Trax vs Equinox: Which Chevy SUV Should You Buy

Trax vs Equinox is one of the most searched Chevy comparisons there is, and the honest answer is that they are not really built for the same buyer.

The Trax offers zero all-wheel-drive configurations. The Equinox offers AWD across most of its lineup. That single difference alone rules one of these two out for a meaningful share of shoppers before cargo space or price ever enters the conversation.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trax does not offer AWD at all. It is front-wheel drive only.
• The Equinox offers meaningfully more cargo room, both behind the rear seats and with them folded.
• The Trax posts better fuel economy, since it is smaller and lighter with a less powerful engine.
• Only the Equinox offers a real towing rating. The Trax is not built for towing.
• Current reliability data actually favors the smaller, less expensive Trax over the Equinox, which surprises a lot of shoppers.

Pro Tip: Decide on AWD first. It is the one factor that genuinely rules one of these two vehicles out for some buyers, and everything else on this list is a tradeoff worth weighing either way.

AWD Is Available on One of These

This is the single biggest, most decisive difference between the two, and it is worth settling before anything else. The current Trax, redesigned for 2024, is offered exclusively with front-wheel drive. There is no AWD option at any trim or price point, which surprises some shoppers who assume every compact and subcompact SUV in this segment offers it as at least an option.

The Equinox offers AWD as an available upgrade on LT and RS, and includes it as standard equipment on ACTIV. If AWD is a requirement for how you drive, whether for winter conditions or rural roads, the Trax simply cannot provide it, regardless of how well it otherwise fits your needs on every other point in this comparison.

Does the Chevy Trax come in all-wheel drive? No. The current Trax is front-wheel drive only, with no AWD option available at any trim.

Which Equinox trims offer AWD? LT and RS offer AWD as an available option. ACTIV includes AWD as standard equipment.

Should I rule out the Trax entirely if I need AWD? Yes, if AWD is a genuine requirement rather than a preference. The Trax cannot provide it under any configuration.

Equinox Offers Meaningfully More Cargo Room

Size is the next place these two genuinely diverge. The Trax offers 25.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 54.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Equinox offers 29.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.5 cubic feet folded, a real, usable difference rather than a marginal one you would only notice on a spec sheet.

This tracks with their segment positioning. The Trax is a subcompact SUV, while the Equinox is a compact SUV, one size class up. If cargo room for gear, groceries, or family hauling is a priority, the Equinox’s extra room is not something you can make up for with clever packing in the Trax. The gap shows up most clearly on trips where you are loading the vehicle with more than a typical grocery run or weekend bag.

How much more cargo space does the Equinox have than the Trax? Roughly 4 cubic feet more behind the rear seats, and about 9 cubic feet more with the rear seats folded, a meaningful difference in practical terms.

Is the Trax too small for a family? It depends on the family. It works well for smaller households or as a second vehicle, but families who regularly need more cargo room will feel the Equinox’s extra space.

Does the size difference show up in rear passenger room too? Generally yes. The compact Equinox offers more interior room overall, not just cargo volume, compared to the subcompact Trax.

Trax Wins on Fuel Economy

This is a genuine advantage for the Trax, and it follows directly from being the smaller, lighter vehicle with a less powerful engine. The Trax returns approximately 30 mpg combined. The Equinox returns 27 mpg combined in FWD form, or 26 mpg combined with AWD.

For a buyer whose top priority is minimizing fuel cost on a daily commute, and who does not need AWD or the Equinox’s extra cargo room, the Trax’s efficiency advantage is real and worth factoring in.

Which gets better gas mileage, the Trax or the Equinox? The Trax, at approximately 30 mpg combined, compared to the Equinox’s 27 mpg combined in FWD form or 26 mpg combined with AWD.

Why does the Trax get better fuel economy than the Equinox? It is a smaller, lighter vehicle with a smaller engine, both of which contribute to better fuel efficiency compared to the larger Equinox.

Is the fuel economy difference significant over a year of driving? It adds up over time, though the difference is moderate rather than dramatic. It is one factor worth weighing alongside cargo room and AWD availability.

Only the Equinox Is Built to Tow

The Equinox offers a real, usable towing rating, up to 1,500 pounds with AWD or 800 pounds with FWD, enough for a small trailer, light watercraft, or a couple of personal watercraft on a trailer. The Trax is not meaningfully built for towing at all.

If towing anything, even occasionally, is part of your plans, this is another factor that points clearly toward the Equinox rather than the Trax.

Can the Chevy Trax tow a trailer? The Trax is not meaningfully built for towing. If towing anything is part of your plans, the Equinox is the more appropriate choice between these two.

What is the maximum towing capacity of the Equinox? Up to 1,500 pounds with AWD, or 800 pounds with FWD, enough for light trailers or small watercraft.

Should towing capability alone decide between these two vehicles? If you have any regular towing need, yes, since only the Equinox offers a meaningful rating between these two vehicles.

Is the Trax more reliable than the Equinox right now? Current data leans that way. The Trax’s current generation shows excellent early reliability scores, while the Equinox sits mid-pack on RepairPal and recently lost its Consumer Reports Recommended status.

Does this mean the Equinox is unreliable? No. A mid-pack ranking is not the same as an unreliable vehicle. It simply means the Equinox is not currently a standout on this specific measure compared to some competitors, including the Trax.

Should reliability data alone decide between these two? It is one factor worth weighing, but AWD availability, cargo room, and towing needs are likely to matter more for most buyers’ actual daily use.

Which One Actually Fits You

The Trax fits buyers who want a smaller, more efficient, budget-friendly SUV, do not need AWD or real towing capability, and are comfortable with less cargo room in exchange for better fuel economy and a lower cost of entry.

The Equinox fits buyers who want AWD available, more cargo and passenger room, real towing capability, and are willing to accept a moderate fuel economy tradeoff to get there. Neither vehicle is objectively better. They are built for genuinely different priorities.

Is the Trax or Equinox the better first SUV? It depends on your priorities. The Trax suits buyers prioritizing efficiency and value. The Equinox suits buyers who need AWD, more room, or towing capability.

Can I get everything the Equinox offers in a Trax at a lower cost? No. AWD and real towing capability are exclusive to the Equinox between these two vehicles, regardless of price.

Should I test drive both before deciding? Yes. The size and drivetrain differences are easier to judge in person than from a spec sheet, and both are worth experiencing directly.

Talk to Barry’s About Trax and Equinox

Barry’s Chevrolet is a family-owned dealership in West Union, Ohio. Come tell us how you actually plan to use the vehicle, whether that means AWD for winter roads around Adams County or maximizing fuel economy for a daily commute, and we will help you figure out which one genuinely fits.

Related Reading

• Equinox vs Trailblazer vs Traverse: Which Chevy SUV Is Right
• Best Used Trax Years to Buy
• Best Used AWD SUVs for Winter Driving