SUVs are appealing because they’re spacious, easy to get in and out of, and they’re typically not too pricey to keep fueled. With an SUV, you’ll get more space than a car, and slightly less height than a truck. Chevy SUVs are great because there’s a model for everyone. From the simple Trailblazer to the fancy Suburban, Chevy SUVs are as simple or as luxurious as you need them to be. Vehicles like the Chevy Trax are an affordable yet dependable Chevy SUV that you should look at when looking for a new car.
The Chevrolet Trax hits all the marks, plus, it has an affordable price tag. If you’re looking for cheaper Chevy SUVs, the Trax is a great place to begin. It seats up to 5 passengers, gets an average 28 miles per gallon, and its all-wheel drive availability provides you with better traction without hitting the mileage too hard. In fact, the all-wheel drive gets an average of 26 miles per gallon, which is just 2 miles less than the standard front-wheel drive Trax. There are many Chevy SUVs on the market, but the Trax is a more practical model if you’re looking for affordability and easy daily commutes.
Cargo And Passenger Space
Let’s start off by looking at how much this crossover can carry. One of the Trax’s best features is its cargo space. This is adjustable thanks to its 8 different seating configurations, and its flat and split-folding seats. This combination provides a lot of available space. The 2021 Trax has a max cargo volume of 48.4 cu.ft. and a length of 8 ft. Additionally, this model offers almost 93 cu.ft. of passenger space, with approximately 41-in of legroom in the front seat. Despite being a smaller SUV, it’s comfortable and not cramped like other smaller crossovers can be.
Safety
With more J.D. Power awards than any other brand in the past 5 years, it’s safe to say that Chevy SUVs are great to keep you protected on the road. The 2021 Trax is no exception. It has an overall 5-star NHTSA safety rating and comes with standard rear park assist with other optional driver’s assist features. The Trax is built with a high-strength safety cage for added impact protection, and it includes 10 airbags to help soften the blow in case of an accident. To top it all off, the available OnStar feature comes with everything you’ll need to stay safe in case of an emergency, such as an automatic crash response to ensure your safety and help dispatch emergency services, and a stolen vehicle locator in the rare chance your vehicle gets stolen.
The Differences Between the LS and the LT
Unlike the 2020 Trax model, the 2021 Trax only comes in two trims, the LS and the LT. The Premium option is no longer in the lineup. Both trims have turbocharged 138 hp four-cylinder engines, and both come in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The only differences lie in aesthetic appeal and standard features. Let’s take a look at the exterior and exterior appearance differences first.
The LS’s Aesthetic
The LS is a sporty little crossover, and it’s available in 8 different colors. These exterior color options include Midnight Blue, Silver Ice Metallic, Summit White, Mosaic Black Metallic, Crimson Metallic, Black Cherry Metallic, Stone Gray Metallic, and Shadow Gray Metallic. It looks like you’re in luck if gray and silver options are your forte.
The LS also comes with 16-inch aluminum wheels, Jet Black/Cloth seat trim, or Jet Black/Light Ash Gray cloth seating. You can add front and rear splash guards or deep-tinted glass for no extra price. If you’re looking to spend extra on customization, you can also add front and rear black bowtie emblems or a front license plate bracket. Wheel locks are also available to prevent potential wheel and tire thievery.
The LS’s Features
This base trim comes with several features, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to support all phone users, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, a 7-inch infotainment center, and a six-speaker sound system. You can also add any of several available packages, some of which include an Interior Protection Package, which has a cargo mat and all-weather floor mats. These mats are a nice upgrade from the stock mats because they’re slick, making it easier to clean and wipe off the mud after the kids come stomping in after soccer practice. There’s also a Tint and Cruise package, which includes deep-tinted glass and even cruise control to add a little convenience in there. In short, there are additional ways to add on to the LS without moving onto the LT. It just depends on how fancy you want to go.
The LT’s Aesthetic
The highest-level trim is the LT, and it comes with all the aforementioned colors with an additional Iridescent Pearl Tricoat option. It also comes with more interior seating trim options, including Jet Black leatherette and Jet Black/Light Ash Gray leatherette, an upgrade from cloth. The good news is that if you prefer cloth over leather, you can still get cloth seats in the LT. You’re not forced to have a leatherette interior. Additionally, thanks to the LT’s Midnight, Redline, and Sport editions, the LT comes with added 18-inch Gloss Black or Black finish aluminum wheels with red accent stripes. These definitely add flare that the regular 16-inch aluminum wheels do not.
As far as add-ons are concerned, you can add a black grille with black surround, and everything else that the LS has to offer. On top of the special edition customization packages, there’s a Road trip Package, a Premium Seat Package, and a Lifestyle Package. All these options include further customization options. For example, the Road Trip package comes with roof rack cross rails and all-weather floor mats. Many of the packages include similar items, so it depends on which ones appeal the most to you.
The LT’s Features
The LT comes with more standard features than the LS, including cruise control, LED running lights, roof rails, heated outside mirrors, and remote start. There’s also a lot of available packages that include tech options. The Driver Confidence Package comes with Rear Park Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Side Blind Zone Alert to provide you with all your extra safety needs. This doesn’t mean you get to stop paying attention to the road, it just means that you’ll have a dependable backseat artificial intelligence there to catch your attention if you get distracted.
Moving on, the LT Convenience Package speaks for itself as it comes with keyless open and start, a 6-way power driver seat, and 2 spare keys. Additionally, the LT has optional features such as blind-spot monitoring, keyless ignition and entry, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat to further elaborate on the whole safety and convenience thing.
Should I Get The LS Or The LT?
The base-level LS trim is the cheapest, starting at $21,400 for the front-wheel drive, and $22,020 for the all-wheel drive version. This doesn’t include add-ons or extra packages of course. As all higher trims, the LT is pricier, starting at $23,200 for the front-wheel drive version, and $23,820 for the all-wheel drive option. Your best choice depends on whether or not the LT’s additional features are relevant to you. If the extra tech and aesthetic stuff aren’t important to you and you’re trying to save money, and the LS trim is your best bet. It comes with the same engine and gets the same gas mileage as the LT, but for a lower price.
No matter which option you choose, the Chevy Trax will be a great SUV for you to pick up. With a small size that is easily maneuverable and an excellent fuel economy, this SUV should be able to tick off all your SUV boxes.
