2024 Chevrolet Trax vs 2024 Honda HR-V – Boston Auto Weblog

The Chevrolet Trax has come a great distance because the 1st technology, however now with it’s extra aggressive seems and bigger street presence, the Trax has joined the rising development of manufacturers producing larger subcompact crossovers, that fairly frankly have gotten reasonably priced household pleasant automobiles that provide a plethora of consolation and comfort options not beforehand seen on this section earlier than. One rival that involves thoughts is the brand new Honda HR-V that additionally went via a little bit of a development spurt and switched platforms to higher meet the calls for of automotive customers within the worth vary beneath $30k. So let’s see how the 2024 Trax stacks up towards a worthy foe on this section.

Efficiency

Beginning off with the Trax, Chevrolet dropped in a 1.2L turbocharged 3 cylinder engine that produces 137 hp and 162 lb ft of torque, however the important thing takeaway right here is that this powertrain is paired with a 6 velocity computerized transmission. Subcompacts have by no means been identified to be essentially the most partaking nor the quickest, however producers try to alter all of that by at the least giving homeowners the notion of high quality and total enjoyment behind the wheel. With a 0-60 time of round 9 seconds, the Trax isn’t a barnstormer and also you’re definitely not going to get pushed again in your seat throughout heavy accelerations, nonetheless as a result of you could have a turbo and conventional computerized, you gained’t expertise the fixed droning like we hear in rivals when getting into highways, and that’s additional compounded by the three cylinder engine that’s comparatively quiet in comparison with most naturally aspirated 4 cylinders which are sometimes supplied on this market.

What caught us without warning was the dealing with and steering enter, as there was a faint feeling of weight when approaching sharper corners on backroads, which isn’t one thing you’d anticipate for a crossover priced at $25k. As a result of the Trax is basically a lifted hatchback, it’s car-like onroad demeanor hides the normally lackluster dealing with that subcompacts are identified for and because the Trax is just not efficiency oriented the suspension isn’t all that inflexible. Nevertheless this crossover does simply sufficient to not lull you to sleep, and with an open thoughts, you would end up having fun with your weekly commutes with the Trax.

The Honda HR-V however, has many strengths, however the driving dynamics aren’t one in every of them. Underneath the hood is a 2 liter 4 cylinder engine that produces 158 hp and 138 lb ft of torque which is paired with a CVT. The important thing variations between these two crossovers boil right down to the transmission and the discrepancy in lb ft of torque for the HR-V, as this subcompact gasps for air when attempting to cross slower drivers on the freeway, and the CVT hammers residence the identical faults that plague automobiles on this worth vary. But even with it’s shortcomings for straightline velocity, consumers will love the extra inflexible suspension that underpins the HR-V, because the unbiased rear suspension improves trip high quality and does present some degree of cushioning when going over uneven pavement.

The HR-V has at all times been chosen for it’s practicality and gas effectivity above all the things else, and whereas Honda has made nice strides in altering the notion surrounding this crossover, performance-wise it could be higher served with a stronger powertrain, whether or not meaning dropping in a turbo or perhaps providing a hybrid variant very like the remainder of the lineup.

Options

Within the subcompact crossover section you gained’t be receiving all of the bells and whistles, as many consolation options are sometimes reserved for bigger automobiles in model’s lineups, however chances are you’ll be genuinely stunned to search out out that the Honda HR-V and Chevy Trax supplies an possession expertise that may catch you off-guard should you’ve bought vehicles or crossovers on this worth vary earlier than. The fashions we had featured and are proven all through this video is an HR-V Sport and Trax 2RS, which sarcastically price round $25k making this comparability extra correct. Nevertheless there are some distinct variations should you go for the highest trims from each automobiles that you could be discover interesting.

