Cheap Cars do Exist: 2026 Chevrolet Trax

 Think you can’t get a new car for a low price?  You can - it’s the Chevy Trax.


This Chevrolet Trax with options is $28,385. Compare it to a Honda HR-V or Buick Encore GX - Photo by Brian Moody 


Even With Options


A 2026 Chevrolet Trax LS starts under $25,000, and if you want a nice one like a 2RS (that’s the one that’s shown above), you’re still under $30,000. 


This particular Trax RS has a Driver's Confidence Package ($795) and a sunroof package ($895) - the sunroof package includes wireless phone charging. 


The driver’s package includes adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Add all that up, and you’re still at about $28,400, including destination.



These 19-inch wheels are standard on the Trax 2RS - Photo by Brian Moody 

On the 2RS, you get cool things like that blacked-out grill, blacked-out badges, nicer wheels (19-inch), and inside, you get the RS seats similar to those found in the $60,000 Traverse RS. Those front seats are heated and leather. 


Inside, the Trax features high-quality materials and plenty of features for a sub-$30,000 new car - Photo by Brian Moody


Power Up


Under the hood of the 2026 Chevrolet Trax is a 1.2 L turbocharged three-cylinder engine making 137 hp. It’s hooked up to a six-speed automatic transmission. It is exclusively front-wheel drive, so there’s no all-wheel drive available on this little SUV. It gets decent gas mileage, 28 city / 32 miles per gallon highway, and it has 54 ft. of cargo space. 


The 1.2-liter, 3-cylinder engine makes 137 hp. Surprisingly, this produces a smoother, quieter driving experience than other larger SUVs - Photo by Brian Moody 


The Trax is attractive, and inside, there’s an infotainment screen that is either the standard 8-inch or an 11-inch screen is also available. The 2 RS comes with the 11-inch screen.

As far as safety is concerned, Chevy safety assist is standard on all trims, which includes automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, lane change alert, cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. Most of those options come in the Driver’s Confidence Package. 


Fun, Not Fast


Although a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine doesn’t sound like much. It is decent on the road. It’s not super quick, but it’s got enough power to do all the things you’ll likely do around town. It’s quiet, in fact, it’s even quieter than the much more expensive Traverse. Ride and handling have a level of refinement that’s surprising for the car's $25,000-ish starting price.



Compare this to the Honda HRV - the Trax comes out favorably. However, when you consider resale value, it’s the Honda that will win in the long run. 

The cool beige color you see in these photos is called white sand. Marina blue metallic is also worth checking out.


Ultimately, the 2026 Chevrolet Trax is a lot of new car for the money. The average price for a new car is about double the base price of a Trax LT. Lack of all-wheel drive will eliminate the Trax for some. For nearly everyone else, it's worth a test drive. 


-Brian Moody 

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