Automotive Advisor | Chevrolet & 27 Other Brands
Automotive Advisor | Chevrolet & 27 Other Brands
The Trax is one of the least expensive new vehicles sold in America. Five trims, one engine, front-wheel drive only, on every single one. A refreshed 2027 is coming, but Chevrolet hasn't revealed it yet. Here's what's real, what's rumor, and who this car isn't for.
What's Coming
Everything below comes from spy photos and industry reporting, not a Chevrolet press release. Treat the details as likely, not locked in.
The Lineup
Every trim shares the same engine and the same front-wheel-drive-only drivetrain. The differences are all equipment and looks, and one of them is a trap.
8-inch touchscreen, analog gauges. Usable, not stripped.
Sportier looks, same screen and gauges as LS. Costs the same as LT, which is the better buy.
11-inch screen, digital cluster, remote start, auto climate. Same price as 1RS. Point most people here.
19-inch wheels, same 11-inch screen as LT. About $2,200 more than LT for wheels and badges.
Roof rails, 18-inch wheels, outdoorsy look. Still front-wheel drive only. Buy the look, not the capability.
Buffalo Reality Check
Every Trax, every trim, LS through ACTIV, is front-wheel drive only. No AWD option exists at any price. The ACTIV's roof rails and 18-inch wheels look the part, but it's the identical drivetrain as the base LS.
Good winter tires close most of the gap for cleared roads and an occasional bad commute. If you're regularly climbing an unplowed hill, or you've specifically been shopping for AWD, say so. I'd rather put you in a Trailblazer or Equinox than sell you a Trax you'll be unhappy with in February.
Chevy Safety Assist is standard on every trim: automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, lane keep assist, and front pedestrian braking. NHTSA gives the current Trax 4 out of 5 stars overall. It is not an IIHS Top Safety Pick. Both are true, and neither is a reason to avoid it. J.D. Power's predicted reliability score is 84 out of 100, rated Great.
Pricing
2026 MSRP, before the $1,795 destination charge: LS $21,700, 1RS and LT both $23,200, 2RS and ACTIV both $25,400. With destination, the LS starts at $23,495, making it one of the least expensive new vehicles sold in the United States.
Chevrolet has not published 2027 pricing. Use these 2026 numbers as your baseline, not a promise. I'll have real 2027 figures the day Chevrolet releases them, and I'd rather sell you an in-stock 2026 at a price we both know is real than take a deposit against a number nobody has published yet.
My Honest Take
This is one of the easiest recommendations I make, once you're honest with yourself about the AWD question.
Buy the LT. It matches the 1RS on price and beats it on nearly everything that matters day to day: the bigger screen, the digital cluster, remote start, automatic climate. There's no reason to pick the 1RS over it.
Don't buy a Trax, ACTIV included. Nothing about that trim changes the drivetrain. Let me show you a Trailblazer or an Equinox instead. Both offer real AWD, and I'd rather have that conversation now than after you're stuck on an icy hill in February.
Know what you're actually waiting for. The mechanical package isn't expected to change, so you'd be waiting on new styling and a new dashboard, not more capability. Nobody, including me, can tell you exactly when it arrives or what it costs. If the current one fits what you need, I wouldn't wait on a car nobody has priced yet.
Next Step
No gatekeepers, no call centers. Ordering next week or just starting to look, either way I'll give you straight answers.
All 2027 Trax details on this page are unofficial as of September 2026: spy-photo and industry reporting, not a Chevrolet press release, order guide, or published MSRP. A 2028 launch for the refresh remains possible instead of 2027. Pricing shown is confirmed 2026 MSRP and should be reconfirmed at order time. Safety ratings cited are for the current-generation Trax and could change if the 2027 refresh alters the vehicle's structure. Fuel economy, cargo, and legroom figures are EPA and manufacturer figures for the 2026 model year. Not every trim or color is on the ground at any given time.