2025 Chevy Trax?

[shortyb]

Kids, ha! Mine has received "hand-me-downs" for both of his cars driven since he was able to (legally ). 2004 Hyundai Elantra from his Grandfather with 150K and his mom's 2017 VW GLI. Gives not a care about what they look like or anything else other than they get him where he is going reliably. Did find a new appreciation for the Elantra when I showed him the joy of momentum though. GLI was like a new car with 65K and has way more acceleration, braking, and handling. He respects all of that and does not abuse it.

Showed him the new Trax and he really likes it. That alone would have me looking at one too if in the market. He especially likes the low MSRP and accompanying taxes/insurance because he knows WE won't pay for any of that. Not concerned about maintenance since he knows Pop's Garage is always open.

 

[PF52]

Both sets of parents said their kids need a reliable vehicle that they like, so anything more than 4-5 y.o. is out. I get that today a kid is so busy with lots of stuff, but since when did this change occur.

My parents were the total opposite. My first car was unsafe in almost all categories; it had no working brake lights, exhaust fumes were always getting into the passenger compartment, and it had "run-on" so bad I had to stall the engine with the clutch when I turned the key to Off otherwise it would run-on indefinitely. I'm pretty sure they were hoping it would kill me.

 

[PF52]

For around $25K OTD nicely equipped, it's hard to beat. I considered it when I bought my wife her Equinox, but no AWD killed it.

I never realized the Trax wasn't AWD (I had to look it up on the Chevy website just to be sure). There seems to be a dwindling number of FWD-only vehicles in the market these days.

 

[Rand]

Just relaying to you all what he told us. I'll be sure and let him know that he has to use the gas pedal. He probably didn't think of that.

To put it in perspective, that's a faster 0-60 than a 2025 forester. Small turbo engine Doesn't react instantly to sudden flooring of the gas pedal It takes a sec to wind up. Which makes it seem slower than it is which is what I meant by my comment

 

[sw99]

I think they are really targeting that low price point. It's getting harder and harder to find a decent new vehicle for 25K that is fairly well equipped. Quite a nice digital gauge cluster and infotainment system also.

 

[Tdbo]

Wet belts? is this a vehicle that you drive for 100k then trade?

Pretty much.
Trax presents as a nice package, but the engine is woefully inadequate.
I know someone who has one, plus my BIL just bought a new '25.
Both say that to get any acceleration out of it, you really have to tromp it.
That also corresponds with both the reviews that I have read on them.
With a decent sized 4, I might even be interested in it.

 

[sw99]

Really like the Envista very sharp looking vehicle. Wish it came with AWD and the 1.3 .
I wonder how much real difference there is between the two 137 h.p vs 155 . Supposedly belts have a 150k service life ?

150k belt life isn't too bad.

 

[sw99]

Hopefully someone here owns one and will chime in. I'm going to try and test drive one after the holidays, so I get my own perspective. I have a sneaking suspicion that it will be just fine for his needs.

 

[supton]

150k belt life isn't too bad.

No, but it depends on cost to replace, and if people remember to replace, and if it actually makes it to 150k. Didn't Ford try that in their I3's? I think F150's 2.7L switched to that, and results have been so-so. Proper oil and it might make the distance...

To me, the jury is still out on these wet belts, but if I could justify buying a vehicle for such a short term of ownership, it might make sense. [I usually plan on 10yr/200k+ ownership. YMMV. Heck if I were to buy a car for my kids--unlikely, but who knows the future--this might fit the bill.]

 

[Snagglefoot]

I will tell you that one of the guys in my group rented one week before last. Brand spankin new. He said he was tempted to jump out of it as he tried to merge on the highway and start pushing. He said "lacks power" is an understatement. He did not give the SUV, overall, a very good review. Lack of power may frustrate a 23 year old that spent his/her money on it.

It built for mpg and not much else. Car and Driver got 30 mpg at 75 mph.

 

[Snagglefoot]

It's not that slow you do have to use the gas pedal it's not a V8.
Historically 0-60 8.6s isnt awful.

The 1974 Datsun B-210 with the same size engine took 17.8 seconds.

 

[cptbarkey]

I think its one of the better looking vehicles on the road today, but what usually happens in these situations with GM is the powertrain falls apart in 5 years and there is terrible plastic engineering under the hood that makes certain parts disintegrate.

 

[harbor]

Neighbor’s kid got one this Summer and GM really did a great job on the styling. If I were in the market for a vehicle in that segment, I’d be looking at the Trax, Mazda 3 or CX-30 (although more $$).

 

[ARCOgraphite]

The Buick 1.3L T is manufactured in S. Korea. (GM/ Daewoo)

Good luck with that.

The 1.2L T Trax engine source is Mexico.
Proceed with extreme caution on the marginal World cars.

Better off with a Kia K4 or a Subaru Impreza for $23 to 24K. Subaru slaps together the base Impreza in the US, you have to drive a few to get a good one. I was never able to drive and find acceptable unit out of 5 tries a few years ago!

Trax parts content snipped off of a current window sticker

KIA K4

 

[bullwinkle]

The Buick 1.3L T is manufactured in S. Korea. (GM/ Daewoo)

Good luck with that.

The 1.2L T Trax engine source is Mexico.
Proceed with extreme caution on the marginal World cars.

Better off with a Kia K4 or a Subaru Impreza for $23 to 24K. Subaru slaps together the base Impreza in the US, you have to drive a few to get a good one. I was never able to drive and find acceptable unit out of 5 tries a few years ago!

Trax parts content snipped off of a current window sticker
View attachment 255389

KIA K4
View attachment 255390

Sounds like the Trax is more Daewoo than GM! My sister-in-law just bought one to replace her dying Cruze-she's the "canary in the coal mine" on these.

 

[wemay]

From Google AI......
A wet timing belt change on a Chevy Trax typically costs between $700 and $900 including parts and labor, depending on your location and the mechanic you choose, with most estimates falling around the $800 mark; remember to always factor in the cost of replacing the water pump at the same time as it's often recommended when changing the timing belt.

(Take with a grain of salt)

 

[MParr]

The Subaru Crosstrek would be something to look at.

 

[MrHorspwer]

Sounds like the Trax is more Daewoo than GM! My sister-in-law just bought one to replace her dying Cruze-she's the "canary in the coal mine" on these.

Considering GM has owned Daewoo since 2001 and it hasn't been called "Daewoo" since 2011, I think it sounds like Daewoo is more GM than Trax is Daewoo.

 

[PF52]

.....but what usually happens in these situations with GM is the powertrain falls apart in 5 years and there is terrible plastic engineering under the hood that makes certain parts disintegrate.

Really? I always seem to get the opposite - the car rusts away while the engine continues to purr like a kitten forever. But I've yet to own one of these new Korean-designed engines yet so maybe that has changed.

 

[Tdbo]

Considering GM has owned Daewoo since 2001 and it hasn't been called "Daewoo" since 2011, I think it sounds like Daewoo is more GM than Trax is Daewoo.

Chev-woo would be the appropriate moniker for these (most accurately pronounced while in mid sneeze.)