The Holden Trax died when General Motors shuttered the lion brand, despite being one of the company’s best sellers. In North America, however, it’s getting a new generation.
The 2024 Chevrolet Trax has debuted as a North American version of the Chinese Chevrolet Seeker, but will be produced for export in GM Korea’s Changwon plant.
It’ll go on sale in the northern spring of 2023, with pricing starting at US$21,495 (A$34,057) – around US$200 less than the outgoing model, and US$605 less than the related Trailblazer crossover.
That’s despite the new Trax being larger than not only the outgoing model, but also the slightly more expensive Chevrolet Trailblazer.
Trax RS 
Trax Activ
It measures 4537mm long, 1823mm wide and 1560mm tall on a 2700mm wheelbase, or roughly the size of a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.
That makes it 273mm longer, 47mm wider but 119mm lower than the old Trax, on a 145mm longer wheelbase.
These dimensions also make it 130mm longer, 15mm wider and 248mm lower than the new Chevrolet Trailblazer, on a 61mm longer wheelbase.
The two similarly sized crossovers both come standard with a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine with 102kW of power and 219Nm of torque, up 1kW and 19Nm on the old Trax’s 1.4-litre turbo four.
The new Trax misses out on the Trailblazer’s optional 115kW/236Nm turbo 1.3-litre three-pot and all-wheel drive, despite Chevrolet selling the old Trax in North America with available all-wheel drive.
Front-wheel drive Trailblazers get a continuously variable transmission and torsion-beam rear suspension and all-wheel drive models get a nine-speed automatic and Watt’s link rear suspension; all Trax models feature a “proven” six-speed automatic and torsion-beam rear.
The range comprises LS, 1RS, LT, 2RS and Activ trim levels, with the latter two priced at US$24,995 (A$39,607) – a full US$2100 less than the Trailblazer Activ and RS.
1RS and 2RS models get a sportier look externally, while the Activ has a more monochromatic look with titanium chrome accents and a rear skid plate. LED headlights are standard across the range.
Inside, there’s a much more modern dashboard than the outgoing Trax, with a design reminiscent of the upcoming Equinox EV.
Activ 
2RS
An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard on LS and 1RS models and an 11-inch unit on the LT, 2RS and Activ.
All models feature wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with wireless phone charging and an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster standard on models with the larger screen.
Standard safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, as well as lane-keep assist, automatic high-beam and a reversing camera.
Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors are available.
2023 Trailblazer Activ 
Chevrolet has continued to sell the Trailblazer alongside the outgoing Trax in North America as part of a dual-model strategy, echoed by fellow GM brand Buick with its old Encore (née Opel/Vauxhall Mokka) and newer, VSS-F-based Encore GX.
According to Carsalesbase, the Trailblazer was the third best-selling vehicle in the so-called subcompact SUV segment in the US last year with 90,161 sales, behind only the Honda HR-V and Subaru Crosstrek (XV).
The Trax was 10th with 42,590 sales, beating out the Toyota C-HR and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport (ASX).
