What a huge upgrade over the previous generation, really cool looking and a lot of good features for the price. Great review with tons of info, thank you!
My wife thinks the 2024 Trax are cute. It think the 2016 we still have has a lot more miles left in it. It also is a no options model. 70,000 miles. Oh and it sucks to drive it in snow. The 2004 RWD Envoy works better in snow and a lot of other ways. The good part. It ain't stylin enough for her to drive anymore. 200,000 + miles. it also is a base model.
I think the trick with these 3 cylinder engines is to be strict in following the oil change recommendations, and with every turbo, don't turn it off right away, but let it run for a minute or two to cool off after a long drive.
The major flaw with this 1.2L Turbo 3 is the wet timing belt. The science and engineering to make a belt withstand the harsh environment of being bathed in oil is still not there. Also, to inspect the belt requires replacing the sight glass each time (what?) which costs $200 to $300. Also, replacing the timing belt costs about $1000. By the time the belt should be replaced the car won't be worth much anyway. GM cars do not hold their value well so many people will not be interested in spending (or won't be able to afford) $1000 to replace the wet timing belt when it is due. Because the engine is an interference design the belt will break and blow up the engine before 100,000 miles no matter how meticulous you are with changing oil on time. It is a flawed design. Also, because this is a turbo charged engine it will wear out faster than a naturally aspirated engine. This car is not designed for very long term reliability. Maybe it will last 150,000 miles at the absolute extreme if you do the oil changes on time but not much more than that. Meanwhile, Toyota cars (most of them anyway) will last 250,000 to 300,000 miles if you do the maintenance and drive them reasonably. This one isn't that. GM screwed the pooch on this one with the wet timing belt and adding the turbo. They should have used a standard timing chain design (properly engineered with good quality). A 2.0 to 2.5L 16 Valve/VVT naturally aspirated engine with the standard six speed automatic transmission would have been adequate and would still get similar gas mileage.
I own the same vehicle and it's been great. I was apprehensive about the engine and numbers but after a test drive it was surprising. It has plenty of pep on take off and will snap you back in the seat. The trans shifts fine and the ride is softer and quieter than I expected with the low profile wheels. This is my daily driver and it's been great to drive, comfortable seats and all the nice tech. I don't believe he mentioned it has heated seats and steering wheel nor the adjustable gauge displays, plus all the other safety tech (adaptive cruise control) that other more expensive vehicles don't offer at this price. I paid $25K and it's an amazing bargain. I recently took several trips and averaged 42mpg, that's higher than the mfg rating. All the electronics work perfectly and it has a HD back up camera, and no rattles anywhere. The car is made in S. Korea so I believe the build quality is better. The 6 speaker stereo is even impressive, you can adjust the audio settings and it sounds better than other cars I have owned, all for $25K what a great deal. I have had many high rated cars such Honda and Hyundai which cost much more and this Chevy is better. The Honda had electronic glitches from audio to the door locks and the Sonata didn't even have a heated sterring wheel priced at over $31K. So test drive this vehicle you may be very surprised how nice it is. BTW I currentlly have 10K miles on it and no issues.
If you do have warranty parts issues. Good luck. There are very few parts available to dealers to service a warranty issue. Window motors, infotainment replacements, AC compressor etc. They can’t even give you a ballpark time when ordering parts
That is for the insight but if it is a major problem they have to give you a loaner, like ac, infotainment is questionable but I’m sure you could push it.
Looking to get a Chevy trax 2RS once I save up 27,000 dollars, it’s a nice vehicle and pretty affordable I don’t like the engine but I need a good brand new vehicle ……….I’ll have one soon though?
They are nice vehicles but keep in mind long term ownership and services. I would invest that kind of money first and get something used as it’s never a good idea to put all your money in a car 👍
I read A lot of complaints on 3 cyl engines. I just bought a 24 trax and I dont know how long it will last. Time will tell. But I thought the same thing over 20 years ago when I bought a Geo metro and I put over 200,000 miles on that 3 cyl. It still ran great but someone ran into the back of it and it went to the junk yard.
