How much does the 2021 Chevrolet Trax cost?

Prices have softened 12.13% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,526 listings available, which suggests you have room to compare prices and condition across the market.

If you find a listing below $13,288.96, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Trax a good car?

Yes — the 5/5 user rating points to strong owner satisfaction, and the expert rating is 5.83/10. The standout strength is Technology at 8/10.

The Trax’s appeal is clear in the data: it is positioned as an affordable subcompact SUV with helpful tech, easy-to-use infotainment, and a small footprint that makes it maneuverable in tight spaces. That makes it a practical fit if you want simple everyday transportation and value more than flash.

The trade-offs are just as clear. Expert testing calls out sluggish performance and poor ride quality, and the interior materials feel cheap. If you can live with those compromises, the Trax can still make sense as a budget-friendly city-friendly SUV.

25.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so there is some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Trax reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The Trax is described as an affordable, practical small SUV with straightforward everyday usability, and its easy-to-use infotainment helps support that reputation. The performance notes also suggest a simple mechanical setup: a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder with a six-speed automatic, which is uncomplicated compared with more complex setups.

The cost-effectiveness notes also point to a model that is easy to live with day to day, especially if you value basic transportation and helpful technology over premium refinement. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that the same compromises that show up in testing — especially performance and ride quality — are likely to remain part of the ownership experience.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Chevrolet Trax?

At 69.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you are considering a lower-priced example. Focus on body condition, signs of prior repair, and whether the vehicle’s equipment and trim match the listing description. Because this model’s value depends heavily on condition and equipment, a clean, well-kept example matters more than usual.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The LS comes with a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and basic convenience features, while the LT adds heated power-adjustable side mirrors, rear window tint, roof rails, LED head- and taillights, remote start, cruise control, upgraded seating, and more. The LT is the better value if you want the more complete everyday setup.
• Powertrain: You get a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder with 138 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic and available front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It is fine around town, but it struggles for passing and highway acceleration.
• Safety package: The LT Convenience Package adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and rear parking sensors. Standard equipment is limited to airbags and a backup camera, and many rivals offer more advanced driver-assistance features.
• Infotainment: Every trim gets a 7-inch touchscreen with Chevrolet Infotainment 3, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, voice control, and an available WiFi hotspot.
• Fuel efficiency: The front-wheel-drive model returns 26 mpg city, 31 highway, 28 combined, while all-wheel drive returns 24 mpg city, 29 highway, 26 combined.

Which 2021 Chevrolet Trax trim should I buy?

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax is offered in 2 trim levels: LS and LT.

Here's the short version:

• LS: This is the entry point, and it gives you the core Trax formula: a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, and the basic convenience features that make the SUV easy to live with. If you want the lowest-cost way into the model, this is the starting point.
• LT: This is the better-value choice for most shoppers because it adds the features that make the Trax feel more complete, including remote start, cruise control, roof rails, LED lighting, upgraded seating, and more available convenience and safety equipment. If you want the most balanced version, this is the trim to target.

The LT Convenience Package adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and rear parking sensors.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Chevrolet Trax?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully and still find opportunities.

• Deal availability: 25.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,526 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 12.13% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 69.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $13,288.96, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Chevrolet Trax's resale value?

The current average of $13,338 sits slightly below last year's $15,180.

That decline suggests the Trax has become more affordable for used buyers, but it also means a future seller may face a softer pricing environment than before. If you buy at the right price and keep the vehicle in clean condition, you can help protect your resale position. The strongest listings will be the ones with good equipment, clean history, and evidence of careful ownership.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 5/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Trax safe?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded it five-star ratings in crash tests, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety did not give it a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award.

It earns a 4/10 safety score from our experts.

The Trax comes standard with airbags and a backup camera, but that is the extent of its standard safety equipment. The LT Convenience Package adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and rear parking sensors, but even then the safety story remains limited compared with rivals that offer forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning.

Should I buy a 2021 Chevrolet Trax or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 25.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 69.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 12.13% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 stands out for its helpful technology and easy-to-use infotainment, even though the overall package remains underwhelming in performance and ride quality.

The bottom line: If you want the lowest-cost path into a small Chevrolet SUV and you value simple tech and city-friendly size, the 2021 Trax can still make sense. If you are price-sensitive but want a more rounded vehicle, you should also compare it carefully with other small SUVs, because the Trax’s compromises are significant enough that a slightly different model year or a different nameplate may deliver better overall value.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 28, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.