Chevrolet Trax

Chevrolet Trax: which generation to buy

The 4 generation (from 2022-09-01) has one listed version. Versus the 3 generation restyling 1.4L Ecotec Turbo MFI 6AT (138 hp, 1364 cm³, FWD, Automatic 6, 2016-10-01 to 2023-01-31), the 4 generation engine is 164 cm³ smaller, 1 hp stronger (139 vs 138), and 85 kg heavier at the kerb (1357 vs 1272 kg). Specific output is 139 / 1.200 = 115.8 hp per litre against 138 / 1.364 = 101.2 hp per litre.

The 4 generation (from 2022-09-01) has one listed version. Versus the 3 generation restyling 1.4L Ecotec Turbo MFI 6AT (138 hp, 1364 cm³, FWD, Automatic 6, 2016-10-01 to 2023-01-31), the 4 generation engine is 164 cm³ smaller, 1 hp stronger (139 vs 138), and 85 kg heavier at the kerb (1357 vs 1272 kg). Specific output is 139 / 1.200 = 115.8 hp per litre against 138 / 1.364 = 101.2 hp per litre. Mixed consumption is 7.4 versus 7.1 L/100 km — the newer car is 0.3 L/100 km thirstier on the mixed figure we have. Ground clearance jumps from 157 mm on the restyling to 186 mm on the 4 generation (+29 mm). Torque, 0–100, top speed, tank, and gross weight on the restyling 1.4L Ecotec Turbo MFI 6AT are not measured; the 4 generation fills those: 219 Nm at 2500 rpm, 8.6 s, 190 km/h, 50 L tank, 1880 kg gross. Cylinders on the restyling version are not measured; the 4 generation is 3, Inline, 4 valves per cylinder, Turbo, Front, transverse, Direct injection (direct). City/highway mpg on the 4 generation are not measured; the restyling records 16.8 / 9.4 L/100 km.

The 3 generation (2012-09-01 to 2017-01-31) is the only generation with a real engine menu: 12 versions, Gasoline and Diesel, Manual and Automatic, FWD and AWD. That is the generation to buy if you need AWD, Diesel, or a Manual 6. The 4 generation and the 3 generation restyling are FWD Automatic only.

The 2 generation (1998-01-01 to 2004-12-31) lists 33 versions; 12 are shown here. It is the generation to buy if you need RWD, a 66 L tank, 200 mm clearance, or the 2.5 MT 167 hp V-shaped 6. Rear brakes are Drum. Rear suspension on the 129 hp 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT with Front, longitudinal layout is Independent, leaf spring; other listed 2 generation versions use Independent, spring at the rear.

The 1 generation (1989-01-01 to 1998-12-31) is SUV 3-doors, 12 versions, all 1.6 MT or 1.6 AT, 97 hp, RWD or AWD. Buy it only if a 3-door body and 200 mm clearance matter more than the 13–14 s 0–100 figures that are measured. Tank is 55 L on some versions and not measured on others.

Chevrolet Trax engine options and specs

Exact names as in the data. Duplicate names are split by the numbers that differ.

4 generation — 1.2 Turbo ECOTEC Hydra-Matic: 139 hp (102 kW) at 5000 rpm, 219 Nm at 2500 rpm, 1200 cm³, Gasoline, 3 Inline, 4 valves, Turbo, Front, transverse, Direct injection (direct), fuel 95, Automatic 6, FWD.

3 generation, restyling — 1.4L Ecotec Turbo MFI 6AT: 138 hp (101 kW) at 4900 rpm, torque not measured, 1364 cm³, Gasoline, cylinders/layout/boost/injection not measured, fuel 95, Automatic 6, FWD.

