{"id":36369,"date":"2026-07-02T11:59:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T15:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=36369"},"modified":"2026-07-02T11:59:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T15:59:22","slug":"payne-wheelin-the-chevy-trax-detroits-most-affordable-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/payne-wheelin-the-chevy-trax-detroits-most-affordable-model","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Wheelin’ the Chevy Trax, Detroit’s most affordable model"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/p>\n

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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.<\/em><\/div>\n
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Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/figure>\n

Stratford, Virginia<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 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.<\/p>\n

But, admit it, the problem we have with entry-level models is the wheels.<\/p>\n

Wheels? They look more like they were pulled off the top of a trash can. It doesn\u2019t matter whether they are Detroit, Japanese, Korean or European brands. They\u2019re cheap, tinny, unimaginatively designed. Ugh. How many times have you gone to the online car configurator and blown right by the entry trim?<\/p>\n

Or walked right past it in the rental lot?<\/p>\n

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\u2019re talking. Four cool, 17-inch grey-metallic wheel sculptures worthy of any garage.<\/p>\n

Which matters, because Chevy has created a subcompact SUV gem with few compromises.<\/p>\n

Indeed, I can think of only two: the LS trash lids \u2014 er, wheels \u2014 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 \u2014 but versus European and Asian competition as well.<\/p>\n

Entering Westmoreland Couty\u2019s Route 23 in Virginia\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Read full article here.<\/a><\/p>\n