the gate open.
Overall the Trax didn’t leave me hot or cold, though I prefer a hatch to a smallest CUV. The positives and negatives for each style are worth merit and totally subjective, like cutting your pizza into squares or triangles. Regardless, the Trax is priced right and should be a consideration for those who prefer a taller ride height with hatchback flexibility.
2015 Chevy Trax LT AWD at a glance
Type: Subcompact crossover
Price as tested: $24,490
Base: $20,995
MPG: 24 city, 31 highway
Engine: 1.4-liter Ecotec turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: six speed automatic
Parting shot: People that love the size should find plenty to like about the all-new Trax.