3 generation Gasoline 1.4 (all 1364 cm³, 4 Inline, 4 valves, Turbo, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point), 9.5 compression, 72.5 × 82.6, fuel 95):

• 1.4 MT 140 hp AWD, Manual 6, 200 Nm at 1850–4900 rpm, Euro 5
• 1.4 MT 140 hp FWD, Manual 6, 200 Nm at 4000 rpm, eco class not measured
• 1.4 AT 140 hp AWD, Automatic 6, 200 Nm at 4000 rpm, Euro 4, kW 103
• 1.4 AT 140 hp FWD, Automatic 6, 204 Nm at 1850 rpm, Euro 6, kW not measured, peak power at 4900 rpm

3 generation Gasoline 1.6 — 1.6 MT: 115 hp (85 kW) at 6000 rpm, 155 Nm at 4000 rpm, 1598 cm³, 4 Inline, No boost, 10.8 compression, 79 × 81.5, Manual 5, FWD, fuel 95.

3 generation Gasoline 1.8:

• 1.8 AT 141 hp AWD, 1796 cm³, 178 Nm at 3800 rpm, Automatic 6, 10.5 compression, 80.5 × 88.2, Euro 4
• 1.8 AT 141 hp FWD, 1799 cm³, 176 Nm at 3800 rpm, Automatic 6, compression and bore × stroke not measured, Euro 4
• 1.8 MT 141 hp FWD, 1796 cm³, 178 Nm, Manual 5, Euro 4
• 1.8 MT 141 hp AWD, 1799 cm³, 176 Nm, Manual 6, Euro 4, compression and bore × stroke not measured

3 generation Diesel (all 1686 cm³, 130 hp / 96 kW at 4000 rpm, 300 Nm at 2000–2500 rpm, 4 Inline, Turbo, Front, transverse, injection not measured, 16.5 compression, 79 × 86, fuel Diesel):

• 1.7 MT FWD, Manual 6
• 1.7 MT AWD, Manual 6
• 1.7 AT FWD, Automatic 6

2 generation (12 of 33 listed), fuel 92 unless noted, 4 Inline unless noted, No boost, Distributed injection (multi-point):

• 1.6 MT 97 hp AWD; 1.6 MT 97 hp RWD (11.5 s measured); 1.6 AT 97 hp RWD Automatic 4 — 1590 cm³, 133 Nm at 4000 rpm, 75 × 90
• 2.0 MT 122 hp RWD; 2.0 MT 122 hp AWD (12.5 s); 2.0 AT 122 hp RWD; 2.0 AT 122 hp AWD — 1995 cm³, 182 Nm at 3000 rpm, 75 × 90
• 2.0 MT 129 hp RWD; 2.0 MT 129 hp AWD (12.5 s); 2.0 AT 129 hp AWD — 1995 cm³, 182 Nm, 84 × 90, fuel 95, Front, longitudinal, Independent, leaf spring rear
• 2.0 AT 129 hp RWD — 1995 cm³, 182 Nm, 75 × 90, fuel 92, engine location not measured, Independent, spring rear
• 2.5 MT 167 hp (123 kW) at 6500 rpm, 220 Nm at 4000 rpm, 2494 cm³, 6 V-shaped, 4 valves, 84 × 75, Manual 5, AWD, fuel 92

1 generation (SUV 3-doors), 97 hp (71 kW) at 5600 rpm, 132 Nm, 4 Inline, No boost, Front, longitudinal, fuel 92 unless noted:

• 1.6 AT AWD Automatic 4, 1589 cm³; 1.6 AT RWD Automatic 4 (several listings, tank 55 L or not measured, gross 1500 or 1650 kg)
• 1.6 MT RWD Manual 5; 1.6 MT AWD Manual 5 — 13 s / 152 km/h at 1040 kg kerb, and 14 s / 152 km/h at 1165 kg kerb
• 1.6 MT AWD 1590 cm³, fuel 95, 1075 kg kerb, valves per cylinder not measured
• 1.6 AT AWD Automatic 3, 1590 cm³, fuel 95, valves per cylinder not measured

