LS 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
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LS 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Overall Rating
Trax’s 1.4-liter turbocharged engine noisy and underpowered, especially when the crossover hits the highway speeds. The new Trax has arrived with flexible cargo space, high ride height, and affordable price.
After making a successful debut in the United States for the 2015 model year, the Chevrolet Trax has received some refreshments in the 2017 model. The Chevrolet Trax subcompact crossover changes little for 2018, receiving some minor updates and new editions. The new 2018 Chevrolet Trax is still trying to leap into a highly competitive market segment. We found the Trax's 1.4L turbocharged engine noisy and underpowered, especially when the crossover hits the highway speeds.
In spite of overall improvement with the crossover SUV, the 2018 Chevrolet Trax lags behind a little in terms of performance, ride quality, and fuel economy. At the end of the day, the decision to buy a new Trax gets a tad tricky, since major competitors of the Trax offer completely new designs and upgraded performance.
The base trim LS offers basic features while the LT offers most features that you can get on the expensive Premier trim. Thus available at a price of $23,000, the LT trim has enough to keep you satisfied and offers you the most value for your money. We'd therefore recommend you go with the LT trim.
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
LS 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Trax’s 1.4-liter turbocharged engine noisy and underpowered, especially when the crossover hits the highway speeds. The new Trax has arrived with flexible cargo space, high ride height, and affordable price.
After making a successful debut in the United States for the 2015 model year, the Chevrolet Trax has received some refreshments in the 2017 model. The Chevrolet Trax subcompact crossover changes little for 2018, receiving some minor updates and new editions. The new 2018 Chevrolet Trax is still trying to leap into a highly competitive market segment. We found the Trax's 1.4L turbocharged engine noisy and underpowered, especially when the crossover hits the highway speeds.
In spite of overall improvement with the crossover SUV, the 2018 Chevrolet Trax lags behind a little in terms of performance, ride quality, and fuel economy. At the end of the day, the decision to buy a new Trax gets a tad tricky, since major competitors of the Trax offer completely new designs and upgraded performance.
The 2018 Chevrolet Trax comes in three trim levels, namely, LS, LT, and Premier. All the trims come powered by a 138-hp turbo-four powertrain, mated with a six-speed automatic transmission. All the variants are available with a standard front-wheel-drive setup, while you may avail of an all-wheel-drive setup for any trim by spending an extra $1,500. The following is a summary of the highlight features offered in the various trims of the 2018 Chevrolet Trax.
Trims |
LS |
LT |
PREMIER |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP (FWD) |
$21,000 |
$22,900 |
$27,295 |
MSRP (AWD) |
$22,500 |
$24,400 |
$28,795 |
Features |
Notable Standard Features include: |
LT has features from LS with the following extras: |
Premier has features from LT with the following extras: |
ECOTEC 1.4L turbocharged engine |
16-inch aluminum wheels |
18-inch alloy wheels |
|
Six-speed automatic transmission |
Halogen projector headlamps |
Chrome Foglamp accents, door handles, chrome liftgate appliqué |
|
10 airbags StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control |
LED daytime running lamps LED taillamps |
Rear Park Assist |
|
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert |
|||
Side Blind Zone Alert, |
|||
Driver Confidence Package |
Depending on what levels of technological and comfort features you require, Chevrolet offers the customer three different trim levels. The base LS trim offers general features to get you going with the Chevrolet Trax experience, while the LT trim beefs up some premium features, offering fancier wheels and better lighting systems at the front. Luxury and refinement are taken a notch up with the Premier trim, which offers chrome accents and electronic tech features, in addition to what is already offered with the LT trim. And of course, you can opt to go for all-wheel-drive in any of these three trims.
2018 Chevrolet Trax Buying Advice
The base trim LS offers basic features while the LT offers most features that you can get on the expensive Premier trim. Thus available at a price of $23,000, the LT trim has enough to keep you satisfied and offers you the most value for your money. We'd therefore recommend you go with the LT trim.
