the Chevrolet Trax is updated for 2017 and it really needed it the 2015 version
finished dead last in cars comes subcompact SUV comparison but for 2017
there is some newness that might help it finish better in our next comparison
there are some hits on this one there are also some misses the most notable
change is going to be on the outside where the front end is significantly
restyled the 2015 and 2016 model looked way outdated and that's because really
it was that model was on sale globally way before we ever got it here in the US
so it came to us and it came to dealerships already looking a few years
old because it was well the 2017 model has a much cleaner more sophisticated
look that looks a lot like other Chevrolet vehicles newer Chevrolet
vehicles and on this premier model we're testing there's an LED strip on the
headlights that is a feature commonly seen in more expensive vehicles and adds
a nice little touch to this subcompact SUV what we most like inside the Trax is
its new multimedia system it has standard apple carplay and android auto
and the biggest advantage to those two features is navigation it uses your
phone's native navigation to display directions right on this touchscreen
there's also multiple USB ports there are two and then in the back of this
premier trim level you have a household AC outlet another mobile-friendly
feature in the Trax is the 4G LTE cellular connection and that is a
subscription-based service but they give you a free trial at first that creates a
Wi-Fi hotspot in the car also on the inside is this redesigned dashboard and
it's a little more upscale than the old one on mid and upper trim levels you
have this new kind of - accent with some contra
stitching and then also these chrome white pieces around the climate controls
overall it adds just a touch more upscale feeling to be inside of the
tracks where I think Chevrolet missed the mark on the redesign is also on the
inside here there are fewer storage areas compared with the old tracks so
you lose the top storage compartment you lose the upper glovebox storage
compartment and then you also there are these two little storage cubbies on the
side of the center console that are also gone actually I don't mind those being
gone they were so small they didn't have much of a use but still those others are
notable storage options that you don't have anymore there is a storage
compartment underneath the front passenger seat that's pretty sizable
although on ours it is clunky and hard to open and close the new gauge cluster
is fine but it lacks the uniqueness and style that the old one had and in a
vehicle that's already kind of just not really that interesting it lost some of
its individuality with the previous instrument cluster gage pot which I
thought was super cool it had a digital speedometer and an analogue tachometer
that was styled after a motorcycle gauge pod and it was just super cool in a car
that otherwise was super not very cool so the new one has just the basic tech
emitter speedometer and the new gauge cluster is just a little more boring in
a car that's already kind of boring the 2017 Trax has more available advanced
safety features but it's still not all the way there
there's forward collision warning but there's no automatic emergency braking
component and while that sounds like a high-end luxury feature it's not
competitors have a forward collision warning system with automatic emergency
braking that it's going to detect a collision and in certain circumstances
brake for you the tracks however is just gonna let you know that there's a
collision coming but it's not gonna break for you
despite its misses the 2017 does hit on a few good areas and it is a notable
improvement over the 2016 but this class as a whole continues to grow and change
with new additions like the Ford EcoSport the Subaru Crosstrek and the
Nissan Rogue Sport and how does this compare to those well we'll find out as
we test the entire segment in 2018
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