The average price of a Chevrolet in February 2025 was $48,345
Chevrolet
Given that the average salary in the U.S. is $65,470, most Chevrolets are out of reach for many buyers; this is unfortunate considering that Chevrolet is allegedly GM’s most reasonably priced brand. These numbers make the 2025 Chevrolet Trax a revelation. At $22,590, including destination charge, it is less than half as expensive as the typical Chevrolet and among the least expensive vehicles you can buy in the United States.
For that money, what do you get? A much better car than you may think. Even though it stakes out its space at the bottom end of the market, the 2025 Chevrolet Trax offers exceptional value for the money. Its youthful, athletic vibe doesn’t look as if you settled for the bargain basement. It also looks lower than its rivals but still possesses a minimum ground clearance of 7.3 inches.
Open the door, and you’ll find its interior to be very spacious, offering 98 cubic feet of passenger space and 26 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 54 cubic feet with the seats folded. Legroom is surprisingly good with a car-like driving position. Depending on how much you’re willing to spend, you can get a wireless charger, power sunroof, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a roof rack that can carry up to 220 pounds. An 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot come standard. An 11-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard on upper trim levels and is paired with an 8-inch digital instrument cluster.
Chevrolet
Like so many of the Chevrolet Trax’s competitors, the Trax’s shortcoming resides beneath the hood. There, you’ll find a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine generating 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque through a 6-speed automated transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is not available. It’s EPA rated at 29 mpg in combined city/highway driving and uses regular fuel. The maximum towing capacity is 1,263 pounds.
Despite the small engine, there’s enough low-end torque to play in traffic as the Trax proves to be a capable dance partner. It feels winded when merging onto highways, but there’s little body lean when turning, and the steering feels light and accurate. Shift behavior surpasses that of CVTs used by its rivals, while the ride, road, and tire noise are about what you’d expect. It’s very compelling, but you might be curious as to what else is available. Let’s take a look.
Buick Envista
Buick
With an upscale allure that belies its $24,795 starting price, including destination charge, the 2025 Buick Envista is $2,205 pricier than the mechanically identical Chevrolet Trax. The extra coin is due to the 2025 Buick Envista’s upmarket, sophisticated sensibility that comes from its sloping rear, a styling gimmick used by some of the world’s toniest nameplates. Given its different design, the Envista boasts 100 cubic feet of passenger volume but only 21 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 42 cubic feet with the seats stowed. Ground clearance is slightly higher, at 7.5 inches. Adding a roof rack allows you to carry 176 pounds, but it spoils the Envista’s chic appearance.
The Buick’s powertrain is identical to the Chevrolet’s, although the Envista is EPA-rated at 30 mpg, and the towing capacity is mysteriously higher at 1,500 pounds. Inside, there’s a fetching mid-century modern-shaped screen housing with an 11-inch infotainment screen and an 8-inch digital gauge cluster with a standard integrated Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Wireless phone charging is available.
Hyundai Venue
Hyundai
At $21,620, the 2025 Hyundai Venue undercuts the Chevrolet Trax by $970, and you can fully option this buggy for less than the cost of other vehicles’ starting prices. With 91.9 cubic feet of passenger space, it gives up capacity to the 18.7 cubic foot cargo hold, which expands to 32 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Its roof rack can also carry an additional 120 pounds of stuff, and it even has 6.7 inches of ground clearance.
Power comes from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that feeds 121-horsepower through a CVT automatic transmission to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is not offered. EPA rates the Venue at 31 mpg in combined city/highway driving on regular fuel. The maximum towing capacity is 1,100 pounds. There’s an impressive list of standard safety technology, an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, and standard Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and dual USB ports. Wireless phone charging is available. Thankfully, the Hyundai Venue’s interior makes up for its lethargy with poor off-the-line performance, which means merging onto a highway requires preparation. At speed, though, the Venue feels sprightly. Given its boatloads of equipment at prices mere mortals can afford, maybe it should have called the Hyundai Value.
Kia Soul
If any vehicle exemplifies the modern cheap chic SUV, it’s the $21,885 Kia Soul. Fun, funky, and quirky, the Kia Soul provides 101 cubic feet of passenger space, 24 cubic feet of cargo space that expands to 62 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that sends its power solely to the front wheels through a CVT. EPA-rated fuel mileage is a combined 30 mpg on regular fuel, its maximum towing capacity is 1,135 pounds, and its roof rack capacity tops out at 165 pounds.
Of course, there’s standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with an 8- or 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, depending on the trim. Uniquely, it offers a host of hedonistic features like two-tone paint, a heated steering wheel, wireless smartphone charging, a head-up display, a Harman Kardon audio system, heated seats, and ambient lighting. There’s even 6.7 inches of ground clearance. Despite its sort 165-inch length, the Soul provides a surprising amount of space both front and rear. Its performance and handling, while nothing extraordinary, prove fairly satisfying, given its market segment. Its personality wins out over whatever flaws you may find. You might, just might, want to name it.
Nissan Kicks Play
Nissan USA
Nissan did unveil a new Kicks for the 2025 model year, yet it still offers the previous generation as the Kicks Play, with a starting price of $22,910, including destination charge. Like day-old bread, it offers a little less than something fresh but at a lower cost. Its 122-horsepower four-cylinder engine and CVT provide power to the front wheels, but patience is required. All-wheel drive is not offered, but the Kicks Play’s 33 mpg EPA rating makes up for it. As you might imagine, it’s not rated for towing, but it has 8.4 inches of ground clearance, and the roof rack can hold 100 pounds. Inside, there are 25 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 32 cubic feet with them folded. And it does have a touchscreen, albeit a seven-inch one. Its low price is attractive, but it’s not the only model here to offer one. Still, it can be a good choice if a rock-bottom price is the main objective.
Final Thoughts
Chevrolet
The Chevrolet Trax’s competitive price, contemporary design, and good feature content make for a compelling temptation in the entry-level SUV class. This is a group offered solely with front wheel drive to keep prices down in a very price-sensitive part of the market. None will offer the thrills that spending a few thousand more will get you, but you’ll be surprised how well the Chevrolet, Buick, and Kia behave. The Buick offers Ruth Chris’ Steak House élan at Burger King prices. The Kia Soul is oozing funky, quirky charm. The Hyundai Venue has a host of tempting features at a rock-bottom price, but space is at a premium. And the Nissan Kicks Play is just a heavily marked-down item. All should satisfy, but it’s what you plan on doing with them that will make the difference.
About the author
Larry Printz
Contributing Writer, Autoblog