Chevrolet’s entry-level Trax crossover will enter the 2017 model year with a host of updates inside and out. Next year’s model will be shown to the public for the first time at the annual Chicago Auto Show.
Visually, the most striking change is that the Trax wears a comprehensively redesigned front fascia that borrows styling cues from recent additions to the Chevrolet lineup including the all-electric Bolt, the second-generation Volt, and the Cruze. However, the changes made to the rear end are minor at best and largely limited to tweaked tail lamps and a more streamlined bumper.
The makeover continues inside, where Chevrolet has tossed out the cluttered-looking dashboard found in the current Trax and installed a new, much cleaner-looking unit. The instrument cluster becomes easier to read thanks to an additional analog gauge and a smaller TFT screen, and the center console is dominated by a seven-inch touch screen that displays the latest generation of Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system, which is compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A 4G LTE connection is available to keep passengers connected while on-the-go.
The list of options has grown, too. It now includes keyless entry and start as well as an array of electronic driving aids such as side blind-zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision alert, and a lane departure warning system.
The Bowtie hasn’t made any changes under the hood of its smallest crossover. That means the Trax carries on with a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 138 horsepower at 4,900 rpm and 148 pound-feet of torque at 1,850 rpm. The turbo four spins the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, though buyers who routinely face adverse weather conditions can order all-wheel drive at an extra cost.
After greeting the show-going public in the Windy City, the 2017 Chevrolet Trax will land in showrooms nationwide this fall. The lineup will be divided into three trim levels called LS, LT, and Premier, respectively, but pricing information won’t be published for another couple of months.
