WHAT SETS THE 2024 CHEVROLET TRAX 2RS APART FROM THE REST

The SUV market in America is gargantuan and has become so oversaturated over the years that it is hard for some models to truly shine against so much competition. In each segment of SUV: subcompact SUVs, compact SUVs, mid-size SUVs, full-size SUVs, and crossovers, some standout models rule the rest. From the Q7 and X7 to the HR-V and the 4Runner, there are a lot of SUVs to choose from.

But, there is one American-made subcompact SUV that is doing a grand job at disrupting everyone else's fun, the 2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS. Boasting a sleek, modern, and versatile design, a peppy little engine, and a low price point, the Chevy Trax 2RS is fast becoming a thorn in the side of so many other SUVs, with lots of reasons why it is crushing the subcompact SUV segment.

We have decided to find out more about this almighty little SUV and have found information about the Trax 2RS's design cues, performance credentials, why it is such a great subcompact SUV for the 2024 lineup, how it stacks up against others in the market, and what keeps us coming back for me.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Chevrolet's website and other authoritative sources, including J.D. Power, Statista, Kelley Blue Book, Chevrolet's YouTube Channel, Fuel Economy.gov, Car Edge, and Repair Pal.

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A Bold New Look For The Trax 2RS That Turns Heads

When released last year, the 2024 Chevrolet Trax lineup had a starting price of $21,495 - so less than half the price of the average new vehicle in the U.S.A. and less than half the price of a new SUV in the U.S.A., which saw it sit around the $48,000 mark. But, just because the Trax is small and affordable, doesn't mean you don't get a lot for the price.

Available in five distinct trims: the LS, the 1RS, the LT, the 2RS, and the ACTIV, the 2RS stands out as a trim that can do a bit of everything and proves the worth of subcompact SUVs as the new light utility vehicle to own.

  • 2024 Chevrolet Trax LS. MSRP: $21,495. 2025 Average Purchase Price: $20,338
  • 2024 Chevrolet Trax 1RS. MSRP: $23,195. 2025 Average Purchase Price: $22,016
  • 2024 Chevrolet Trax LT. MSRP: $23,395. 2025 Average Purchase Price: $22,159
  • 2024 Chevrolet Trax ACTIV. MSRP: $24,995. 2025 Average Purchase Price: $23,687

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS had a starting price of $24,995 and today has a national average purchase price of just $23,695, so it is already making a mark as an SUV that is worth buying pre-owned. In comparison, the top trim of the 2024 Mazda CX-30 (the CX-30 2.5 Turbo Premium) has a starting price of $36,800, and the top trim of the 2024 Honda HR-V (the HR-V EX-L) has a starting price of $27,650.

Sporty Styling With Distinctive Accents

Though some of the best used no-thrills SUVs still boast a gnarly, rugged, and indestructible look, the modern market has moved on, and now, for an SUV to catch a lot of our eyes, it needs to be more than just a monster, and this is where the Trax 2RS comes in.

Boasting a sleek, urban look, the Trax 2RS boasts a lot of premium-looking exterior additions that make it look more expensive than it is and make it a perfect companion on easy trails and, more notably, in the city and suburbia. Featuring 19-inch machined two-tone wheels, unique RS badging, the iconic Chevy "bowtie badge," a slick redesigned honeycomb grille that flows outwards into slim, Blazer-inspired headlights with new, high-tech LED lighting elements, and signature high-eye LED daytime running lamps, the SR2 stands out in the lineup.

Also boasting a sharp, edgy demeanor, with sculpted, more-athletic-looking body lines, a sloping roofline, sleek black grille accents, window surrounds, and mirror caps, the 2RS oozes modern sophistication and a sporty, aggressive edginess that makes it stand out in a market that is dominated by SUVs that look a lot more stylish and sporty than they used to.

Aerodynamic Design With Practical Benefits

The 2024 Trax 2RS has also benefited from quite a major redesign compared to the outgoing 2023 model, namely, its profile and aerodynamic status, so all the sporty-looking features have their purpose.

Thanks to a glow-up, the Trax 2RS now has a sleeker and more aerodynamically proficient design compared to previous models, and because the 2RS is made to be a sporty trim, it now benefits from an 11-inch longer and 2-inch wider body, which results in slightly lower ground clearance than previous models.

Length

178.6-Inches

Width

71.8-Inches

Height

61.4-Inches

Ground Clearance

7.3-Inches

The sportier stance doesn't just make the 2RS look more athletic but also cuts down on drag, making it more fuel-efficient, more responsive to handling inputs, and better at keeping the cabin quieter, especially at highway speeds, while the longer body means more cabin and storage space, while not diminishing from its compact and easy-to-drive purpose.