Performance, horsepower, mpg

Fastest 0–100 measured: 4 generation 1.2 Turbo ECOTEC Hydra-Matic 8.6 s. Next is 3 generation FWD 1.4 MT 9.5 s, then AWD 1.4 MT 9.8 s. Both 3 generation 1.4 AT listings are 10.0 s. Diesel 1.7 MT (FWD and AWD) is 10.0 s with 300 Nm — 100 Nm more than the 200 Nm 1.4 turbo and 122 Nm more than the 178 Nm 1.8 AT AWD. The 3 generation 1.8 MT is 10.9 s (both FWD 1796 cm³ and AWD 1799 cm³). 1.8 AT is 11.1 s (AWD 1796 and FWD 1799). Slowest 3 generation: 1.6 MT 12.3 s. 2 generation 2.0 MT AWD 122 hp and 2.0 MT AWD 129 hp share 12.5 s. 1 generation AWD 1.6 MT: 13 s at 1040 kg, 14 s at 1165 kg (+1.0 s for +125 kg). 0–100 is not measured on the restyling 1.4L Ecotec Turbo MFI 6AT, on most 2 generation Automatics, and on most 1 generation Automatics.

Highest top speed measured: FWD 1.4 MT 196 km/h, then AWD 1.4 MT 195 km/h, FWD 1.4 AT Euro 6 191 km/h, 4 generation 190 km/h, FWD 1.7 MT 189 km/h, AWD 1.7 MT 187 km/h, 1.7 AT 186 km/h, both 1796 cm³ 1.8 AT AWD and 1.8 MT FWD 180 km/h, 1.6 MT 115 hp 174 km/h. 2 generation 1.6 MT 150 km/h; 2.0 MT 122 and 129 hp 155 km/h. 1 generation AWD 1.6 MT 152 km/h. Top speed is not measured on restyling 1.4L Ecotec Turbo MFI 6AT, AWD 1.4 AT, AWD 1.8 MT 1799 cm³, FWD 1.8 AT 1799 cm³, 2.5 MT, and most Automatics in 1–2 generation.

Mixed mpg, best to worst among measured values: FWD 1.7 MT 4.5; AWD 1.7 MT 4.9; 1.7 AT 5.3; FWD 1.4 MT 6.0; AWD 1.4 MT 6.4; 1.6 MT 115 hp 6.5; restyling 1.4L Ecotec Turbo MFI 6AT and FWD 1.8 MT both 7.1; 4 generation 7.4; AWD 1.8 AT 7.9. City: FWD 1.7 MT 5.4 versus restyling 16.8 — a 11.4 L/100 km gap. Highway: FWD 1.7 MT 4.0 versus restyling 9.4. Mixed is not measured on either 3 generation 1.4 AT, both 1799 cm³ 1.8 versions, and all listed 1 and 2 generation versions. 4 generation city and highway are not measured.

CO2, where measured: AWD 1.4 MT 149 g/km; FWD 1.8 MT 169; AWD 1.8 AT 189. All other CO2 figures are not measured.

AWD cost in the 3 generation, same engine: 1.7 MT AWD is 46 kg heavier than FWD (1429 vs 1383), mixed +0.4 L/100 km, city +0.2, highway +0.5, top speed −2 km/h (187 vs 189), 0–100 unchanged at 10.0 s. 1.4 MT AWD is 61 kg heavier than FWD (1380 vs 1319), mixed +0.4, 0–100 +0.3 s (9.8 vs 9.5), top speed −1 km/h (195 vs 196).

Dimensions, weight, clearance

Kerb weight, lightest measured: 1 generation AWD 1.6 MT 1040 kg, then 1075 kg (1.6 MT 1590 cm³ AWD), 1165 kg (AWD 1.6 MT with 55 L tank). 2 generation RWD 1.6 MT 1245 kg. Restyling 1.4L Ecotec Turbo MFI 6AT 1272 kg — lightest 5-door. FWD 1.8 MT 1285 kg; 1.6 MT 115 hp 1290 kg; FWD 1.4 MT 1319 kg; 4 generation 1357 kg. Heaviest 3 generation: AWD 1.7 MT 1429 kg. Heaviest 2 generation listed: AWD 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT 129 hp 1390 kg and 2.5 MT 1395 kg. Kerb is not measured on AWD 1.4 AT, AWD 1.8 MT 1799, FWD 1.8 AT 1799, several 2 generation Automatics, and most 1 generation Automatics.