I own a 2024 trax 2rs. I have 1,883 miles on it, and i love it. I was bervous about a 3 cylinder engine, but that's what a lot of Gm products are going to including buick enclaves. It looks very sporty. I love the interior and all the accessories you can buy to customize per taste of owner. It has get up and go. Handles great around turns. Every car is the same. If you properly.maintenence it, it will last for a long time. I wouldn't change my decision on purchasing it.
I have a 2024 too. I was not going to buy it due to the 3 cylinder but it is very peppy. Im use to my 2018 turbo BMW so I was very picky. This is almost as fast as my turbo. I am not kidding. I love my trax and the color green. Super sharp.
Bought our Trax in early December 2023. Already have 6,500 miles on it. I was a bit apprehensive about buying it but we love it. Very roomy and gets actually pretty good gas mileage. It is rated for 32 mpg for highway driving. I drove to South Carolina (from Ontario) and back and averaged between 36 and 38 mpg driving through some pretty hilly areas. I drove with two sons and the back seat was so comfortable that neither one cared who was in the back and who was in the front. I heard that it did not handle well in high winds, but our drive home was extremely windy and it was very solid on the highway. All in all we couldn't be happier with our buy.
Everyone complaining about this but I bet they never drove a Nissan versa or a jeep renegade haha. I have had all 3 and this one is the best. I have driven everything from mini vans to trucks all different brands, everything has major problems. Toyota just released a recall the other day on 150k vehicles. Nothing is “good” we live in an age where no one can get anything without some form of problems.
Most of those problems stem from cascading demands from the EPA, and lack of quality control in the many suppliers of materials, from all over the world, that goes in every vehicle made now.
The only mistake that I can that I can see that Chevrolet made is that it is a much nicer car than the Trailblazer or the Blazer. The Blazer is bigger but not as attractive and in certain trims, twice the money. When I can buy 2 Trax for the cost of 1 Blazer you have to ask yourself, what am I getting worth the money.
In the "Blazer" you are getting a 308HP V6 that is much more refined than a 3-cyl. In the Blazer you get AWD and 4500lb towing capacity. Also, the Blazer is Quieter and smoother riding. Finally, the Blazer weighs almost 4300 lbs, which is going to make it SAFER in any crash! I don't feel that a NEW Blazer is a good value. That is why I bought a '20 Blazer 2LT, AWD, V6 a year ago. It had 53K miles on it and looks and runs NEAR NEW. I paid $25K OTD. Although it does not have ALL the "bells and whistles" that the Trax has which I don't need anyway. The ONLY thing I don't like is the mileage, but I knew THAT going in. Those 308 "horses" have to be fed, but the "smile" on your face when you put your foot down is worth it! As for the styling, it's subjective. The styling of MY Blazer is what made me pull the trigger. I have driven the Blazer for about 3K miles with ZERO issues and the 3 recalls (minor) were completed BEFORE I purchased the vehicle. There is one VERY minor thing that I will perform, the "bow tie" emblems will have the gold inserts painted BLACK! I will admit that the NEW Trax is VERY COOL looking, but i would not be satisfied with that PUNY engine. Just my $0.02 worth!!
The Asian Market has the shark fin antennae, power lift gate and AC vents in the back passengers as options. The US market version has been stripped down to make it affordable. I would choose the 1RS in Nitro Yellow with cloth seats and the key blade to start the engine, and the optional moonroof, roof rack and mudguards.