The compact 2018 Chevrolet Trax engine remains unchanged in its fourth year with a single powertrain choice. Powering the Trax is a 138-horsepower turbocharged 1.4L Inline-4 engine, which is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Quite disappointingly, the engine feels underpowered and lacks athleticism. It feels out of breath under hard acceleration and can even be noisy at times.
The transmission of the 2018 Chevrolet Trax is not that quick and provides lethargic acceleration as compared to its rivals. Considering the pricing of the Trax, the engine power output is disappointing but that does help in terms of improved fuel economy. But it's not all downsides as the Chevy Trax handles pretty well and provides an enjoyable ride.
Models |
Chevrolet Trax LS |
Buick Encore 1SV |
Hyundai Tucson SE |
Ford EcoSport S |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$21,995 |
$22,990 |
$22,550 |
$19,995 |
Engine |
1.4L Turbo Inline-4 |
1.4L Turbo Inline-4 |
2.0L Inline 4 |
1.0L Turbo Inline-3 |
Transmission |
6-speed Automatic |
6-speed Automatic |
6-speed automatic |
6-speed automatic |
Power |
138 hp @ 4900 rpm |
138 hp @ 6000 rpm |
164hp @ 6200 rpm |
123 hp @ 6000 rpm |
Torque |
148 lb-ft @ 1850 rpm |
148 lb-ft @ 4900 rpm |
151 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm |
125 ft-lbs @ 3500 rpm |
Since both the Chevrolet Trax and the Buick Encore lie under the parent company General Motors, they share a similar engine setup. While the Hyundai Tucson makes 164 horsepower with its 2.0L Inline-4 engine, the Ford EcoSport lacks the power output by offering only 123 horsepower. The Hyundai Tucson also offers the most torque, while the Ford EcoSport again has the least of it to offer.
The 2018 Chevrolet Trax's ECOTEC 1.4-liter turbocharged engine comes mated with a standard front-wheel drive and an optional all-wheel drive. The acceleration is rather lethargic, and even when you put your foot down, the car takes an underwhelming amount of time to react. It 2018 Chevrolet Trax takes 9.0 seconds to accelerate from 0-60 mph, which is really slow.
Where the Chevy Trax redeems itself a little is in the braking department. It takes 121 feet to come to a complete halt from 60 mph, which is quite respectable and is in fact, the least stopping distance among its competition. The brake pedal feels solid and gives the driver enough confidence.
Models |
Chevrolet Trax LS |
Buick Encore 1SV |
Hyundai Tucson SE |
Ford EcoSport S |
---|---|---|---|---|
0-60 MPH |
9.0 sec |
8.4 sec |
8.3 sec |
9.7 sec |
Quarter mile |
16.8 sec @ 80.9 mph |
16.2 sec @ 86 mph |
16.5 sec @ 84 mph |
17.2 sec @ 81.3 mph |
Curb weight(lbs) |
2805 |
3237 |
3300 |
3060 |
60-0 MPH (ft.) |
121 |
126 |
123 |
125 |
The 2018 Hyundai Tucson is the fastest with 0-60 mph reaching in 8.3 seconds. The Hyundai has the largest engine and also is the most powerful, but to our surprise, the Tucson doesn’t cross the quarter-mile mark the fastest. That title would go to the Buick Encore, which interestingly manages to win the quarter-mile sprint in 16.2 seconds. Thankfully, the 2018 Chevrolet Trax measures to weigh the least among its competitors, also managing an impressive braking distance of 121 feet.
With the combination of standard front-wheel drive, the 2018 Chevy Trax returns a decent fuel economy of 25 MPG during city driving and a staggering 33 miles to the gallon on highways. The result is a combined MPG figure of 28, which is a generous offering for the segment. The mileage falls slightly with the all-wheel-drive configuration, which is understandable. The compact SUV also comes with a decent 14.0-gallon fuel tank, which is decent given the size of the compact Trax. The fuel tank lets you travel up to 462 miles without the need for refueling.
