How do you choose between two vehicles that are equally compelling in terms of style, performance, and value? Chevrolet has produced some of the greatest and most popular SUVs in automotive history, and two of the best Chevy SUVs for sale today are the Trailblazer and Trax. And yet, these two models are more similar than anything else in Chevy's lineup—so what's distinct enough to warrant contemplation?
The Trax and Trailblazer are Chevy's two entry-level SUVs, and their price reflects this, with both starting well under the coveted $25k mark. The 2024 Trax is the less costly of the two, with an MSRP of $20,400, and the Trailblazer costs about $1,700 more, with its base trim starting at $22,100. Aside from saving you upwards of $37,000 against Chevy's priciest SUV, the Suburban, if you're serious about your savings, the Trax and Trailblazer will also get you incredible fuel economy. But if they're both affordable and efficient, then what else differentiates them? Well, that's actually a big question...
What's the Difference?
We mentioned the Trailblazer has a higher starting price than the Trax because both vehicles are as different as they are similar. The first difference people often want to know about is whether the Trailblazer and Trax perform similarly enough to warrant two separate test drives.
Performance is a double-edged sword for the Trailblazer because it begins as a comparable experience to the Trax, barring one exception: the transmission. The Trailblazer's base engine comes paired with a Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission (CVT), while the same-sized engine with identical horsepower and torque output in the Trax comes with a six-speed automatic transmission. But, if given the right configuration, the Trailblazer begins to spread its wings; it has a powertrain not available to the Trax in the turbocharged 1.3L I-3 engine.
At a glance, this upgraded engine doesn't sound like much, given the turbocharged 1.2L I-3 engine it's replacing. However, with the new all-wheel drive (AWD) option, this stronger engine becomes more of an optimal solution for the average driver. Even if you're not an off-road person, having AWD can be invaluable in making it safer and easier to drive on roads wet from rain, sleet, ice, etc.
The other benefit of an incrementally larger engine is better performance, which is the case with the turbocharged 1.3L I-3 engine and its 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. It's a no-brainer to go with the larger engine if you can because of its better fuel economy, getting an EPA-estimated 33 MPG on the highway over the 31 MPG of the 1.2L I-3; both get an EPA-estimated 29 MPG in the city. Note, too, that AWD models don't come up short, with an EPA-estimated 26 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway.
Before we discuss the similarities between the two, let's talk about one more difference: infotainment. The multimedia capabilities of every new vehicle are defined by its infotainment system. The Trax can be configured to offer an identical multimedia experience to the Trailblazer, but it doesn't come that way; many of the features are communal between the two vehicles, even in their base form, but the differences in infotainment centers have a lot to do with screen sizes. Buying a standard Trax means you're getting an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, although opting to upgrade slides this out for an 11.0-inch touchscreen. Contrarily, the Trailblazer gets the 11.0-incher as its standard.
Spot the Similarity
Both the Trax and Trailblazer come with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—our favorite examples of how premium wireless tech has become more accessible in recent years. This level of connectivity between smartphones and automobiles might not mean much to some drivers, but what matters to everyone are ultramodern safety features. The Trax and Trailblazer both have Chevy Safety Assist, so when you're driving either SUV, you'll have Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Front Pedestrian Braking, along with Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning.
Ever since Chevy's focus on safety shifted to its homemade sensing systems, the Chevy Safety Assist suite has been installed up and down the Chevy lineup. Regardless of a price difference of less than $2,000 between the Trax and Trailblazer, Chevy Safety Assist feels more surprising of an addition to the Trax; most automakers would restrict features as great as Chevy Safety Assist to not only be cost-effective but to force buyers to spring for an upgrade to get it, knowing that they very well will. Chevy, instead, lays it straight in their entry-level vehicles, thereby making this kind of tech ubiquitous for future generations.
The other similarity between the Trax and Trailblazer that won't influence your decision is cargo space. Cargo space differs between the two, but the differences are so minute that they may as well be considered identical.
The 2024 Trax has 25.6 cu.ft. of cargo space with the backseat up and 54.1 cu.ft. when folded down. Again, spending the extra $1,700 doesn't mean you're getting any real differences, as the 2024 Trailblazer has cargo space ranging between 25.3 cu.ft. and 54.4 cu.ft. with comparable seat configurations. These two SUVs are some of the most space-efficient subcompact models on the market, with a 111% and 115% increase in space when folding down the backseat—for the Trax and Trailblazer, respectively—and those are some serious numbers for subcompacts.
Key Comparisons
You should care about the similarities between the Trailblazer and the Trax because they help inform your decision unlike any other. The Trailblazer and Trax are separated by a few things—better infotainment interface, extra powertrain option, etcetera—but these vehicles are much more than that. If you're on the fence between the two, looking only at the similarities, then the clear winner is the Trax because it's the cheaper of the two. The price differences aren't massive, but it's still noticeable that the more cost-effective vehicle still benefits from a turbocharged 1.2L I-3 engine, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the Chevy Safety Assist suite, and more.
While the pricing differences are advantageous to the Trax, that doesn't mean the price increase is a detractor from our recommendation for the Trailblazer. Yes, the Trailblazer costs a touch more than the Trax, but once you're fitted with a turbocharged 1.3L I-3 engine paired with that nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive... well, you'll be hoofing in ways the Trax can only dream of. It's a small price to pay for adding some of these features on your Trailblazer, but it's worth it ten times over for the average driver who needs their vehicle for general travel with occasional leisurely drives.
How Do You Want It?
Knowing which model is better for you requires you to consider how the aforementioned will translate into your life. In the simplest of manners, the Trailblazer and Trax are both made for those who need a subcompact SUV; on the base level, these two seem to have been created for the same person. If you're willing to omit some of the more useful features found on the Trailblazer, like AWD and a wider infotainment interface, you'll do just fine in a Trax.
However, if you have a few extra bucks to invest in the Trailblazer, you should do it. Choosing a Trailblazer not only gives your vehicle more room to expand its capabilities but also helps its longevity, as much in regard to what you need it for as to its potential resale value down the line.