First for the HR-V, the inside does provide some softer contact supplies to raise the driving expertise, however in comparison with final technology, you’ll have some facilities and trendy tech that matches it’s mid to excessive $20k worth level. Whereas not outfitted on the Sport, the HR-V provides you twin zone local weather management, heated leather-based trimmed seats, with the motive force’s facet being energy adjustable, a 9 inch touchscreen, which is simply accessible for the EX-L, wi-fi apple CarPlay and android auto compatibility, a wi-fi cellphone charging pad, and a half digital half analogue gauge cluster. If tech options aren’t a high precedence and also you wish to keep strict along with your funds, the Sport is a superb possibility, because the heated material seats provide quantity of help and cushioning and the smaller head unit continues to be intuitive with the essential requirements. Extra importantly, the HR-V will get the identical dashboard from the redesigned Honda Civic, which does have a cultured and clear look.

The Trax however is at it’s finest for the 2RS and Activ, as Chevy spared no expense to provide driver’s a tech dominated cabin. Not like the HR-V you’ll have a full digital instrument show that’s custimizable and showcases a variety of data. You’ll even have an 11 inch touchscreen that actually isn’t too completely different from Honda’s person interface by way of what it supplies when it pertains to options. Identical to the HR-V you’ll have wi-fi apple CarPlay and android auto compatibility with a wi-fi cellphone charging pad being accessible. Nevertheless the Trax doesn’t provide twin zone local weather management, and whereas we do just like the sportier exterior design of the 2RS, choosing the Activ will make extra sense as heated seats and an influence adjustable driver’s seat makes you are feeling you’re getting extra for $25k.

Consolation clever, the leatherette upholstery is typical for a crossover on this market, however one key distinction is that there’s more durable contact plastics on the door panels and dashboard, nonetheless that might be anticipated for a automobile priced underneath $30k. All-in-all, each crossover share many similarities by way of what they provide, and finally it is going to come right down to pricing as a high trim EX-L for the HR-V will probably be creeping in direction of that’s 30 grand mark whereas the Trax hovers nearer to $26-$27k.

Functionality/Versatility

The place the Trax and HR-V each improved with their new generations was upsizing to change into virtually compact crossover-like, and that’s not solely obvious from the surface but in addition the interiors that we simply highlighted. Each subcompacts traveled related paths to the place they’re at this time, because the HR-V is 10 inches longer and two inches wider than it’s predecessor, making it bigger than the Toyota Corolla Cross, Subaru Crosstrek and Mazda CX-30. Just like the HR-V, for 2024, the Trax grows in size by 11 inches, and is 2 inches wider than the crossover it’s changing, making each subcompacts among the larger choices on this section, and due to that they’re additionally very sensible, to some extent the place chances are you’ll not want to purchase a costlier compact crossover.

For the cargo area, the HR-V is available in with 24.4 Cubic ft of room behind the 2nd row seats, and when these seats are folded that just about doubles dimension to 55 cubic ft. The Trax will provide 25.6 cubic ft initially when the 2nd row seats are up and 54 cubic ft when folded. From a practicality perspective, each a virtually an identical, however extra importantly outclass the Subaru Crosstrek and Mazda CX-30, making Chevy and Honda household pleasant alternate options.

Now, a possible deciding issue is that the Trax at present doesn’t provide AWD as an possibility, which may steer consumers in a distinct path in the event that they really feel extra snug driving a crossover with one thing aside from FWD, and that’s the place the HR-V slots into place, but it surely must be price mentioning that to go for AWD you’ll be paying a further $1500. Lastly for off-road functionality, each the Trax and HR-V may have simply over 7 inches of floor clearance, but it surely’s extremely unlikely you’ll be encountering terrain apart from pavement with both crossover.

Conclusion

All-in-all the Chevy Trax and Honda HR-V in 2023 are huge enhancements from the place each crossovers have been just some years in the past. They’re not econoboxes, and as an alternative they’re automobiles of substance that provide an array of options to make them nice values available on the market at this time. If efficiency and know-how is what you’re on the lookout for, we’d lean in direction of the Trax, nonetheless the HR-V does have a greater inside, particularly should you determine to buy an EX-L with the leather-based seats and 9 inch touchscreen. After all it boils down to non-public desire, however we’d say the Trax is a extra interesting possibility proper now in 2023.

If you happen to’re involved in discovering out extra concerning the Chevy Trax or Honda HR-V take a look at our full critiques!