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Performance Prowess That Packs A Punch

There is only one engine option for the 2024 Trax 2RS, and though it is small in displacement, it is large in usability. We have seen a drastic change in the horsepower wars and the evolution of turbo technology in recent years, and many automakers have been cutting down engine displacement in favor of smaller, more fuel-efficient but better-turbocharged mills that can still perform up there with the best.

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Take the Ford EcoBoost engine family; from a small displacement that never goes beyond 3.5 liters, we can now enjoy up to 660 horsepower, all while achieving between 17 and 25 combined MPG. The Trax 2RS's engine is nowhere near this powerful, but it is light, responsive, and enough for what the subcompact SUV segment is meant for: versatility and easy driving.

Turbocharged Power And Responsive Handling

Designed for perky and responsive driving, the powertrain under the hood of the Trax 2RS boasts a DOHC setup, a lightweight aluminum block and cylinder heads, and an active thermal management system that helps to maintain optimal temperatures across the rev range. Most notably, the L3T engine also showcases a single-scroll turbocharger that is mounted directly to the cylinder head and utilizes an air-to-air charge cooler to cool the compressed air before it enters the engine and improves efficiency.

Engine

1.2-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Three

Transmission

Six-Speed Automatic

Horsepower

137 Horsepower

Torque

162 LB-FT

Driveline

Front-Wheel Drive

0-60 MPH

8.8 Seconds

Top Speed

115 MPH

Towing Capacity

Unverified

Payload Capacity

Unverified

The relatively well-powered engine can also help the Trax achieve a combined MPG rating of 30 MPG, making it a cheap SUV to fuel, only costing you $1,500 in gas per year and helping you to save $500 on fuel over five years compared to the average modern vehicle. With fuel economy being the most important factor that a lot of us think about when buying a new vehicle, along with some impressive 0–60 MPH times and relatively good power output, the Trax 2RS looks to tick more than one box.

Compared to something like the Hyundai Venue, the Trax is ever so slightly behind when it comes to fuel consumption. The Venue can achieve up to 31 combined MPG, but the Trax does boast a more powerful engine: 137 horsepower from the Trax compared to 121 horsepower from the Venue.

Alongside a peppy little engine, the Trax 2RS is designed with smooth and responsive handling in mind, thanks to its well-tuned suspension and compact size. The front end boasts a MacPherson strut setup, offering stability and precise steering, while the rear showcases a torsion beam suspension that helps keep the 2RS ride firm. Also boasting electronically assisted power steering and the already-mentioned lower ride height makes the Trax ideal for the environment that we find so many SUVs now roaming: cities.

Built For Urban Streets And Light Off-Road Adventures

Though the Trax 2RS is never going to be voted as one of the best off-road SUVs ever, some features help it to tackle some tricky-ish terrain in style. For example, its relatively high ground clearance ensures that you can clear moderately high obstructions. Its equipped intuitive stability and traction control help you grip loose surfaces, and its tight turning radius of just 38 feet means you can get out of tricky spots with relative ease.

But, where the Trax 2RS comes alive is in the cities and urban settings. Thanks to its small stature, tight turning circle, low stance, and responsive handling, this Chevy model stands out as an urban SUV that combines usability, a low city fuel consumption of 28 MPG, and techy features that keep you, other road users, cyclists, and pedestrians safe.

What makes the Trax 2RS a market-winning SUV is its ability to be able to be used both on light adventures and on the commute, an increasingly sought-after trait for SUVs of any size.

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Interior Features That Redefine Comfort

As the SUV market has now moved from the days of just being able to munch down on trails and traverse the highest peaks, interior comfort, techy features, cabin appointments, and an air of sophistication are all key to a modern SUV's success. Even with the low price points of the 2024 Trax 2RS, it delivers on this front.

Premium Cabin With A Sporty Flair

Boasting a sporty style with practicality and comfort, the '24 Trax 2RS offers us bundles of sleek and well-designed appointments that, again, make this model seem more expensive than the low MSRP would suggest.

Throughout the cabin, sleek lines, driver-focused design cues, and dark, premium-looking materials are featured, and because it is also renowned as a sporty subcompact, the 2RS capitalizes on this by showcasing Evotex front bucket seats, which are six-way movable for the driver and four-way movable for the passenger, RS badging throughout, red upholstery stitching, and a flat-bottomed wrapped heated steering wheel. Additionally, this trim boasts a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, which maintains the SUV's purpose of being versatile and good for more than just driving around.