I don't have a lot of money so when I buy a Vehicle I have to keep it for a long time , I buy things with proven reliability that won't bite me later with large repair bills, So the Trax has a lot of issues with me as red flags, for one thing it has a Turbo that is another thing to break and added mechanical complexity vs a slightly larger motor that does not rely on a Turbo or need one, I would rather have a 4 cylinder that is weak over a turbo 3 cylinder, another issue is this vehicle is not even made by GM, it is made by a Korean company named Daewoo which is not world renown for reliability or quality another issue is the engine uses a timing belt and not a chain
I hear you but because of how inexpensive it is, this is a great value. Any vehicle that has similar specs in tech, safety, MPG’s, etc. will cost between 5-10k more. Prices on vehicles have increased and I get it but for a 20ish k vehicle 🤷♂️, it’s like getting a 8k tv that’s 100 inch for $1,000. People will complain but like anything you will have to service it and only time will tell on reliability. If something goes wrong in 3 and a half years and you put 40,000 plus miles and only changed oil then a $1000 bill comes, I think you have an overall good vehicles as you still saved over 4-9k from another one comparable 😉
@@horseathalt7308 if you drive a vehicle for 3 years and only do minimum services and then a problem happens. It’s like tires almost 80% of drivers in the USA can not afford 4 new tires. So should that be a problem too? If a person can not afford $1000 problem in a 3-4 year time (250 a year you could save 😉) then that driver needs to think priorities. Life cost money to live and sadly education is where we do not put the time 👍
@@BTC909 Why would anyone spend the money to buy such a disposable car in the first place? I doubt this car will last without serious problems for more than 60k at most.
Amazing….pple complain that the average price of a new car is so high. Now a small cheap good vehicle comes out and pple nitpick it to death. Bottom line is if the safety scores are there this car is a huge win
@@HawkeyeRides we almost bought it’s sister car from Buick, but intimately went with a slightly used vehicle. But I wouldn’t hesitate to revisit buying this or the Buick. Just depends on your needs and if you drive a ton maybe you want something slightly nicer but if you drive local and just need a nice new small car, this is a big win.
My only reservation is long term reliability. I really only want to hear from folks who have driven it for several thousand miles. I've decided to wait till year end to see how they are doing after a year on the road. I almost bought a new Bronco in 2021 and they have not been highly rated, lots of issues with the engines.
@@Theywaswrong that’s fair, but that is true of any nee car with no service history. But pple complaining that the engine will break without having any facts is just them saying they don’t like the engine because it’s. It fast. For the record the engine around town is fine
@@zygmundzygmundowski I’m not buying one but like almost ever auto company if they want to cover something they will but I have seen everyone of them say no too. Look at Toyota with the GR Corolla, you can find 3-4 case that Toyota didn’t warranty the engine. BMW did it a couple weeks ago on an M engine. Countless examples unfortunately and I can go on and on with them. Another point to take is the price of the vehicle (bmw isn’t a great example lol), anything that is inexpensive (I understand it’s still a lot), it’s not made to last forever and sadly this is the time we are in.
I love my 2024 1RS Fountain Blue Trax! The only thing I miss is the push button start! Not used to using my key to start my car. It is well worth the $ and the ride is awesome!!!
Hello Julius Smith, I would like to see your impressions about your Chevy Trax. There is no best review than the real owner. I am particularly interested in knowing if it has enough power and how quiet the cabin is. Let me know if you dare to make a video, you don't have to show your face.
Great review. I still want now even more so. Ive had cars and Suvs before with all the bells and whistles. Im in my mid 30s. I just want a more simple vehicle that will get me from A to B
I just placed a factory order for an LS with no options, scheduled for delivery in 60 days. Price out-the-door is $23,000. Seems like a lot of car for a relatively low price. I've located mud flaps, floor mats and a cargo mat on Amazon, all for about a quarter of the amount Chevrolet charges for the same items.
@@HawkeyeRides Then there are a lot of cars that if raised 2-3'' could be called, SUV. I have a Suzuki SX4 w/awd & a 7'' clearence. It is labled as an SUV. It's just a marketing ploy. I can't call it an SUV, any more than I can call a Porsche, a truck.
@gabepettinicchio7454 whatever sells is what they call them. I’m sure they can say an apple is an orange and after a couple years we all would say, oh yeah that’s a red orange 😁
It is a very nice car with a very flawed engine design. A wet timing belt was a mistake even more than having a tiny turbo charged engine. I do appreciate their inclusion of a standard 6 speed automatic transmission though.
We enjoy our 24 Trax LS. We had an issue with the windows not always working. The dealer replaced one motor, and so far, so good. We had a recall for the auto/shutoff that was addressed from the dealer. Still a nice riding suv.
