2024 Chevrolet Trax vs 2023 Genesis GV80

The 2023 Genesis GV80 had a truly sophisticated exterior, exuding grace with its quad-lamp headlights and bold grille. This midsize SUV stretched just over 16 feet long, giving it a stately presence. Standard 19-inch wheels were offered, but the Prestige trim like the one tested came with impressive 22-inch alloy wheels. Echoing the front, the rear showcased a quad-lamp design in its four-part taillamps, sitting above dual exhaust pipes. While the vehicle's hands-free liftgate had a boxy design, it added to the SUV's functionality without compromising its elegant look. The tester boasted a matte Brunswick Green paint job, further enhancing its refined aesthetic.

Inside, the dark green quilted leather seats complemented the exterior effortlessly. The dashboard was split by thin horizontal air vents, accented with metal and matte wood trim. The center console featured three substantial dials—one for the infotainment system, another for controlling the transmission, and the third for selecting drive modes. The Genesis GV80's two-spoke steering wheel stood out, differing from those in other luxury vehicles.

However, the 14.5-inch infotainment screen appeared somewhat plunked onto the dash, which could have benefited from a more integrated design. Despite this minor quibble, the interior remained spacious and sumptuous, making it a comfortable haven.

In contrast, the 2024 Chevrolet Trax underwent an extensive makeover, bearing little resemblance to its predecessor besides the name. Designers adopted a "longer, lower, wider" mantra, resulting in a model that was 11 inches longer, nearly six inches longer in wheelbase, four inches lower, and two inches wider than its older counterpart. It borrowed styling cues from the midsize Chevy Blazer, including a gaping grille and a pronounced step between the rear body sides and windows, giving the Trax a unique, commanding presence in its class. Base LS models came with 17-inch steel wheels, while higher trims offered 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum options. The Activ trim featured subtle faux skid plates, while the RS trim had blacked-out styling accents for a sportier look.

While base models had simple cloth upholstery and a mostly plastic interior typical of entry-level models, higher trims featured Evotex upholstery, though it resembled activewear material more than leather. Yellow stitching on the Activ trim and piano-black plastic accents in the RS trim added unique touches, though the latter could become easily smudged. The freestanding touchscreen and large round air vents ensured the design theme remained exciting, with the hardware prominently displayed rather than integrated into the dashboard.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 offered all-wheel-drive (AWD) and had two engine choices: a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder or a turbo 3.5-liter V6. The smaller engine produced 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, but the tested model had the larger V6, which churned out 375 horsepower and an impressive 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Despite these promising numbers, the GV80 wasn’t particularly athletic or quick, taking around five and a half seconds to reach 60 mph, slower than some competitors. It handled turns well enough but felt somewhat sloppy compared to its German rivals.

The GV80 excelled, though, in highway driving. Power delivery and gear shifts were smooth, and the electronically controlled suspension scanned the road ahead with a forward-facing camera to prepare the dampers for rough patches. Coupled with active noise cancellation, the Genesis provided an exceptionally smooth and quiet highway experience.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax, on the other hand, featured a smaller 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, replacing the previous 1.4-liter turbo-four. This new engine offered 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, down from the predecessor's 155 horsepower and 177 pound-feet. Despite the reduced power, Chevy estimated that the new Trax could reach 60 mph about a second faster than the older model. The engine's flat torque curve ensured strong responses from stops and confident highway overtakes, with minimal turbo lag.

The 2024 Trax stuck with the previous six-speed automatic transmission but was available only with front-wheel drive (FWD). This decision differentiated it from the Trailblazer model, which offered AWD. Tuned for a more car-like feel, the Trax's wider track contributed to a planted, stable ride. Handling felt more akin to small hatchbacks than traditional crossovers, although the limited grip and significant body roll reminded drivers of its econobox origins.

