Chevrolet Trax Takes on the Honda HR-V

The 2nd generation Trax has made it an entirely different car than its predecessor. The first Trax was a small, inexpensive SUV, and so much more. The 2024 Trax is stylish outside and in, with a good package of standard and available features and even garnered, as Barry’s Chevrolet is happy to repeat, Cars.com’s 2024 Best Car of the Year award. Such is Trax’s raised profile, which Edmunds.com compared directly to category stalwart, the Honda HR-V.

Long a sales leader for the category, the HR-V, which stands for “Hi-rider Revolutionary Vehicle,” is also in its second generation, at least in the United States (the first generation wasn’t sold here). It, too, has an entirely different appearance from its predecessor. But its base price is about $4,000 over that of the Trax, and Edmunds was curious if that, or any price gap, is warranted.

Drivetrain

The 2nd generation HR-V engine grew to 2.0 liters from the 1.5 of its predecessor. The inline-4 produces 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque and is combined with a continuously variable transmission. The Trax engine is noticeably smaller but turbocharged, with the 1.2-liter inline-3 producing 137 horsepower but trouncing the Honda with 162 lb-ft of torque. The Trax also hits its peak torque at 2,500 rpm compared to 4,200 for the Honda. The Trax engine is paired with a conventional 6-speed automatic. The yin and yang of the horsepower and torque comparisons worked out in the Trax’s favor during Edmunds’ testing, where the Trax had a 9.1 second time from 0 to 60, compared to over 10 seconds for the HR-V.

The HR-V has standard front-wheel drive (FWD) with all-wheel drive as an option on all grades. The Trax is FWD only. Fans of AWD can look to the Trailblazer as an alternative or consider winter tires for the snow, which you should do on an AWD model anyway. The FWD HR-V and Trax both get an EPA-estimated 32 mpg on the highway, but the Trax has an advantage in city driving with 28 to the Honda’s 26, which also gives it a better combined figure of 30 to the Honda’s 28. 

Ride and Handling

Edmunds found both models to handle similarly, where they changed direction quickly and predictably and smoothed out bumps adequately. The Honda was quieter regarding wind and road noise, but the Trax had notably more comfortable seats. The trade-off works in the Trax’s favor as you can turn up the audio system volume, but you can’t improve seat comfort as easily.

Cabin and Cargo Space

The Trax has almost two more inches of wheelbase, which leads to an inch more rear legroom. The front headroom and legroom are nearly identical. Regarding shoulder room, the Trax has an additional inch in the front, while the HR-V has more in the rear. The same flip-flop occurs with cargo space, with the Trax having a class-leading 25.6 cubic feet behind the 2nd-row seat compared to 24.4 for the HR-V. Fold the seats down, and the Trax offers 54.1 cubic feet to the 55.1 in the HR-V.

Features

Both models are described as having class-leading interiors, which come from a more expensive category. The Trax has touchscreens starting at 8 inches, with 11 inches on higher models. The HR-V is smaller on both counts, starting with a 7-inch screen with a 9-inch screen on higher grades. A big plus for the Trax is standard wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you don’t have to connect and disconnect your phone whenever you get in and out. Only the top HR-V grade has wireless connectivity. 

Conclusion

Edmund.com sums up the comparison this way: “The Chevy Trax is a compelling small crossover that goes big on interior quality, space, and value. Honda’s HR-V does little wrong, but it’s been upstaged in this contest. The Trax is the better buy.” If you are in the market for a small, versatile SUV with some style inside and out, Edmunds has already done the comparison for you. Visit Barry’s Chevrolet, which has several Trax models in inventory, and take a close look at one for yourself.