Weight per horsepower (kerb / hp, where both exist): 2.5 MT 1395 / 167 = 8.35 kg/hp (best); FWD 1.8 MT 1285 / 141 = 9.11; restyling 1272 / 138 = 9.22; FWD 1.4 MT 1319 / 140 = 9.42; 4 generation 1357 / 139 = 9.76; AWD 1.4 MT 1380 / 140 = 9.86; FWD 1.4 AT Euro 6 1409 / 140 = 10.06; AWD 1.7 MT 1429 / 130 = 10.99; 1 generation 1040 kg 1.6 MT 1040 / 97 = 10.72.

Gross weight: 4 generation 1880 kg; AWD 1.4 MT 1884; FWD 1.8 MT 1781; FWD 1.4 MT 1828; AWD 1.7 MT 1926 (highest measured); 2 generation RWD 1.6 MT 1600; 1 generation 1500 or 1650. Restyling gross is not measured.

Ground clearance: 157 mm restyling (lowest); 158 mm FWD 1.8 MT; 168 mm AWD 1.4 MT and AWD 1.8 AT; 186 mm 4 generation; 190 mm on FWD 1.4 MT, both 1.4 AT, 1.6 MT 115 hp, both 1799 cm³ 1.8, and all three diesels; 200 mm on every listed 1 and 2 generation version.

Tank: 50 L (4 generation); 53 L (all 3 generation versions that record it); 55 L (some 1 generation); 66 L (listed 2 generation). Restyling tank not measured.

Wheels, 3 generation where listed: 205/70 R16 and 215/55 R18. FWD 1.4 AT Euro 6 wheels not measured. 4 generation, restyling, 1 and 2 generation wheels not measured.

Front brakes: Ventilated disc from 2 generation onward; 1 generation Disc. Rear: Disc from 3 generation onward; Drum in 1 and 2 generation.

Which Chevrolet Trax version to choose

Buy the 4 generation 1.2 Turbo ECOTEC Hydra-Matic if you want the shortest 0–100 in the catalogue (8.6 s), 219 Nm at 2500 rpm, independent spring suspension at both ends, 186 mm clearance, and a still-produced Automatic 6 FWD Gasoline. You give up AWD, Diesel, Manual, and 0.3 L/100 km mixed versus the restyling 7.1 figure. Versus FWD 1.4 MT, you are 0.9 s quicker (8.6 vs 9.5) but 1.4 L/100 km thirstier mixed (7.4 vs 6.0) and 38 kg heavier (1357 vs 1319). Specific output 115.8 hp/L is the highest calculated here.

Buy the 3 generation FWD 1.4 MT if you want the strongest Gasoline economy and top speed in that generation: 6.0 mixed, 7.5 city, 5.2 highway, 196 km/h, 9.5 s, 190 mm clearance, 1319 kg. Specific output 140 / 1.364 = 102.6 hp/L, far above 1.8 MT 141 / 1.796 = 78.5 hp/L. The 1.8 has 1 hp more and 22 Nm less (178 vs 200) and is 2.6 s slower than this 1.4 in FWD form (10.9 vs 9.5).

Buy the 3 generation AWD 1.4 MT if you need AWD and Euro 5. Versus FWD 1.4 MT you pay 61 kg, 0.3 s, 0.4 L/100 km mixed, and 1 km/h. Versus AWD 1.8 AT you are 1.3 s quicker (9.8 vs 11.1), 1.5 L/100 km better mixed (6.4 vs 7.9), 40 g/km less CO2 (149 vs 189), and Euro 5 versus Euro 4, with 22 Nm more (200 vs 178) from 432 cm³ less.

