This week I was sporting the 2026 Chevrolet Trax FWD 2RS. Having dropped off the Bolt and picked up the Trax on the same day, in the same steel grey, my first blush impression was lack lustre. Aesthetically speaking I didn’t see much of a difference between the two outside of sizing. The Chevrolet Trax being a sporty, value-packed subcompact SUV.
Looking closer I did appreciated the large 19-inch black-painted machine aluminum wheels, LED headlamps, and high-gloss black mirror caps. This edge matched the jet black cabin with its striking interior red accents.
Despite the sporty stitched “R5” logo, the seats weren’t bucketed, but sat wide and flush along your back. It all came together with the racer’s red cutting through the black: line drawn across the air-conditioning units. This continued across the dash along each door panel and went double time around the leather steering wheel, faux leather seat, and gear shifter.
Along this same sporty vein I saw no hesitation from the gas pedal, a gentle step sent you pulling forward with back pressed seat. You felt the gusto from the get go, coupled with fairly responsive brakes to match.
For everyday driving I wish the mirrors automatically tilted for a better curb side viewing reverse parking. I found myself relying heavily on the reverse camera with its one and only view from the back. This imagine was grainy and its aiding lines lacked depth. Both had me over compensating and continuously parking crooked.
I was also unable to locate the volume button for the first half of the week. There was no way to control it from the media setting on the infotainment screen, nor was there a short cut button on the steering wheel. I did note the power button on the screen, but I originally thought it was to start the car. I pressed it, and when just the touch screen turned out and the engine didn’t start to rumble, I thought I knew what was before me. After that I never gave it another thought or touch, thinking that this button was a little pointless, considering everything automatically turned out once the vehicle started. However, it turns out that this button also doubled as a dial to turn and increase the volume with and that this would be the only way to do it.
The Trax comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless device charging, and an 11-inch infotainment screen.
For safety it includes the Chevy Safety Assist package featuring Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Alert, and Lane Keep Assist.
