Chevrolet News:Chevy Trax to Start at $20,995; Launch January 2015

[Drew Dowdell]

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Chevrolet's littlest crossover, the Chevy Trax will launch in January 2015 with a base price of $20,995. Front-wheel-drive is standard and all-wheel-drive will be a $1,500 stand alone option on all trim levels.

The Trax shares its platform with the already on sale Buick Encore and will likely share that vehicle's 5-star front and side crash test ratings.

The only engine offered is the familiar 1.4 litre turbo unit producing 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque and EPA rated for 26 mpg city and 34mpg highway in front wheel drive models. EPA estimated fuel economy for the AWD model was not officially announced, but we expect it to be about the same or slightly better as the Buick Encore AWD which rings in at 23/30 city/highway.

Notable features include Chevy's MyLink, 10 airbags, Onstar 4G-LTE onboard wifi, and Siri Eyes Free connectivity.

The Trax has already been on sale in other global markets outside of the US with over 155,000 sales to date.

GM Press Release on Page 2

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DETROIT – Chevrolet announced today that its newest U.S. model, the Trax, will start at $20,995.

Offering compact-car maneuverability with SUV style, space and versatility, the Trax will come equipped with a standard 1.4L turbocharged engine providing an EPA estimated 26 city and 34 highway mpg, 10 air bags, MyLink infotainment with a seven-inch touch screen, rearview camera, remote keyless entry and a 60/40-split fold-flat rear seat and fold-down front passenger seat offering more than 48 cubic feet of cargo space.

Additional features offered include a $1,500 all-wheel-drive option – available on all trim levels – making Trax the most affordable AWD model in the Chevrolet portfolio; remote start and segment-exclusive OnStar 4G LTE with built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Trax will also be the first in its class to offer Siri Eyes Free connectivity for compatible iPhone users.

The Trax is Chevrolet’s seventh small vehicle launch in four years. During that time, the brand’s share of the small-, compact- and mini-car segments has more than tripled.

“Trax is positioned to be a strong competitor in the emerging small-SUV market, which is expected to grow more than 80 percent in the next few years,” said Steve Majoros, Chevrolet director of car marketing.

The Trax, which goes on sale in January 2015, will be available in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels. It is already sold in 66 markets around the world with total sales of 155,000 to date.

Editors’ Note: Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price includes destination freight charge but excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Excludes other General Motors’ vehicles.

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[ocnblu]

Sweet little buggy.  A bit conservative compared to some of the other players in the segment... Juke especially, HR-V a little bit.  I think it will sell very well though.

[G. David Felt]

Cute bugger, I can see this as a popular auto for young people and for those wanting a small solid commuter auto especially with AWD.

[Drew Dowdell]

Sweet little buggy.  A bit conservative compared to some of the other players in the segment... Juke especially, HR-V a little bit.  I think it will sell very well though.

 

Conservative sells though... Chevy has a chance to corner the market on people who don't like the weird looking Juke.

 

There is also a material difference in interior room inside the Trax compared to the Juke.  When the front seat is adjusted for me, I can sit in the rear seat of the Trax.... not so with the Juke. 

[ZL-1]

Saw a white one (Spanish plates) this morning when driving into Lisbon. Nice; different enough from the Mokka you guys get as a Buick.

[yougojay]

These are nice sized SUV's - Really prefer the Encore, tho, it's very sharp. Wish Chevy would do away with that grill treatment. I am sure they will sell a bunch of them due to the price & size. I believe these are built on Gamma II

[Drew Dowdell]

Yes, they are Sonic related. 

 

Clearly I'm a fan... we've been very happy with our Encore.   My only wish (for the Buick) is that they could offer a bump in horsepower.  The 1.6T from Europe with 200 horsepower would be just about right.

 

Edit, or the 1.7 diesel they offer in the Mokka.

[G. David Felt]

Diesel would be awesome, Put in the 2.9L Duramax Diesel and let the Buggers Fly!

[Drew Dowdell]

Diesel would be awesome, Put in the 2.9L Duramax Diesel and let the Buggers Fly!

 

Would never fit.   I've been told that even the 2.0T is too big.  

The 1.7 diesel is probably near the top displacement they could get in there from the current available engines.  Anything more and they'd need to get fancy with cylinder counts (really big 3 cylinder) or go to a V4 arrangement. 

[G. David Felt]

Wonder if it could fit the Katech engineered, sold by Motus V4.

 

http://motusmotorcycles.com/american-v4

 

 

[regfootball]

the Trax will sell a bunch.  I saw a couple when i visited the rents up near the Canadian parts a few months ago.  They look great if a little cheap inside.  

 

People more and more want crossovers.  They want taller, easier to get in and out of, etc.  This will fit the bill and still make a great commuter.

 

I remember my selling days, having to sell SX4's.  Can't tell ya how many times more folks would buy a vehicle like that if at the time the Chevy's of the world were making them.  Trax is perfect at this time, if a tiny bit over priced.  The AWD in a small package will be a big draw in these parts.

 

BTW, people are asking insane prices for used AWD SX4's these days.  Proof to me that there are people looking for the small AWD cars.

[Drew Dowdell]

people, OEMs, everyone is asking insane prices for everything these days. there seems to be a huge inflation in pricing over the last 4 years.

