2013 Chevrolet Trax - Chevy's Smallest SUV Offers Big-Time Appeal On A Budget

How many small vehicles can one showroom hold?  If you're Chevrolet, the answer to that question is six: the Spark, the Sonic, the Cruze, the Orlando, the Equinox, and now the new 2013 Chevrolet Trax.  The Chevrolet Trax is a subcompact SUV that aims to lure in budget-conscious buyers looking for the additional security of all-wheel drive combined with the practicality of a hatchback crossover vehicle. 

Is the addition of the Trax to an line-up that is already heavy with small SUVs a mistake, or is the new Chevrolet different enough from its siblings to warrant serious consideration from entry-level shoppers?  We were in California last week to drive the 2013 Chevrolet Trax and get a first-hand impression of just where, exactly, the new SUV fits into the grand scheme of things for the domestic automaker.

• Also: 2013 Chevrolet Trax: Small, But Useful
• Also: Chevrolet Trax: Small but generous

Definitely Small

The first thing that hits you when looking at the 2013 Chevrolet Trax is its size.  Specifically, this is one very small SUV, a vehicle whose tight proportions are enhanced by the stubby nose and short rear overhangs that bookend the automobile.  When evaluated against its relatively tall roofline and decent width, however, the diminutive profile offered by the Trax is actually quite endearing.

Inside, the Chevrolet Trax doesn't feel nearly as tight as it would suggest when walking up to the crossover.  The vehicle's driver and front passenger spots are quite comfortable, with reasonable room for the shoulders, legs, and hips.  The second row of seating checks in as acceptable for adult passengers, and the cargo area between the rear seatback and the hatch is capable of swallowing a couple of duffle bags or a full load of groceries.  Folding down the rear accommodations reveals 1370 litres of total cargo space, with an additional cubby available under the vehicle's rear load floor.  The front seat can also fold flat for hauling longer items.

The pre-production Trax that we drove was a mixed bag in terms of how its interior presented itself.  Fit and finish wasn’t quite up to par in terms of what we can expect when the SUV eventually hits showrooms, but even so we were disappointed by the plasticky feel of most of the vehicle's surfaces - especially on the door panels.  There's nothing particularly upscale about the Trax, which is to be expected given its entry-level status, but other affordable Chevrolets feature more pleasant passenger compartments that don't make the same kinds of compromises.

The Chevrolet MyLink system, which comes standard on higher trim levels, helps to improve the crossover's tech quotient.  The seven-inch LCD screen in our tester was inviting to use and pleasant to look at, and it offered easy integration with mobile devices.  The intuitive touchscreen will eventually offer pairing with a navigation app will allow for in-car directions by way of the driver's smart phone.

Turbocharged For Power and Economy

The 2013 Chevrolet Trax features a single engine option for the Canadian market, leaving behind the diesel units that will be available in Europe.  The Canadian Trax is offered exclusively with a 1.4-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes use of a turbocharger in order to develop 138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque - a mill that will be familiar to anyone who has ever driven a Chevrolet Sonic or Chevrolet Cruze.  Transmission choices include six-speed manual and six-speed automatic units, and all-wheel drive is offered on LT and LTZ models (but not on the base LS).

Our ride for most of the day through the hilly roads that surround San Rafael was a Chevrolet Trax LTZ featuring both all-wheel drive and the six-speed autobox.  From an acceleration perspective the Trax acquitted itself well, never feeling sluggish either off of the line or when pulling out to pass some of the slower, less confident drivers intimidated by the sea cliffs that dropped off just to the right of the highway we were traveling down.  The six-speed automatic's ratios felt well-matched to the engine's power band, which is important when paired with a small-displacement turbocharged motor.  Fuel mileage for the Chevrolet is listed at 7.8 litres/100 km city and 5.7 litres / 100 km highway when outfitted with the manual transmission, and slightly thirstier for the automatic.

Interestingly, the 'on-demand' all-wheel drive system outfitted to the Trax is designed to start out powering all four wheels from a stop in order to maximize launch capability.  In normal driving, the system defaults to motivating just the front wheels unless a loss of traction is detected, whereupon it redistributes torque to the appropriate axles.  Ride quality was good in the Chevrolet Trax, although the ultra-smooth pavement we encountered during our drive didn’t give us many opportunities to punish the suspension.  Interior noise was present, but not at levels that would irritate driver or passengers even on longer trips.

Is There A Place For The Chevrolet Trax?

The 2013 Chevrolet Trax is being sold in well over 100 global markets - but not in the U.S., where strong sales of the Chevrolet Equinox are keeping the crossover restricted to Canada and Mexico in terms of its North American presence.  Does Chevrolet have to worry about the Trax cannibalizing Equinox sales in our fair land as well?

Honestly, no.  The Chevrolet Trax is so much smaller than the Equinox that it would be hard to picture potential customers cross-shopping the two vehicles against each other.  The five-passenger Trax is intended to appeal to families who want the practicality of an SUV without having to deal with the parking problems, fuel consumption, and truck-like handling that can sometimes come with them.

In that respect, the new crossover does a good job with its car-like ride, bold but not aggressive styling, and good amounts of usable interior space.  It also offers the advantage of all-wheel drive and a lifted ride height when compared against the seven-passenger Orlando, important considerations for snow-bound Canadian drivers.  The passenger compartment might not be on the same level as the exterior styling, but as a family transporter there's a lot to like about the newest member of the Chevrolet Family.