Shopping for a vehicle can seem pretty intimidating, especially if you don’t have much experience with it or if it’s been a while since you last bought a car. Even if you have experience with car shopping, sorting through all the details of multiple models is a lot of work; it’s important, though, and well worth the effort.
Deciding on a specific vehicle, like the 2024 Chevy Trax, is a great first step, but you still have some crucial decisions to make after that. Redesigned for the 2024 model year after taking last year off, the all-new Chevy Trax is incredibly affordable and has excellent standard features. You don’t have to worry about numerous engine choices or anything like that, but you do have five different trim levels to choose from—so let’s take a look at these trims to see which one is right for you.
The Chevy Trax LS
We’ll start with the start: the LS is the entry-level trim for the Trax and is the fount of the standard features. You can still opt for available improvements if you’re interested in cherry-picking upgrades, but this is the baseline choice for the Trax. In terms of performance, the LS has the same engine as every other model: a 1.2L Turbo that delivers 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque, which is plenty of power for a compact crossover, and it pairs with a six-speed automatic transmission for a smooth driving experience.
Inside the Trax LS, you’ll find an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, a four-speaker sound system, support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and cloth-trimmed seating. The LS has a six-way manually-adjustable driver’s seat, a four-way front-passenger seat, and a 3.5-inch Driver Information Center display to compliment the gauges. Other standard features include cruise control, Remote Keyless Entry (which lets you lock and unlock the doors with the key fob), and single-zone climate control.
One of my favorite things about the all-new 2024 Trax is that it comes with the Chevy Safety Assist package standard on every model. That means even the LS trim has advanced driver assistance features like a Forward Collision Alert with Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, and a Following Distance Indicator to warn you if you’re too close to a vehicle ahead of you. You also get Lane Keep Assist with a Lane Departure Warning to help you avoid drifting while on the road, plus IntelliBeam headlamps that automatically turn your high beams on and off based on visibility and traffic conditions around you. Altogether, this is a great start for the Trax, and numerous piecemeal upgrades are available if your budget allows for it.
The Chevy Trax 1RS
The next step up for the Trax, the 1RS trim, includes several snazzy additional features for a small increase in price. Many of these upgrades are found outside the Trax: for example, the standard LS model comes with 17-inch wheels, a basic front grille, and black mirror caps; with the 1RS trim, you get 18-inch black painted machined aluminum wheels, a black grille insert, black front and rear bowtie emblems, and red RS badging on the exterior. This model also comes with high-gloss black mirror caps for an added touch of sophistication.
You’ll find a number of upgrades inside the 1RS, such as heated front seats, which can be great if you live somewhere that gets very cold in the winter. The 1RS also has a heated, flat-bottom steering wheel for a “sports car” feel, as well as handy Remote Start functionality. One of the best things about Remote Start is that you can preset weather preferences, so the Trax’s climate control system comes on when you start it remotely, letting you climb into a toasty cabin even when it’s freezing outside.
The Chevy Trax LT
The LT is an interesting trim; it costs slightly more than the 1RS and includes some upgrades and notable differences. It lacks the aesthetic touches of the 1RS—the LT has 17-inch gray wheels, body-color mirror caps, and none of the unique badging and details of the RS trims. But, it makes up for this with some fantastic upgrades inside: you get an 11.0-inch infotainment display with a six-speaker sound system and an 8.0-inch Driver Information Center screen. The LT doesn’t come with heated seats or a heated steering wheel—though they are available—so consider how important those things are to you compared to the larger displays in this model.
The Chevy Trax 2RS
If what you really want is the best of the 1RS and the LT models combined, then the 2RS is a great choice—although it does cost more than the previous trims. With the 2RS, you get 19-inch black painted machined aluminum wheels and RS exterior trim details like a black grille insert, black front and rear bowtie emblems, and more. This model comes with heated side mirrors that are easy to adjust and keep clear in cold weather.
Inside the 2RS, you’ll find the 11.0-inch infotainment display and 8.0-inch Driver Information Center screen, along with a six-speaker sound system and Evotex seating. (Evotex is a synthetic, water-resistant material that resembles leather.) You get heated front seats, a heated flat-bottom steering wheel, and other features that combine the best of the two previous trims. Available features on this model include a wireless charger, power sunroof, and additional driver assistance technology like Adaptive Cruise Control, which can adjust your vehicle’s speed according to traffic flow rather than simply maintain speed.
The Chevy Trax Activ
If you like the features of the 2RS but prefer a different style, then there’s the Activ trim with the best of what you can get standard. The Activ features 18-inch black painted aluminum wheels, titanium roof-mounted side rails, heated power outside mirrors, and more. Activ exterior details include a body-color grille insert, black front and rear bowtie emblems, and other unique badging to make this model stand out.
The interior of the Activ model includes the same large screens as the last couple of trims, although you get an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat that you won’t find on them. It has a heated, wrapped steering wheel and atmospheric lighting that nicely ties the interior together. Much like the 2RS, the Activ also has a power sunroof and wireless smartphone charging dock available, along with additional driver assistance technology like Adaptive Cruise Control, a Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert to help you avoid colliding with a vehicle hiding in your blind spot, and a Rear Cross Traffic Alert that warns you when a vehicle is approaching behind you while you are in reverse.
Which Trax Is Right for You?
Overall, you can see that all five of these trim levels have a lot to offer, and the differences between them can be fairly minor. To keep things as budget-friendly as possible, the starting LS model is a fantastic choice with great interior features and excellent safety technology. The two RS trims add some stylish touches, though I prefer the upgrades of the LT trim when it comes to getting the most for your money. If it fits your budget, the Activ is a great option that costs pretty much the same as the 2RS, so your choice there really comes down to the style you prefer.
At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with the all-new 2024 Chevy Trax; it’s just a matter of figuring out which features you need most and making sure you get the best of them.