Model |
Chevrolet Trax LS |
Buick Encore 1SV |
Hyundai Tucson SE |
Ford EcoSport S |
---|---|---|---|---|
MPG (city) |
25 |
23 |
23 |
27 |
MPG (highway) |
33 |
33 |
30 |
29 |
MPG (combined) |
28 |
28 |
26 |
28 |
Fuel Capacity (Gallons) |
14.0 |
14.0 |
16.4 |
13.6 |
Range (City/Hwy) |
350 / 462 |
322 / 462 |
377 / 492 |
367 / 394 |
Comparing the competition, the Buick Encore and the Ford EcoSport offer the best fuel economy. While the Ford EcoSport delivers a compelling 27 MPG gas mileage in the city, the Buick Encore offers 33 miles to the gallon on the highway. Thus both cars offer the same combined fuel economy. The Hyundai Tucson comes with the largest fuel tank and delivers the highest range among the competition.
The 2018 Chevrolet Trax interior accommodates up to five occupants, while three passengers might feel cramped seated in the rear row. Despite its small size, the Trax offers ample cabin space. The front-seat headroom and legroom are quite generous, while the rear seat has enough room for tall passengers. The subcompact crossover looks straightforward with the extensive use of black plastic in the cabin. Even the base trim gets black-cloth upholstery, which is accented with blue stitching.Â
Chevrolet has assembled a rather traditional dash that flows horizontally, along with driver-focused conventional instruments. There are flowing lines and all controls are well laid out in a highly ergonomic fashion, which makes the cabin feel premium. The Premier trim adds more appealing dual-tone upholstery, contrast stitching on the instruments panel, and patterned work on the console.
Model |
Chevrolet Trax LS |
Buick Encore 1SV |
Hyundai Tucson SE |
Ford EcoSport S |
---|---|---|---|---|
Passenger capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Passenger Volume (ft cube) |
93.0 |
92.8 |
102.2 |
91.1 |
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
39.6/54.1/40.8 |
39.5/54.1/40.8 |
39.6/57.1/41.5 |
39.6/53.3/42.9 |
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
38.8/52.8/35.7 |
38.7/52.5/35.7 |
39.2/55.1/38.2 |
37.5/36.7/51.3 |
The front row space is nearly dominated by the Hyundai Tucson, which offers the most headroom and shoulder space. The Ford EcoSport interior has the most legroom to offer to the front passengers. At the back, the Hyundai Tucson comes with the most legroom, while also providing the most shoulder space. The rear legroom crown also goes to the Ford EcoSport, which offers the most space for your legs, and that too by a large margin. Here is a list of the interior features that are available with the 20185 Chevrolet Trax:
Chevrolet's latest MyLink infotainment system features a touch screen along with a physical knob letting you control climate and audio functions. The 7-inch touchscreen looks good with sharp and crisp graphics. The connectivity options include Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which come as standard. Bluetooth audio streaming is also offered, which is great.
What’s fantastic is that Chevrolet offers the Trax Premier with a 7-Speaker Bose Audio system, which genuinely steps up the compact SUV. Here is a list of the infotainment features that are available with the 2018 Chevrolet Trax :Â
The 2018 Chevrolet Trax offers 18.7 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear seats, which is enough to store your luggage or chairs for a weekend outing. Upon folding the rear seats, you can expand the cargo space by 48 cubic feet, which lets you carry larger items like bikes, snowboards, or even furniture. However, there are only a few smaller storage options inside the cabin, which is a serious disappointment.
