The first thing you need to know is that the 2024 Trax is inexpensive. Not like a cardboard belt, but inexpensive compared to everything else that’s out there at $21,495 for the base model.

And there’s not a thing wrong with that. This is an above-average first car for a young or newer driver, or for anyone who must have a late model but doesn’t want to spend a comparative bundle. The Trax is cute, efficient and safe. It’s also, engine-wise, weak like see-through coffee. But we’ll get to that.

Five distinct personalities — LS, 1RS, LT, 2RS and ACTIV — offer design and content choices, while all trims add enhanced features and technologies. I had the ACTIV, starting at $26,395.

Across the board, the completely redesigned Trax is longer this year. (They skipped 2023 and went straight to 2024, BTW). 178 inches longer, in fact, and 2 inches wider, 4inches lower and delivering a 6-inch longer wheelbase.

All to good effect, too – it’s handsome from every angle with its carved grille, headlamps and symmetrical silhouette. Since my vehicle was color-coordinated stem to stern with Mosiac Black Metallic, I felt I had, at least color-wise, a little mob vehicle to roll around in. (Not shown). My Activ trim arrived with black 18-inch wheels that looked spankin’.

Engine

You’ve got a 1.2-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine making 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, with only front-wheel-drive and a 6-speed automatic transmission. You and the engine just have to learn to get along – for instance, when you step on it from a dead stop, there isn’t any adrenaline – you have to wait. At speed, it’s smooth as you please, but you feel the small engine whenever you drive the vehicle. Fuel economy is listed at 28 MPG city, 32 highway and 30 mpg combined.

Inside, and Tech

The inside carries the DNA of most of the latest Chevys, with two digital color screens that are quite bright at night and clearly laid out, with exceptions. An 8-inch infotainment screen, aimed at the driver, comes standard on LS and 1RS with an 11-inch screen for LT, 2RS and ACTIV, our tester.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard as does a wireless phone charger, Wi-Fi Hotspot capability and a particularly vivid rear view camera. The sound system is rich and satisfying and the climate system blows ferociously and therefore well. I never did figure out where the “source” button was to connect my phone’s sound system through the vehicle’s, though, and the owner’s manual wasn’t any help. Sigh.

Drive

There isn’t a thing wrong with the drive, given what you’ve got under the hood. Every move is accomplished “eventually” but it’s not so sluggish that you’re in danger – you just look for your place on the highway with all the other small-engined guys and there you’ll find your sweet spot. The ride itself is smooth and satisfying, with little tossing around or road noise. I was consistently impressed during the entire test how much quality was being delivered for the price.

Additional new features on most trims include push-button start, automatic climate control, wireless phone charging6 and more. Cruise control is also standard equipment on all models and Adaptive Cruise Control2 is available on some trims, a first for Trax.

Space

Inside, the 11-inch greater length and 2-inch greater width than the current model translates into greater roominess and cargo capacity, including 3 inches more rear legroom, which increases comfort for rear-seat passengers, and maximum cargo capacity that increases by nearly 12%. ACTIV features Evotex seats with yellow accents. RS and ACTIV trims feature black bowtie emblems.

Additional standard and available contents include:

Center console with ergonomically optimized shifter location, an electronic parking brake that opens up more storage space in the console, four bottle holders and two cupholders, heated front seats, steering wheel and outside mirrors standard on 1RS, 2RS and ACTIV and available on LT. Heated front seats and outside mirrors are available on LS, and other great stuff.

Chevy Safety Assist and more

The 2024 Trax ups the safety ante with new, standard Chevy Safety Assist2 — a suite of six advanced safety and driver awareness technologies that include Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, IntelliBeam auto high-beam control, a Following Distance Indicator and other stuff you’ll want to check out.

There’s more, much more – and it all comes in a handsome, reasonably-priced package.