Introduction

The principal selling point for the 2020 Chevrolet Trax boils down to price. Anyone planning to drive home a Trax is advised to purchase a low-cost model. That said, tangible virtues aren't wholly absent. In addition to an urban-friendly footprint, the subcompact crossover provides good visibility along with ease of entry/exit. 

Part of Chevrolet's lineup since 2015, the Trax was freshened two years later. Little has changed for the 2020 model year, meaning it still comes in three trim levels: LS, LT and Premier. 

Beneath the hood of each Trax, a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine makes a modest 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. A 6-speed automatic transmission works with standard front-wheel drive. For more confidence in harsh weather, all-wheel drive adds just $1,500 to the total price. 

A small footprint and relatively low weight make the Trax competitive in fuel economy. The FWD version is EPA-rated at 26 mpg city, 31 highway, and 28 combined. All-wheel drive drops efficiency to 24/29/26 mpg. 

Especially when considering its diminutive dimensions, the Trax has performed admirably in crash testing. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall safety rating, and it earned the top score of 'Good'? on every IIHS crash test but one. 

The total lack of automatic emergency braking gives the Trax a demerit, essentially outweighing its good crash test scores. The Nissan Kicks and the Mazda CX-3, for instance, offer automatic emergency braking. 

All Trax models get 10 airbags and a rearview camera, but even the top-rung Premier's list of advanced safety features is limited to forward-collision warnings. If safety is a priority, picking a bigger crossover with more up-to-date safety technology might be prudent. 

Lineup

The Chevy Trax is available in LS, LT, and Premier trim levels. 

The base Trax LS starts at $22,295 including destination, bringing a four-way manual driver's seat, cloth upholstery, a flat-folding front passenger seatback, air conditioning, power door locks, and a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. 

The $24,195 LT trim upgrades to LED taillights and daytime running lights, heated power mirrors, cruise control, remote start, tinted rear windows, and upgraded interior trim elements. 

The range-topping Premier is priced from $28,595. It adds heated front seats, a six-way power driver's seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a Bose seven-speaker audio system, 18-inch wheels, and a sunroof, as well as lane-departure and forward-collision warnings. 

Walkaround

Compared to other subcompact crossovers, the Chevy Trax looks downright elderly.
Aesthetics and design elegance are emphatically not among its virtues. The best that might be said about visual appeal is that it's basically anonymous. 

On the road, a Trax falls way short in charisma and character. No amount of practical utility can overcome its bodily proportions, which may best be described as ungainly. 

Interior

A bit on the drab side, the Trax cabin is more spacious than it appears at a glance. On the whole, it's about as pleasant as interiors of similarly-priced competitors. 

Basic cloth upholstery in the base model feels pretty ordinary, but the LT version features a nicer fabric, as well as some bright trim. Premier trim replaces cloth with synthetic leather. 

Front seats are firm, with four-way manual adjustment for the driver's side. Six-way power adjustment is standard at Premier level. Only the driver's seat is fitted with an armrest. 

Two adults fit into the back seat, but a third is sure to balk at the idea, especially for anything other than a short trek. A long-legged rider in the center position will feel especially unwelcome. Otherwise, rear-seat space is more generous than might be expected for such a small car. 

Because Trax passengers sit higher than in most subcompact cars, they can expect better views of the road ahead. The 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen dominates a dashboard that contains few controls. 

Cargo space is a strong point, measuring 18.7 cubic feet behind the back seat. Folding down that seatback expands volume to a useful 48.4 cubic feet. For this segment, that's a definite bonus. 

Driving Impression

At 167.7 inches in overall length, the Trax is tempting for urban dwellers who must contend with tight parking spots. Otherwise, driving one is a rather lackluster, unmemorable experience. 

Performance, as expected from the small engine, might best be described as meager. While adequate on city streets, the Trax inevitably falls short when the need to keep up with highway traffic comes along. Close attention must be paid in order to extract as much energy as possible from the tiny turbo-4. 

Then again, anemic responses are par for the course in the subcompact crossover segment. The Trax is essentially no better and no worse. 

Not so long ago, a 6-speed automatic transmission was considered wholly sufficient. The Trax demonstrates that this rule is no longer true. Shifts are sluggish, likely resulting from an attempt to keep highway fuel economy satisfactory, but the driving experience suffers. 

Steering is pleasantly quick, making the Trax quite nimble in around-town maneuvers. For highway travel, the little crossover can feel less than fully stable, even tending to dart back and forth. The likely culprit is its short wheelbase and relatively high center of gravity. A Trax may not be prudent for long road trips, if the driver is less than wholly attentive. 

Front-wheel-drive models have old-fashioned rear drum brakes, but disc brakes all around are installed with all-wheel drive. Either way, braking prowess is more than adequate for daily driving. 

Summary

Budget-priced with a tall ride height, the 2020 Chevy Trax doesn't have much else to offer. Safety features are in short supply, the base model is pretty plain, and it isn't so reasonably priced when options are added in. 

If the Trax still appeals, it's prudent to stick with the base trim level. Spending more doesn't bring all that much in the way of useful features. Even the moderately-priced base version of a larger crossover might be better equipped. 

-by James M. Flammang, with driving impressions from The Car Connection.