Model |
Chevrolet Trax LS |
Buick Encore 1SV |
Hyundai Tucson SE |
Ford EcoSport S |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cargo Volume (cube ft.) |
18.7 |
18.8 |
31.0 |
20.9 |
Among the competition, the Hyundai Tucson offers the best cargo volume of 31.0 cubic feet behind the second row. The Ford EcoSport's cargo capacity is the closest to Hyundai Tucson, which offers 20.9 cubic feet of storage space. The Chevrolet Trax and the Buick Encore lag behind majorly, offering just under 19.0 cubic feet of cargo volume each.Â
The 2018 Chevy Trax exterior design received a significant design overhaul in 2017. The carmaker updated the 2017 model with a new dual-element grille, new thinner headlamps, and a new hood, making it more in line with other Chevy models. The rear also got revised with sculpted tail lamps, which have been carried forward to the 2018 model.
Model |
Chevrolet Trax LS |
Buick Encore 1SV |
Hyundai Tucson SE |
Ford EcoSport S |
---|---|---|---|---|
Curb weight(lbs) |
2805 |
3237 |
3300 |
3060 |
Length(in) |
167.2 |
168.4 |
176.2 |
161.3 |
Width(in) |
69.9 |
96.85 |
72.8 |
69.5 |
Height(in) |
64.9 |
65.26 |
64.8 |
64.8 |
Ground clearance(in) |
6.2 |
6.2 |
6.4 |
7.0 |
Wheelbase(in) |
100.6 |
100.6 |
105.1 |
99.2 |
Among the competition, the 2018 Chevrolet Trax weighs the least, while the Hyundai Tucson stands the heaviest. The Tucson also happens to be the longest vehicle in the lot, while the Buick Encore stands the widest. The Ford EcoSport offers the highest ground clearance and stands 7.0 inches off the ground. Here is a list of the exterior features that are available with the 2018 Chevrolet Trax:
The 2018 Chevy Trax has received a 5-star safety rating in overall crash tests conducted by the NHTSA. The IIHS has awarded the Trax with Good ratings in all five crash tests, which makes it as safe a vehicle as it is functional. The Chevrolet Trax also features countless active and passive safety features that make it stand out from its competitors. Some of the key safety features offered with the 2018 Chevrolet Trax are as follows:
General Motors have made both the Chevy Trax and Buick Encore, which is why both the subcompact SUVs share too many similarities. However, the Encore turns out to be a better version of the Trax. The Encore is more expensive but offers more standard features and a nicer cabin than the Trax. Buick also offers a 153-hp powertrain with the Encore, which you won't find on the Chevy Trax lineup.
2018 Chevrolet Trax vs Hyundai Tucson
Since the Trax is much slimmer than the Hyundai Tucson, you'll find enough space in the parking lot with your Trax. The larger turning radius of Tucson makes it difficult to maneuver narrow spots, which of course is not the case with the Trax. The 2018 Chevrolet Trax offers much lower horsepower and torque figures than the Tucson, which means you can’t be expecting a thrilling drive. The 2018 Hyundai Tucson also stands superior in terms of practicality and cargo space, which certainly is an important factor in the case of compact SUVs.
2018 Chevrolet Trax vs Ford EcoSport
Both of these subcompact SUVs offer decent performance and fuel efficiency. However, the Chevy Trax offers more horsepower than the 3-cylinder Ford EcoSport. On the fuel economy front, the Ford EcoSport averages a few more city miles than the Chevy Trax. Most of the interior space is quite similar, given that the EcoSport is shorter in length, but the passenger capacity and cabin space appear to be the same. The Ford EcoSport is cheaper than the Chevy Trax on both the entry and top trim level, offering a competitive advantage over its Chevy counterpart.
The 2018 Chevy Trax has made a bold entry in the rapidly growing sub-compact SUV market in the United States. Buyers will appreciate the updated infotainment and its convenience features. The introduction of new multimedia technologies and features does boost Trax's image in this highly competitive segment and can potentially make it sell better than its Ford and Hyundai counterparts. The 2018 Chevrolet Trax holds a sweet spot in the subcompact SUV segment, thanks to the outstanding safety ratings and features. If you are eager to look beyond the Ford EcoSport's below-average engine, the Trax will be a reliable and comfortable crossover.