2024 Chevrolet Trax vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax underwent a significant transformation, shedding its previous image to emerge as a more stylish and modern vehicle. The redesign embraced a "longer, lower, wider" philosophy, resulting in a vehicle that was 11 inches longer, four inches lower, and two inches wider than its predecessor. This new design borrowed elements from the midsize Chevy Blazer, such as a prominent grille and distinctive body lines, giving the Trax a commanding presence despite its compact size. The Trax offered various trim levels, including the Activ and RS, which added unique styling touches like faux skid plates and blacked-out trim, respectively. Inside, the Trax featured a mix of cloth and Evotex upholstery, with higher trims offering more upscale materials and design elements.

In contrast, the 2025 Land Rover Defender maintained its rugged appeal with a design that catered to off-road enthusiasts. The Defender 110 was considered the ideal balance in the lineup, offering a robust and customizable appearance. The Defender X trim, tested in this comparison, featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack and premium interior materials. The vehicle's design was both functional and stylish, with options like Gondwana Stone paint and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Defender X boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, creating a luxurious yet purposeful cabin. The Defender's industrial-themed interior emphasized quality materials and practicality, making it a standout choice for those seeking a blend of ruggedness and refinement.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax featured a new 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. While this represented a decrease in power compared to the previous model's 1.4-liter engine, the Trax managed to improve its 0-60 mph time by about a second. The engine's flat torque curve provided strong acceleration from a stop and minimal turbo lag, ensuring a responsive driving experience. The Trax retained its six-speed automatic transmission but was now available only with front-wheel drive, differentiating it from the all-wheel-drive Trailblazer. The Trax's handling was tuned for a car-like feel, with a wider track contributing to a more planted ride. Despite some body roll and limited grip, the Trax offered nimble handling and exceeded expectations in terms of refinement, thanks to active noise cancellation.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender, on the other hand, offered a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system, delivering 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain provided robust acceleration, with a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds. The Defender's eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel-drive system, complete with a low-range setting, made it a formidable off-road performer. The adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes further enhanced its off-road capabilities. While the Defender excelled off-road, it also offered a comfortable ride on pavement, absorbing bumps and imperfections with ease. However, its substantial weight and less responsive steering made it less suited for spirited driving on twisty roads.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax offered increased rear-seat legroom, with a slight improvement in front-seat legroom. However, headroom in the second row decreased by 0.7 inches, and shoulder room was reduced, resulting in a snugger interior. Despite these changes, the Trax provided competitive passenger space compared to rivals like the Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue. The Trax's low driving position and excellent outward visibility contributed to a car-like driving experience. Cargo space increased by 12%, offering 25.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 54.1 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing the Venue but only slightly better than the Kicks.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 offered three rows of spacious seating, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats featuring heating and ventilation. The Defender's tall seating position provided excellent forward visibility, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. The panoramic sunroof and fixed glass panel over the third row created an open and airy feel. While storage space was plentiful in the front, the Defender 130 was less accommodating for passengers' belongings in the rear. The third-row seat was heated and comfortable, offering ample space for adults. The side-hinged cargo door, though heavy and awkward, provided access to 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 43.7 cubic feet with the third row folded and 89 cubic feet with all rear seats down.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax saw significant upgrades in infotainment technology, with an 8-inch touchscreen standard on lower trims and an 11-inch touchscreen with an 8-inch digital instrument cluster available on higher trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and phone charging were introduced for the first time. The Trax's infotainment system was user-friendly, with crisp graphics and a logical menu layout. However, the screen's tilt toward the driver made it less accessible for front-seat passengers. The optional digital instrument cluster provided a modern design and allowed information transfer from the main touchscreen. USB ports were available for both front and rear passengers, with wireless charging offered as an option on higher trims.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system, accessed through an 11.4-inch touchscreen. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and connected services. While Pivi Pro had previously been criticized for its slow response and convoluted interface, it performed well in this test, with accurate voice command recognition and an intuitive user experience. The Defender also offered a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system, enhancing visibility and ease of parking. The Meridian premium sound system provided impressive audio quality, and the optional Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax came equipped with a range of driver-assist features, including 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 included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. The Trax also featured the Teen Driver system, which activated certain safety features, monitored driving behavior, and provided a "report card" to parents. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender offered a comprehensive suite of driver aids, including automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The Defender's lane-keep assist was particularly decisive, though it occasionally attempted to steer the vehicle into a turnout area. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist operated smoothly, though it struggled slightly in heavy traffic. Crash-test ratings for the Defender were unavailable, as low-volume models like this one are typically not tested by the NHTSA and IIHS.