@HawkeyeRides *This model is supposed to be an entry level car, the base car is priced at $20,400...for the LS model, yet NOWHERE can you find these on dealer lots* So Chevy just makes a handful of them to bait and switch most consumers!
I don’t know what you mean by bait and switch, when you buy this vehicle you know what you’re buying it’s not a secret. If this is what a person can afford then your other option is to buy used no one is saying buy the vehicle. Ps I only review vehicles 😉
@@HawkeyeRides What I mean is that they entice consumers with the lower priced entry level model but you CANNOT actually buy one, because they aren't on dealer lots. I would consider the base model LS at $20,400 but they are not out there anywhere from what I have found. Chevy only lists the LS price and only makes a few of these units so they can not be flagged on deceptive advertising and marketing.
@@horseathalt7308 I get it, you could order it but then it will be full price. When they first came out all I was able to find was ls models but now you are right it’s the high price trims.
@@HawkeyeRidesInteresting your experience when this model first debuted. All I saw were the expensive RS models from the beginning, I never found any LS models on the lots, ever around this area.
Bought an LS recently no options, for $20,400... plastic hubcaps and all. Dealer had listed 3 LS's I contacted them, two were still available. I told him to put a hold on the particular stock number and used my lunch break to go over (dealer is 5 miles from where i live) and put the downpayment. By the time I got off work the car was ready and my brother drove me to the dealership in the evening to pick it up. The car had been unloaded from freight to the dealership a day before i bought it. When I first looked at it, it still had the white plastic tape sheets protecting the hood and the hatch. Shop Around Dealer I went to had tons of RS's and LT's on the lot. LS's are out there, but most dealerships only get very few.
This is not going to age we’ll; wet timing belt on 3 cyl, might just detonate after power train warranty ends. Repair will be more than worth, you better pay off before 50K and it bricks itself.
The science and engineering is still not there for long term reliability with a wet timing belt. Also, this is an interference engine which means that when the belt breaks you can kiss the engine good bye.
I feel like GM is trying to punish their customers who did not hysterically rush out and buy an EV unicorn, by offering these shitty engines as the only choice. The formula is very simple. The engine is entirely too small and inadequate for a vehicle that weighs this much. GM deserves bankruptcy.
Dealer ripoff add-ons, run run run! I bought my 2024 activ in Michigan from Art Moehn Chevy dealership. No $2000 wax job $700 floor mats, none of that BS. I WOULDN'T BUY A CAR FROM THIS DEALERSHIP, THERE'S PLENTY OUT THERE THAT WILL SELL YOU A CAR WITHOUT ALL THE RIP-OFF ADD ON'S.
The elephant in the room should be the lawn mower engine that it's powered by.... a lousy 3 cylinder? And then they throw a turbo on a tiny motor as well? No thanks
@Joey have you driven one? I have and it has good zip I also drive a tuned Duramax 2500 so I’m accustomed to a powerful turbo This little Trax turbo is fun to drive
Or "activ" without AWD- more HP- from what I have heard from owners- this sucks from a power on open road- and don't forget GM sucks at Turbos ie: Buick Encores etc.
Starting price at 21 but nobody in any of these Trax reviews are looking at the 21 version. Im not convinced the chain driven cam shafts and valve train in any of these small Korean built engines will last 37 k mile without developing valve chatter. Many Korean engines have a plastic basket under the crankshaft that contains balance shaft and an oil pump. Consumers do not realize that places huge limitations on engine RPM, but with no RPM limiters installed. Driving a Korean car as i can tell comes with Caviots, Drive slow and easy and change the oil every 4000 miles. Americans just don;t do that. Without parts available they are impossible to get warranty work done. Is it hard to understand that Americans just want a real transmission tied to a regular exasperated 1.8 or better displacement. I'm ruling out CVTs , Turbos and find nearly nothing available below 25k dollars. Wanting to have it last long enough to pay for it should be a big consideration for everyone. I'm not convinced the field of cars from Korea is there yet. Chevy, Buick, Hyundai , Kia.