Buy the FWD 1.4 AT (Euro 6, 204 Nm) if you want Automatic and the later eco class. Versus AWD 1.4 AT (Euro 4, 200 Nm) it has +4 Nm, FWD instead of AWD, 191 km/h versus top speed not measured, 1409 kg versus kerb not measured, and wheels not measured versus 205/70 R16 and 215/55 R18. Both 1.4 AT versions share 10.0 s; mixed mpg is not measured on either.

Do not buy the 3 generation 1.6 MT (115 hp) for performance. It is the slowest 3 generation car measured (12.3 s, 174 km/h) and the weakest Gasoline (115 hp, 155 Nm, 72.0 hp/L). Mixed 6.5 is only 0.5 worse than FWD 1.4 MT but 0–100 is 2.8 s slower. Choose it only if you specifically want this 1598 cm³ No-boost Manual 5 FWD.

Buy a 1.7 diesel if mileage is the decision. FWD 1.7 MT: 4.5 mixed, 5.4 city, 4.0 highway, 300 Nm, 10.0 s, 189 km/h, 190 mm, 1383 kg. AWD 1.7 MT if you need AWD on Diesel: 4.9 mixed, 1429 kg, 187 km/h. 1.7 AT if you need Automatic on Diesel: 5.3 mixed, 10.8 s, 186 km/h — 0.8 s and 0.8 L/100 km mixed worse than FWD 1.7 MT. Injection system is not measured on all three.

Skip 1.8 unless you want displacement without turbo. AWD 1.8 AT has the worst measured mixed Gasoline in the 3 generation (7.9) and the worst measured CO2 (189). FWD 1.8 MT matches the restyling mixed 7.1 with 1285 kg and 158 mm clearance — 32 mm less than FWD 1.4 MT. The 1799 cm³ 1.8 MT AWD and 1.8 AT FWD have mixed, city, highway, and (for AT) top speed not measured.

Buy the restyling 1.4L Ecotec Turbo MFI 6AT only as a light FWD Automatic: 1272 kg, 7.1 mixed. City 16.8 is the worst city figure in the data. Clearance 157 mm is the lowest. Torque, 0–100, top speed, tank, gross, cylinders, boost, and injection are not measured — you cannot compare them to the 4 generation on those axes.

Buy 2 generation 2.5 MT for peak hp and kg/hp (167 hp, 8.35 kg/hp, 220 Nm, AWD, 200 mm, 66 L). 0–100, top speed, and mpg are not measured. 2.0 MT AWD at 122 or 129 hp both do 12.5 s and 155 km/h; the 129 hp pair uses fuel 95 and 84 × 90 with Front, longitudinal layout; the 122 hp pair uses fuel 92 and 75 × 90. RWD 1.6 MT is the light 2 generation choice at 1245 kg and 11.5 s; AWD 1.6 MT is 110 kg heavier (1355) with 0–100 not measured, same 150 km/h.

Buy 1 generation AWD 1.6 MT at 1040 kg if the 3-door body and 200 mm clearance are the point: 13 s, 152 km/h. The 1165 kg AWD 1.6 MT with 55 L tank is 1.0 s slower. Automatic 3 on 1.6 AT AWD (1590 cm³, fuel 95) is unique in the catalogue; 0–100, top speed, kerb, tank, and rear suspension are not measured on that listing.

Reliability, engine problems, oil capacity, and engine-number location are not in this dataset. What the numbers do show: Diesel 300 Nm at 2000–2500 rpm does the same 10.0 s as the 140 hp 1.4 turbo AWD while using 1.9 L/100 km less mixed than that AWD 1.4 MT (4.9 vs 6.4 on AWD diesel vs AWD 1.4). The 4 generation trades 0.3 L/100 km mixed and 85 kg versus the restyling for 8.6 s, 219 Nm, 186 mm, and a 50 L tank that is actually measured.