[A Horse With No Name]

I do prefer the Buick, but think the Trax is the right car for the right time.

[smk4565]

I think this is a product that Chevy needs, but it is priced about $5k over the Kia Soul base.  And the Soul +! or whatever it is has a 164 hp 2 liter, and may add a turbo or awd soon.    I think the Soul looks better too.  Chevy may be a bit optimistic on pricing, put some options on a Trax and you are probably at $25k.

[Drew Dowdell]

With the exception the center stack, the interior on the Trax is substantially better than the Soul.

"may have AWD in the future" is a nice idea, but that doesn't sell cars to people who want AWD today.

[ocnblu]

If my truck plans fall through, this is plan B.  I like the blue, but I like the brown interior, and they don't match up well, so that's a dilemma.

[frogger]

I much prefer the Crosstrek but this should do well.

[G. David Felt]

The Chevy Trax in Mocca with the brown interior is just lovely, nice and warm.

[ocnblu]

I think the Satin Gray with the brown interior would go well together.

[G. David Felt]

[ocnblu]

Yup, the UPS Brown is sharp as heck too, but I am shy on dark colors after owning my second black vehicle (my first being my '83 S-10) and swearing off black/dark colors, because they show every mark.

[regfootball]

Brown/brown, quite dapper.

I worry about pricing, sice base Escapes sell for under 20g new.

But the package here is the appeal. Imagine granny living in a condo with indoor parking and small spaces. (Exactly what my parents have). Cars like this for older folks to park in those 8 foot stalls between columns and still have high seating.

Drew is nail on the head. Everything's gone up so much in 4 years. Soul aside this may be among the cheapest of cars we see going forward.

[daves87rs]

Slap and little intro rebate (to drive em in) and offer good leases, and I can see this moving quickly.....

[Drew Dowdell]

I think they'll sell just fine right out of the gate.  Buick has already been selling every Encore they can build. Trax has no similarly priced competition yet.

[G. David Felt]

Based on the one they had to look at in Seattle, These will sell like hotcakes. I actually expect them to sell out of AWD for the price point.

 

 

I love the color, but based on the web site and will take this in moca brown with the Brownstone interior.

[Drew Dowdell]

Did you sit in the driver's seat? Did you fit? I was noting the other day how our Encore seems to have more legroom than you'd expect from a car this size.

[G. David Felt]

Did you sit in the driver's seat? Did you fit? I was noting the other day how our Encore seems to have more legroom than you'd expect from a car this size.

Yes, I love the Encore, tight for me but doable as a daily commuter auto. Still not able to have someone sit behind me unless they are a very small adult or kid, but unlike other CUV's out there, the trax and encore I can actually sit in upright and comfy with head room and it would be fine for a 1-2hr drive. GM has really done an outstanding job with these auto's I am very excited and expect solid sales for the Trax just like the Encore.

 

One thing I will have to say is that I love the dash in the Trax, I actually think it is better than the Encore. That is what I think Buick needs to do, update and improve the Encore dash.

[Drew Dowdell]

 

Did you sit in the driver's seat? Did you fit? I was noting the other day how our Encore seems to have more legroom than you'd expect from a car this size.

Yes, I love the Encore, tight for me but doable as a daily commuter auto. Still not able to have someone sit behind me unless they are a very small adult or kid, but unlike other CUV's out there, the trax and encore I can actually sit in upright and comfy with head room and it would be fine for a 1-2hr drive. GM has really done an outstanding job with these auto's I am very excited and expect solid sales for the Trax just like the Encore.

 

One thing I will have to say is that I love the dash in the Trax, I actually think it is better than the Encore. That is what I think Buick needs to do, update and improve the Encore dash.

 

 

It's amazing that you fit in it and say that it would be okay as a commuter for you given your previous comments about other cars.  The Trax is shorter in length than a Sonic Sedan!

[G. David Felt]

 

 

Did you sit in the driver's seat? Did you fit? I was noting the other day how our Encore seems to have more legroom than you'd expect from a car this size.

Yes, I love the Encore, tight for me but doable as a daily commuter auto. Still not able to have someone sit behind me unless they are a very small adult or kid, but unlike other CUV's out there, the trax and encore I can actually sit in upright and comfy with head room and it would be fine for a 1-2hr drive. GM has really done an outstanding job with these auto's I am very excited and expect solid sales for the Trax just like the Encore.

 

One thing I will have to say is that I love the dash in the Trax, I actually think it is better than the Encore. That is what I think Buick needs to do, update and improve the Encore dash.

 

 

It's amazing that you fit in it and say that it would be okay as a commuter for you given your previous comments about other cars.  The Trax is shorter in length than a Sonic Sedan!

 

I agree with you that for all subcompacts I usually cannot fit in them. I believe since this car sits up taller that it gives me the headroom and ability to sit straight up. Yes my knees are rubbing the center console and door, but as I said, for a commuter to the office or running errands around town, short drives I can be in this car. Chevy really has given interior space on this much like the Buick Encore. I would hate to have to be the person trying to sit behind me, but next time I get into an Encore or a Trax, I will have someone take a picture so you all can see.

 

I am impressed with this LT as it was very popular at the Seattle Auto Show. People really liked it as did the crowd that was around the 2015 SS. The one they had was in Red.