Chevrolet Trax Crossover
First off, the price is incredible. Although it carries the American brand Chevrolet from GM Korea, it is produced at the local plant in Changwon and exported to North America. To aggressively target the domestic compact SUV market, the launch price in Korea is even more competitive than in the U.S. The base LS trim starts at 20.52 million won (approximately $15,400) after taxes.
However, despite the low price, the design and size are surprisingly appealing. True to its name, the Trax Crossover doesn’t have a high stance like a typical SUV, but it certainly commands attention.
Isn’t it pretty? The price of the Trax Crossover, announced today, starts at 20.52 million won, with slight variations depending on the trim. The top model, the RS, starts at 27.39 million won, and even with the full option price, which includes a technology package and sunroof, it remains competitive at around 28 million won (approximately $21,000).
That said, does it lack convenience features? Not at all. The standard safety features in the Chevrolet Trax Crossover include a vehicle stability control system, six airbags, a rearview camera, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, front pedestrian detection and braking, lane change warning, and blind-spot monitoring, among others.
They haven’t skimped on safety options, and adaptive cruise control is available as an additional option for 350,000 won (approximately $260). So, if you add just 350,000 won to the base Trax Crossover LS or LT model, you can almost get a fully loaded version!
If the technology package includes a power liftgate option, the additional cost is only a few hundred thousand won.
During the launch event, various color options were showcased, and personally, I found Savage Blue and Urban Yellow to be the most attractive. By the way, Savage Blue is exclusive to the RS model, while Urban Yellow is available only for the ACTIV trim and above.
The design looks better the more you look at it, especially the sleek side profile!
The rear view also has significant volume, and the presence of the LED lamps at night should be quite striking. When you think about it, the new model shares only the name with the old Chevrolet Trax frequently seen on the road; it has an entirely different DNA.
The body has also grown larger, and as a crossover, we can expect improved ride comfort compared to its predecessor.
The 18-inch wheel design is clean. Depending on the trim and options, sizes range from 17 inches to 19 inches (for the RS), but regardless of the trim you choose, the wheel spokes maintain a consistent appearance, so there shouldn’t be any major issues.
However, the base LS trim features 17-inch wheel covers, which may not look great. But considering that even the basic models of the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, which cost around 70 to 80 million won, also use cover wheels...
What’s the big deal about having wheel covers on a car that costs only 20.79 million won (approximately $15,700)?
The black RS model features 19-inch carbon flash machined alloy wheels. These RS-exclusive wheels are nice, but personally, I think the 18-inch black wheels on the ACTIV trim suit the Trax Crossover better.
This is it... If you choose the Urban Yellow color with black wheels and apply black leather seats with yellow accents, you’ll have a perfect configuration!
For reference, this is the RS-exclusive Jet Black & Red Point leather interior. Of course, it’s not real leather; given the pricing, they’ve applied synthetic leather.
Given that this model, priced around 20 million won (approximately $15,000), offers tremendous price competitiveness, it’s best not to have high expectations for the interior material quality. And traditionally, Chevrolet’s interiors have showcased a distinctly American style.
Despite the North American market’s preference for larger vehicles, the Trax Crossover has already seen a strong global response, with an initial shipment of 6,000 units. Seeing the actual vehicle today, I can understand why...
However, interest in American cars has waned in the domestic market over time, so it will be interesting to see how Chevrolet's aggressive pricing strategy for the Trax Crossover unfolds in the market.
The product appeal and price advantages are clear, but what really matters is how customers perceive it! It’s impressive that the Trax Crossover has grown to the size of a mid-size SUV while still being priced around 20 million won (approximately $15,000)...
It feels like I’ve attended a truly grand new car launch event after a long time. Everyone has been cautious due to COVID-19 and the economic downturn, but this event felt like the largest launch I’ve experienced in recent years.
Thanks to that, I had a delightful time and enjoyed the visual experience.
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I’m sharing a short video to capture the atmosphere of the event.
What do you think? It’s bigger than you might expect, right? I’ll return with a test drive review of the Trax Crossover.