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Honda’s HR-V does better (28/35 for the front-driver), and so does the always-all-wheel Subaru Crosstrek (26/34 city/highway).
Estimates of 25 miles per gallon in city driving and 33 on the highway (or 24/30 for the AWD car I drove) are not super competitive. But on a few rare stretches of open road, over 40 miles per hour, you can feel the 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque struggle not to feel slow. Chevy probably had us stick to city driving because that’s where the mild torque-pop from this little engine feels most effective. The only powertrain offered is the 1.4-liter turbo four and a six-speed automatic transmission. Light and quick, the steering shouldn’t be an issue while dicing with Sprinters and hipster bikes to get into the turn lane, or to grab the good spot in the Jewel-Osco parking lot. On that same tip, the steering calibration seems just right for city driving. My day in Chicago was spent traversing the city, and the Trax offered both great visibility and easy parking/maneuvering ability on the route. And the small-but-tall body shape (admittedly one shared with lots of stuff in this class) is great for city driving.
Especially with the rear seats folded, there’s a massive amount of space for hauling stuff around.
I believe most folks will find this to be a cheerful and functional small car.By and large I think the change in appearance, inside and out, represents an improvement. This wouldn’t be a facelift without a new front and rear fascia and an updated interior, too.Keyless-open doors and a push-button start fit the theme of easy-operation.
#2017 CHEVROLET TRAX LT AWD ANDROID#
The new instrument cluster is cleaner and easier to read, and now-available Apple CarPlay and Android Auto do the same for the touchscreen-based infotainment system.
Stuff that’s new for 2017 is mostly stuff I’d want, if I wanted a Trax.