The 2024 Trax 2RS boasts a passenger capacity of 98.8 cubic feet, with all seats in place it also boasts 25.6 cubic feet of cargo space, but, if you fold down the seats, you can benefit from a not-so-terrible 54.1 cubic feet of storage space. Though this is smaller than what the Honda HR-V, Jeep Compass, and Nissan Rogue Sport can offer, the Trax does showcase a compellingly sporty-looking cabin with oodles of style.

Advanced Techy Appointments For A Seamless Experience

There is no escaping technology in the modern world, even in some of the most budget-friendly SUVs, but we aren't complaining too much about it when it serves a purpose. Even at its sub-$25,000 price, the Trax 2RS boasts lots of intuitive technology features that, though we have come to expect from modern SUVs, make it a comfortable and convenient place to be.

Showcasing an 11-inch diagonal HD touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity for two active devices, a six-speaker audio system, an 8-inch diagonal color driver information center, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, active noise cancelation, keyless entry, remote start, 12-volt power outlet, USB charging ports, steering wheel-mounted controls, and vehicle health management, most of us won't go wanting for the amount of tech included in this standout trim.

The 2024 Trax 2RS is also equipped with features like an air-pollutant filter, single-zone automatic climate control, and cruise control - so, in other words, a lot for your money.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Included As Standard

If you are looking for a family-friendly SUV that is safe, then the 2024 Trax 2RS also has you covered. Alongside everything we have already mentioned, the Trax is equipped with a whole suite of safety and driver assistance features that not only make it safe to drive but also easy to drive.

  • Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
  • Rear Seat Reminder. Will alert you if someone in the back doesn't have their belt on.
  • Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning.
  • Following Distance Indicator. Displays the following time in seconds between you and the vehicle ahead of you.
  • Forward Collision Alert.
  • HD Rear Vision Camera.
  • Six Airbags. Includes airbags for driver and front passenger, seat-mounted side-impact front airbags, and head-curtain airbags.
  • Braking Control (using ECM). Grade braking automatically kicks in and downshifts to maintain speed down hills.
  • Front Pedestrian Braking.
  • Automatic Emergency Braking.
  • StabiliTrack Traction Control. Automatically enhances control during normal driving to minimize wheel slippage and in emergency maneuvers by adjusting your brakes and engine torque to keep you on the right track.
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Safety and Chevy Reliability You Can Count On

Auto market-wide, we have seen a fluctuation and ultimately a drop in reliability and a rise in problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in the last five years, but some automakers, and in this case, Chevrolet, have actually seen their problem rates improve in line with the market average.

In 2020, the average market PP100 was 134 PP100. In 2021, it was 121 PP100, 2022 saw 180 PP100, 2023 saw 186 PP100, and last year saw 195 PP100. Within that time, Chevrolet has gone from producing vehicles with 123 PP100 to 160 PP100, making them the brand with the second-lowest rate of problems on the market, just behind Ram and beating reliability stalwarts like Toyota, Lexus, Honda, and Mazda.

Durability For Everyday Driving and Beyond

This is good news for those of you looking for an affordable SUV with high-reliability ratings and a cheap-to-maintain ride. The 2024 Chevrolet Trax currently has a 4 out of 5 reliability rating and a low yearly maintenance bill of just $488.

Though this puts it 6th out of 7th out of other subcompact SUVs, according to Repair Pal, the Trax's high dependability record means that owners only have to visit the garage for unscheduled maintenance, on average 0.2 times a year (under the market average of 0.4 times a year). Alongside this, the 2024 Chevrolet Trax has been rated 84 out of 100 overall and, more importantly, rated 83 out of 100 for build quality and dependability.

This puts it third out of all subcompact SUVs for 2024 overall and in terms of reliability, but with low starting prices, high-end tech, a 4-star safety rating from the NHTSA, and bags of sporty credentials, the '24 Chevy Trax 2RS is a jack of all trades that can offer cheap driving, a sleek and eye-catching look, bags of versatility, and a fun ride.

The 2024 Trax "hits the sweet spot," packing in lots of important details which matter, and cutting costs on things that don't matter. If you are looking for an affordable but good-quality car, keep reading. My priorities are 1)Safety, 2) Value, 3)Comfort, and 4) Looks. The Trax excels at all of these 4.

- Owner review of their 2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS on Edmunds

2025-01-19T02:34:01Z