2024 Chevrolet Trax vs 2024 Genesis GV80

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax received such an extensive makeover that it felt almost unfair to attach the same badge to this new and dramatically different model. Gone was the dowdy appearance of its predecessor. Chevy's design team borrowed a mantra from GM's 1950s and 1960s glory days: "longer, lower, wider." This new design stretched the Trax by 11 inches in length and extended the wheelbase by nearly six inches. It also sat four inches lower and two inches wider than before. The result was a compact car that no longer felt diminutive. The redesigned Trax borrowed styling cues from the midsize Chevy Blazer, including a gaping grille that nearly overtook the headlights and unique body lines that lent it an unexpected presence.

The base Trax LS models rolled on 17-inch steel wheels, but higher trims offered 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum options. The Activ and RS trims aimed for more rugged and sportier styling, respectively. The Trax Activ’s rugged look was subtle, highlighted by faux skid plate trim on the bumpers, while the RS trim emphasized its sportiness with blacked-out accents.

The interior of the base Trax LS featured standard cloth upholstery and a predominately plastic interior, which is typical for an entry-level model. However, innovative design elements helped keep the cabin from feeling mundane. The designers opted for a minimalist approach with a freestanding touchscreen and prominent, round air vents. Higher trims boasted an Evotex upholstery material, which resembled activewear more than traditional leather. Yellow stitching accentuated the Activ models, while piano-black plastic trim added a sleek yet impractical finish to the RS model's interior.

The 2024 Genesis GV80 offered a contrasting blend of luxury and bold design. Buyers had the option between 2.5T and 3.5T models, with the latter enhancing performance with a twin-turbocharged V6 engine. The Prestige Signature trim donned unique exterior colors like Vik Black, Matterhorn White Matte, and Mauna Red, with mirroring dark chrome trim and 22-inch wheels. Despite their sleek design, the dark wheels often rendered their intricacies nearly invisible.

Inside, the Prestige Signature's Ultramarine Blue over Dune interior was pure decadence. Diamond-stitched Nappa leather, a faux-leather-wrapped dashboard, matte-finish wood trim, and a suede headliner amplified the sense of luxury. Coupled with ambient lighting and a 3D digital instrument cluster, the GV80 embodied the high-end ethos Genesis aimed for. Despite the attractive exterior and sumptuous interior, the practicality of the Prestige Signature's configuration—which only seated four due to second-row captain's chairs—was sometimes limiting.

When it came to performance, the 2024 Chevrolet Trax featured a switch to a smaller 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, replacing the 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine from previous generations. This engine generated 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, slightly lower than the 155 horses and 177 lb-ft offered by its predecessor. However, Chevy estimated that the new Trax managed to cut down its 0-60 mph time by about a second, offering a spirited driving experience despite its lower engine displacement. The carryover six-speed automatic transmission paired exclusively with front-wheel drive, steering clear of the AWD option to create a cost-effective and simpler engineering solution.

Handling-wise, the Trax aimed for a more car-like experience, thanks to its wider track that provided a grounded feel. Though it still carried the predictable limitations of a small crossover, such as limited grip and noticeable body roll, its nimble characteristics remained appealing. Surprisingly refined, the Trax benefited from standard active noise cancellation, resulting in a mostly quiet cabin despite some tire noise.

The Genesis GV80, on the other hand, came with two robust engine options. The 2.5T model offered a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. This outperformed the larger V6 engines found in some of its competitors. The 3.5T model tested boasted a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.

GV80 offered five driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Custom, and Snow. With 8.1 inches of ground clearance and a towing capacity of up to 6,000 pounds, it was both luxurious and capable. On the road, the 3.5T model excelled in delivering a rewarding driving experience with swift acceleration and robust handling, thanks to its adaptive damping suspension and upgraded front brakes. However, its steering was noted to be unremarkable, though functional.

Despite the 2024 Chevrolet Trax’s larger overall dimensions, interior space didn't entirely benefit. Rear-seat legroom saw a three-inch increase, but front-seat legroom only marginally improved. Remarkably, front-row headroom remained static, and second-row headroom decreased by 0.7 inches. Less shoulder room in both rows suggested a more inboard position for the seats, leading to snug interiors reminiscent of other GM subcompact crossovers.

Passenger space in the Trax was nearly identical to that of the Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue. While the Kicks boasted slightly more front-seat legroom and the Venue had more headroom, the Trax excelled with the most rear-seat legroom among the trio. Both front and rear seating offered decent comfort for the price, and the car-like driving position enhanced the overall ambiance. Cargo space in the Trax increased to 25.6 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 54.1 cubic feet when folded, marking a modest improvement over its rivals.

On the Genesis GV80, passenger capacity varied depending on the trim. The 3.5T Advanced was the only model offered with a third-row seat in 2024. The Prestige Signature, with its four-seat layout due to second-row captain's chairs, fell short in terms of passenger capacity. Despite this, the GV80's luxurious interior remained a standout feature. The seats, however, had an unexpected issue of comfort, where occupants felt they sat on rather than in them, and prolonged use revealed discomfort requiring rest breaks.

Overall, the GV80 provided 34.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 84 cubic feet with the seats lowered. However, users of the Prestige Signature needed to be wary of the rear center console's odd positioning when loading cargo.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax showed marked improvements in infotainment technology. The base LS and 1RS trims came with an 8-inch touchscreen, while the LT, 2RS, and Activ models offered an 11-inch touchscreen paired with an 8-inch digital instrument cluster. Both setups supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, introducing wireless phone charging for the first time. Wi-Fi connectivity remained a standard feature.

The new infotainment system was user-friendly, and the available larger screen provided crisp graphics alongside a logical menu layout, despite being driver-oriented. The optional digital instrument cluster added a modern touch, adeptly displaying key information. Standard technology included USB-A and USB-C ports in both front and rear, with wireless charging available on higher trims.

In the Genesis GV80, all models featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display, but this was positioned out of the driver's immediate reach, necessitating the use of a control dial on the center console. The system included a navigation system, SiriusXM, wired Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, supplemented by a Wi-Fi hotspot for the first time in 2024.

Wireless smartphone charging was standard, and the Prestige Signature added second-row charging. The user interface was intuitive, and voice recognition facilitated easy navigation and music streaming. Genesis also offered a digital key system allowing smartphone access for unlocking and starting the vehicle. Higher trims benefited from a Lexicon premium sound system, set to be replaced by Bang & Olufsen components in 2025. The head-up display (HUD) provided useful information, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax came equipped with a suite of standard driver-assist features. While crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of publication, the Trax featured automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, and a following distance indicator as standard. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist.

Chevrolet’s Teen Driver system was also standard, providing a way to enforce seatbelt use and monitor driving behavior for younger drivers.

The Genesis GV80, expectedly, was laden with safety and driver-assist technology. Highlights included a Blind-Spot View Monitor, Remote Smart Parking Assist, and Highway Driving Assist, linking adaptive cruise control with lane-centering and lane-change assist. During extensive use, the Highway Driving Assist showed sophistication but proved less ideal in high-speed, moderate to heavy traffic due to lane-cutting vehicles.

The GV80’s Blind-Spot View Monitor utilized cameras to project a video feed of blind spots into the digital instrument panel during lane changes. The Remote Smart Parking Assist allowed for autonomous parking, even enabling the driver to park the vehicle while standing outside using the key fob.

The Genesis GV80 received high safety ratings, with the IIHS naming it a Top Safety Pick+ and the NHTSA awarding it a five-star overall rating, despite four-star ratings for the frontal-impact test.