2026 Chevrolet Trax RS

Compact SUV · 1.2L Turbo I3 · FWD

71/100

AutoVault's overall score, weighted for what a compact suv is actually for — performance, technology, comfort, reliability, safety and value.

Specifications

Engine	1.2L Turbo I3
Horsepower	137 hp
Torque	162 lb-ft
0–60 mph	8.5 sec
Top speed	112 mph
Drivetrain	FWD
Seats	5
Combined MPG	30 mpg (28 city / 32 hwy)
Range	455 miles
MSRP	$26,095
Body style	Compact SUV

The verdict

What's good

Massive 11-inch infotainment screen usually reserved for pricier segments
Rear seat slides and reclines, rare flexibility at this price point
Slim A-pillars give genuinely good forward visibility in traffic
Competitive warranty and low entry price reduce ownership risk

What's not

FWD only limits confidence in snow and slippery conditions
Three-cylinder engine feels strained merging onto fast highways
Tiny 13.2-gallon tank means frequent fuel stops on road trips
Ride is choppy over expansion joints at highway speeds

The engine

1.2L Turbo I3

This little turbo triple is all about accessible low-end torque rather than revs, with the characteristic off-beat thrum of a three-cylinder smoothed by balance-shaft tuning.

GM's E-Turbo three-cylinder family, the engine in the South-Korea-built Trax was revised for 2024 with a new single-scroll turbo and updated calibration.

Its torque output exceeds that of many larger naturally aspirated 1.5L and 1.6L four-cylinders while burning less fuel at a cruise.
The U.S.-market Trax is assembled in South Korea, at a plant GM dedicated to the model.
A three-cylinder layout is inherently unbalanced, so the engine relies on a balance shaft and careful engine mounts to keep cabin vibration in check.

See the rest in AutoVault

The six sub-scores behind the 71 — performance, tech, comfort, reliability, safety and value
Market value today and year-by-year value history
All 5 trims with pricing
Studio photography — exterior, rear and interior
Side-by-side comparison with up to four cars

Open in AutoVault