2024 Chevrolet Trax vs 2024 Buick Envista

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax underwent a drastic transformation compared to its previous model. Designers drew inspiration from GM's iconic '50s and '60s motto of "longer, lower, wider." This makeover resulted in a vehicle that is 11 inches longer, nearly six inches more in wheelbase, four inches lower, and two inches wider than its predecessor. The new Trax borrowed styling elements from the midsize Chevy Blazer, including a pronounced grille design and a distinctive step between the rear body sides and windows. Base models like the Trax LS came with 17-inch steel wheels, whereas higher trims offered 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum wheels. The Trax included the Activ and RS trims for more rugged and sportier designs, respectively. Higher trims also offered different interior upholsteries, from cloth to Evotex. Though Evotex mimicked leather, it looked closer to activewear fabric. Overall, the Trax presented a more eye-catching and modern appearance.

In contrast, the 2024 Buick Envista, though sharing the same platform as the Trax, opted for a crossover coupe appearance reminiscent of the BMW X4 and X6 with its sloping roofline. The front end was inspired by the Buick Wildcat EV concept, featuring split lighting designs with daytime running lights and vertically positioned headlights. The overall look was sleeker than other crossovers, including the Hyundai Kona and Jeep Cherokee that employed similar lighting setups. The ST trim featured black exterior trim and standard 18-inch wheels, with optional 19-inch wheels. The top-tier Avenir trim flaunted bright exterior accents and standard 19-inch wheels with a Pearl Nickel finish. Inside, the Envista featured a smoother, more streamlined design than the Trax, with softer materials in key touchpoints. Upholstery choices included cloth and leatherette on the base Preferred trim, while leather seats were standard in the Avenir.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax came with only one engine option—a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, replacing the older 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. This new engine delivered 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, albeit slightly less than the former engine's 155 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. Despite its reduced power, Chevy estimated that the new Trax was faster to 60 mph by about a second. The engine's torque curve provided strong response for city driving and smooth highway overtakes, with minimal turbo lag. A six-speed automatic transmission carried over from the previous model, and the 2024 Trax was available only in front-wheel drive (FWD) to differentiate it from the AWD-capable Chevy Trailblazer. Handling was car-like, with good grip and predictable, nimble handling. Although some body roll was present, the overall ride quality and active noise cancellation surpassed expectations for a subcompact crossover.

Similarly, the 2024 Buick Envista shared the same engine and transmission. However, Buick differentiated the driving experience with specific suspension and damping tuning. The Envista had a more refined ride quality, with Buick-exclusive Watts Link suspension on models equipped with 19-inch wheels. This setup aimed to enhance ride comfort on varied road surfaces. During test drives on weathered Michigan roads, the Envista showed commendable bump absorption but exhibited some nervousness on imperfect straightaways. Acceleration and highway merging were smooth and confident, matching the Trax's performance. However, the Envista displayed a quieter and more relaxed feel overall, aligning with Buick's premium brand positioning.

Although the 2024 Chevrolet Trax is larger than its predecessor, this didn’t translate uniformly to increased interior space. It offered three more inches of rear-seat legroom and a slight increase in front-seat legroom. However, first-row headroom remained unchanged, and second-row headroom decreased by 0.7 inches. Shoulder room in both rows also decreased, suggesting a more compact interior feel. Compared to rivals like the Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue, the Trax offered the most rear-seat legroom but fell short in first-row headroom. Cargo space saw a 12% increase to 25.6 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 54.1 cubic feet when folded.

On the other hand, the Buick Envista was 14.2 inches longer than the outgoing Buick Encore, with a 5.7-inch longer wheelbase, and a more fashion-forward design. The extended wheelbase added three inches of rear-seat legroom and two inches of shoulder room in both rows. However, the sloping roofline reduced headroom, particularly in the second row. Despite this, the seats were comfortable for an entry-level vehicle. Compared to the Trax, the Envista shared similar car-like driving positions and good outward visibility. Cargo space, however, was less than the Trax's, offering 20.7 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 42 cubic feet when folded. This was even less than the old Encore but still adequate for daily use.

In the 2024 Chevrolet Trax, technological upgrades were significant. The standard 8-inch touchscreen on LS and 1RS trims provided good user interaction, while higher trims like the LT, 2RS, and Activ models boasted an 11-inch touchscreen and an 8-inch digital instrument cluster. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with wireless phone charging, were available for the first time. Wi-Fi connectivity, two front USB ports, and two rear USB ports were standard in mid and high trims, offering a seamless tech experience. The larger screens delivered crisp graphics and intuitive menu layouts, although the driver-centric design made some functions hard to reach for passengers.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Buick Envista skipped the base infotainment system available in the Trax and included an 11-inch touchscreen and 8-inch digital instrument cluster as standard. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and Wi-Fi connectivity were also standard. The user interface was similar to the Trax with slight graphical differences, retaining physical buttons and knobs for ease of use. However, the driver-centric layout again made some controls less accessible to passengers. Optional tech features were limited, lacking a head-up display, though adequate for its segment.

For safety, the 2024 Chevrolet Trax provided a robust set of driver-assist features. Standard features included automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, and a following distance indicator. Optional features encompassed adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. Additionally, the Trax offered a Teen Driver system to monitor and encourage safe driving behavior in young drivers. Crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2024 Buick Envista mirrored the Trax's safety features. Standard driver-assist tech included automatic emergency braking (with front pedestrian braking), a following distance indicator, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Optional features covered adaptive cruise control, lane-change alert with side blind-zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. Like the Trax, crash-test ratings were unavailable at press time.