Refinement in the Trax surpassed expectations, thanks to standard active noise cancellation, although the 2RS test vehicle experienced notable tire noise. Ride quality was slightly rough in both the 2RS and Activ models, but this seemed a fair tradeoff for the superior handling.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 focused on myriad features and luxury touches. Standard heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were available in almost every trim, while the tester included ventilated front and rear seats adjustable in multiple ways, and the innovative Ergo Motion driver’s seat that helped reduce fatigue. Nappa leather upholstery added to the overall sumptuous feel. A third-row option was available but recommended only for children due to limited legroom.

Approaching the GV80 activated Genesis puddle lamps, and the proximity key unlocked the doors automatically, along with a digital key option. The tri-zone climate control system ensured all passengers could be comfortable, while the optional 21-speaker stereo provided premium audio. The interior featured a suede headliner and a panoramic glass roof, adding a touch of luxury.

Utility-wise, the GV80 stood out with one of the largest cargo spaces in its class. It offered 34.9 cubic feet of space behind the second row, expandable to a massive 84 cubic feet with the seats folded down. It also boasted a robust towing capacity of 6,000 pounds, provided the trailer had brakes.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax, despite its increase in size, didn't see uniform improvements in interior space. The rear seat gained three inches of legroom, with a minor increase in front-seat legroom, but headroom in the second row decreased by 0.7 inches. Both front and rear shoulder rooms were reduced, contributing to a more snug feeling familiar in other GM subcompact crossovers like the Chevy Trailblazer.

Although passenger space was similar to competitors like the Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue, the Trax featured the most rear-seat legroom among the three. The car-like driving position, with low window sills offering excellent visibility, added to its appeal, but those accustomed to the high seating position of traditional SUVs might not prefer it.

Cargo space in the Trax increased by about 12%, boasting 25.6 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 54.1 cubic feet with them folded, only slightly improving over rivals but significantly outdoing others like the Venue.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen standard across all trims, alongside a 12.3-inch 3D digital gauge cluster in the tested model, which, while interesting, felt a bit gimmicky. A head-up display projected essential information directly into the driver’s view. However, the infotainment screen's placement out of easy touch reach necessitated using a dial, which, despite its satisfying "clicky" feel, was somewhat cumbersome. The dial’s ability to detect handwriting was useful, though, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were present but disappointingly not wireless.

The GV80 was also equipped with wireless charging, four USB ports, a 12-volt outlet, and a 110-volt outlet. An added feature was the remote smart parking assist, allowing the car to maneuver in and out of tight spots with the driver controlling it via the fob.

For the 2024 Chevrolet Trax, Chevrolet significantly upgraded its infotainment offerings. An 8-inch touchscreen came standard on LS and 1RS trims, while higher trims boasted an 11-inch touchscreen and an 8-inch digital instrument cluster. The Trax introduced wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to wireless phone charging for the first time, maintaining Wi-Fi connectivity.

The larger screen in the Trax 2RS and Activ test vehicles featured crisp graphics and a user-friendly layout, though its tilt towards the driver made it less accessible for front-seat passengers, a similar issue faced by analog climate controls and the volume knob positioned far from the passenger’s reach. The optional digital instrument cluster displayed information clearly and allowed the transfer of data from the main touchscreen.

Standard USB ports included one USB-A and one USB-C in the front, with an additional set for rear passengers on higher trims. Wireless charging, though optional, proved somewhat awkward due to the charging pad's shape and angle.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 was laden with advanced safety features. Standard equipment included forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. Notably, the GV80 offered a blind-spot video feed in the digital gauge cluster, providing a clear view of potential obstacles. Highway Drive Assist used various driving aids to offer semi-autonomous driving on approved highways, capable of lane changes and speed adjustments based on navigation data.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the GV80 earned a full five-star rating overall, with five stars for side crashes and four stars for frontal crashes and rollovers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated it Good in crashworthiness and Superior in front crash prevention, though headlights and the LATCH system received Acceptable ratings.

Chevrolet hadn't released crash-test ratings for the 2024 Trax, but it came with standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic high beams. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist.

Additionally, the Trax featured the Teen Driver system, automatically activating certain safety features, preventing gear shifts without seat belts, and providing driving behavior reports to caregivers.