As we pointed out, the Trax is relatively easy to drive in city traffic and fit into tight parking spaces. Just how small is the Trax? Compared to a Ford Escape, the Chevrolet Trax is 244 mm (9.6 in.) shorter overall, 63 mm (2.5 in.) narrower, and 10 mm (0.4 in.) lower in height. The Trax driver sits up higher than most car drivers for better visibility, and when reversing, the optional rearview camera offers a wide view with guidelines to help when parking between two cars. As well, the rear parking sensors beep more frequently when approaching solid objects allowing you to judge the distance to walls and obstacles more accurately.
    2014 Chevrolet Trax AWD LT. Click image to enlarge |
Though the electric power steering is not speed sensitive, it’s not difficult to turn the wheel when parallel parking; and the Trax’s turning circle of 11.2 m (36.7 ft.) is tight enough for typical U-turns. Being tall and narrow, the Trax feels a bit tippier than compact SUVs in high-speed turns, but for everyday commuting, it feels quite stable over the road. The ride is surprisingly comfortable for a short vehicle with a short wheelbase; the suspension absorbs bumps well and suspension noises are well damped. At cruising speeds, the loudest sound in the cabin is tire noise coming from its Continental Conti Pro Contact 205/70R16-inch all-season tires.
  2014 Chevrolet Trax AWD LT. Click image to enlarge |
With 148 lb-ft of torque at just 1,850 rpm, the Trax’s turbocharged 1.4L four-cylinder engine is very responsive in the 0 to 60 km/h range which makes it ideal for city driving. Whether accelerating from traffic lights or merging into the next lane, the Trax’s turbocharged engine feels more powerful than its 138 horsepower might otherwise indicate. In a 0 to 100 km/h sprint, a Trax FWD automatic model took 10.3 seconds, according to AJAC performance data. While not quick, it’s only half a second slower than a 178-hp Ford Escape 1.6L EcoBoost model, which has a time of 9.9 seconds, according to AJAC. The engine is growly under acceleration, but once cruising speed has been reached on the freeway, engine noise is muted; engine revs in top gear at a constant 100 km/h are just 2,000 rpm. The six-speed automatic transmission never misses a beat and can be changed manually by pressing a button on the side of the shift lever.
Though its official fuel consumption numbers are 8.7 city/6.5 hwy (27/36 mpg US), our Trax LT AWD test car was showing an average of 9.5 L/100 km (25 mpg US) in a week of urban-heavy driving.
The Trax’s optional on-demand all-wheel-drive system is invisible to the driver, running in front-wheel drive at speeds above 5 km/h unless rear wheel slip is detected, in which case some power is diverted to the rear wheels. This AWD system is completely automatic and doesn’t offer a driver-selectable differential lock or hill descent control.
When we compared the Trax to four other mini-crossovers last year, it proved to be surprisingly comfortable, powerful and likeable, taking second place overall. Our follow-up test drive confirms that this mini-crossover is easy to drive and easy to live with, particularly for city dwellers who need a smaller vehicle. Our only significant criticisms are the cheap-looking LCD instrument display and misaligned dash and door panels.
Pricing: 2014 Chevrolet Trax AWD 1LT
Base price: $25,845
Options: $2,095 (Sound Package: Bose premium 7-speaker audio system with amplifier and Sirius XM satellite radio $775; Sound & Technology Package: MyLink Touchscreen, AM/FM radio, rearview camera, rear park assist $910; premium all-weather floor mats $160; 10 airbags including front knee airbags and rear side airbags ($150).
Freight/PDI: $1,600
A/C tax: $100
Price as tested: $29,630
Competitors:
Hyundai Tucson
Kia Sportage
Mitsubishi RVR
Nissan Juke
Subaru XV CrossTrek
Crash Test Results:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
