Eric's Autos: Reviewing the 2015 Chevy Trax
The Chevy's mileage is very good - 26 city, 34 highway for the FWD version, which beats the larger-engined Honda CR-V's 25 city, 34 highway… just barely. Acceleration, though, is pretty slow-pokey.
The FWD version needs about 10 seconds to get to 60, all out. The heavier AWD version needs another several tenths. Both the Honda HR-V and the Mazda CX-3 are quicker.
Probably because you can get a manual transmission in the Honda (unavailable in the Chevy, which comes only with a six-speed automatic) and because the Mazda's just got more engine.
Despite being turbo'd, the Trax is is designed to run best on regular unleaded - not high-octane premium - which will save you about 20 cents per gallon at each fill-up. ON THE ROAD
There's not much to do in the Trax - and that's probably its chief negative. The 1.4 engine - turbo'd remember - could be much more fun if it could be paired with a six-speed manual transmission instead of this automatic-only deal. Which by the way Chevy is doing to satisfy the government rather than please potential (and actual) buyers.
Automatics, you see, eke out an extra 2-3 MPG vs. a manual transmission in an otherwise the same vehicle. For example, the manual-equipped Honda HR-V's mileage - 25 city, 34 highway - is slightly lower than the same vehicle with the optional CVT automatic transmission (28 city, 35 highway).
This is probably a distinction without a difference to most buyers (would you pass up a car you otherwisereally liked because its mileage was 2-3 MPG less than a rival you liked less?) but it matters a lot to the car companies - who must finagle compliance with the federal government's CAFE "fleet average" fuel economy mandates. Especially to a car company like GM (and Chevy) which sells a lot of "gas hog" models. Remember, fleet averages. A company like Honda, on the other hand, has fewer "gas hogs" in its lineup (no big SUVs with V8s; no trucks) and thus can mix in a few less-than-maximally efficient vehicles (like the six-speed HR-V) without wilting its overall average too much.
But Chevy's gotta mix the mileage numbers of models like the Trax with the Tahoe's mileage. And the Suburban's. Etc. Hence the need to squeeze as many MPGs as possible out of the Trax. Hence the mandatory/take-it-or-leaved-it six-speed automatic.
Which does fine once you're rolling. Like all modern vehicles, the Trax can easily hold 80-plus MPH for hours, assuming no cops. Plenty speedy for U.S. highways - and secondary roads.
It's only when you're stationary - and hit it - that the Trax seems a little torpid. It's the nature of the beast. Small engines do best - in terms of performance - with manual transmissions. The turbo boosted torque of the 1.4 liter four definitely helps, but being able to rev the engine up, the feather the clutch as you dig ever deeper into the gas would really help.
...continued
