Payne: Wheelin’ the Chevy Trax, Detroit’s most affordable model

Posted by Talbot Payne on July 2, 2026

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax LS is a subcompact SUV starting at $23.5k. Put nice wheels on it as a LT model and the price starts just under $25k.

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax LS is a subcompact SUV starting at $23.5k. Put nice wheels on it as a LT model and the price starts just under $25k.

Henry Payne, The Detroit News

Stratford, Virginia — With bold styling, peppy performance and more rear legroom than an Audi Q7 for goodness sake, the $23,495 Chevrolet Trax is the most affordable SUV from a Detroit automaker. By a country mile.

But, admit it, the problem we have with entry-level models is the wheels.

Wheels? They look more like they were pulled off the top of a trash can. It doesn’t matter whether they are Detroit, Japanese, Korean or European brands. They’re cheap, tinny, unimaginatively designed. Ugh. How many times have you gone to the online car configurator and blown right by the entry trim?

Or walked right past it in the rental lot?

The entry-level Chevy LS is no different. I walked past it in the Reagan Washington National Airport rental lot and settled on the next, $24,995 LT trim instead. Ahhhhh, now we’re talking. Four cool, 17-inch grey-metallic wheel sculptures worthy of any garage.

Which matters, because Chevy has created a subcompact SUV gem with few compromises.

Indeed, I can think of only two: the LS trash lids — er, wheels — and lack of standard blind-spot assist/or active cruise control safety features (more on that later). Otherwise, my $24,995 LT is a fully baked transportation companion that not only offers the most-compelling entry point for Detroit automakers — but versus European and Asian competition as well.

Entering Westmoreland Couty’s Route 23 in Virginia’s Northern Neck, I put my lead foot to the floor and a healthy 162 pound-feet of torque launched me into the rollercoaster twisties. GRRRRR! growled the ferocious turbocharged three-cylinder engine. WHEEEEE! went my inner child. The LT SUV is LOL fun.

Read full article here.

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