Chevrolet Trax vs Honda Prologue

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax underwent such a substantial transformation that calling it by the same name as its predecessor almost seemed unfair. Gone was the uninspiring design of the old Trax, replaced by a sleeker, more aggressive look. The new mantra for the Trax design team was "longer, lower, wider," and they delivered on this with aplomb. The 2024 model stretched 11 inches longer, stood four inches lower, and spanned two inches wider than the outgoing version. The Trax adopted design cues from the midsize Chevy Blazer, such as a prominent grille that asserted its presence and a pronounced step from the rear body sides to the windows, making it stand out amid other small crossovers like the Hyundai Venue and Nissan Kicks.

Chevy offered the Trax in different trims—LS, Activ, and RS—with each trim elevating the aesthetics in its unique way. Base LS models came with 17-inch steel wheels, while higher trims flaunted 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum wheels. The Activ trim aimed for rugged styling, featuring faux skid plate trim, while the RS trim sported blacked-out elements, emulating a mini Blazer with a sporty flair.

Inside, the Trax prioritized a modern yet practical design. Entry-level LS models featured cloth upholstery and a largely plastic interior, but thoughtful design choices kept the cabin from feeling mundane. Higher trims featured Evotex upholstery, resembling activewear more than leather, with some trims incorporating contrasting stitching or piano-black plastics that added a hint of luxury.

On the other hand, the 2024 Honda Prologue kept things more conservatively stylish. The Prologue's design fell in line with traditional car aesthetics rather than drawing attention as an EV. The base EX trim came in five colors, with upper trims adding unique tones like Sonic Grey and North Shore Pearl, a vibrant turquoise. Its smooth, black front panel effortlessly housed the Honda badge, hinting at the lack of traditional air-cooling needs. Viewers of the Prologue could accessorize their ride with skid plates or side cladding to personalize their vehicle further.

The Prologue's low profile and elongated design gave it unique proportions, much like a streamlined car rather than an SUV. Large 19-inch and optional 21-inch wheels added to its stature, while a new Honda font across the rear marked its departure into innovative propulsion systems. Inside, the cabin boasted a sophisticated brown and black color scheme exclusive to the Elite trim, with other trims offering a two-tone gray and black option. The dash shared its roots with familiar Honda models like the CR-V and Accord, with a few upmarket touches, such as piano-black plastic and upholstery accents, making the interior look upscale yet reassuringly familiar.

The Chevrolet Trax relied on a single engine option, a shift from the previous model's larger engine. The 2024 Trax was powered by a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. While it marked a decrease from the old 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, it proved effective, beating its predecessor to 60 mph by approximately a second. The three-cylinder engine's flat torque curve allowed for a smooth driving experience, with minimal turbo lag. Front-wheel drive was the only drivetrain option available, keeping it distinctive from the AWD-optional Trailblazer.

The focus on car-like handling made the Trax's driving experience stand out among crossovers. Its wider track contributed to a planted feel, offering a balance of nimbleness and predictability akin to Chevy's small hatchbacks. The Trax impressed with above-average handling, thanks to its refined suspension and noise-cancellation features, although ride quality felt a bit firm.

In contrast, the Honda Prologue offered more diverse powertrain options with a choice between front-wheel and all-wheel drive. The FWD model, available in EX and Touring trims, delivered 212 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, boasting a range of 296 miles on 19-inch wheels. The AWD setup, standard on the Elite trim and optional on others, amped up performance to 288 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque. The AWD variants offered slightly reduced range due to the increased power, maxing out at 281 miles with 19-inch wheels.

Honda took care to ensure the Prologue felt like a typical Honda vehicle, enhancing familiarity for drivers transitioning to EVs. Various regenerative braking settings allowed drivers to customize their experience, with a one-pedal drive mode offering an all-electric braking technique. The Prologue's 121.8-inch wheelbase contributed to a comfortable ride, though some road and wind noise were noticeable. Sport mode enhanced driving fun, quickening throttle, brake, and steering response, surprisingly sporty for an EV of its size.

The Chevrolet Trax’s increase in exterior dimensions didn’t uniformly enhance interior space. The 2024 Trax offered three extra inches of rear-seat legroom and a slight gain in front-seat legroom, but headroom in the rear decreased by 0.7 inches, and shoulder room in both rows was reduced. Compared to rivals like the Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue, the Trax held its own in passenger space, offering a more car-like, lower-seating driving position with excellent visibility. Cargo space saw a 12% increase to 25.6 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 54.1 cubic feet when folded, offering more room than the Venue but only marginally beating the Kicks.

In the Honda Prologue, the focus on traditional interior elements came through with features like conventional door handles. The overall passenger space tallied up to 111.7 cubic feet, outstripping segment competitors and providing substantial legroom, with 39.4 inches in the rear and 41.4 inches in the front. Headroom was slightly less generous but balanced by reclinable rear seats and a panoramic moonroof in higher trims. Amenities like heated seats, dual-zone climate control, and memory functions for the driver's seat added functional luxury. The Prologue’s cargo space offered a flat load floor with 25.2 cubic feet available, expandable to 57.7 cubic feet when the rear seats were down, though the space’s accessibility varied for different user heights. Notably, the Prologue did not include frunk storage but provided a hidden compartment under the load floor.

Chevrolet packed the Trax with upgraded infotainment features for 2024. Base models sported an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims enjoyed an 11-inch touchscreen paired with an 8-inch digital instrument cluster. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and phone charging marked their debut in the Trax. Chevy's infotainment system was lauded for its usability, boasting crisp graphics and a user-friendly interface, even though the driver-biased screen tilt compromised passenger interaction. A digital instrument cluster available as an option provided modern readouts, compensating for the lack of a HUD.

The Honda Prologue came with standard keyless access, featuring a card-format key for the Elite trim alongside the traditional proximity key for others. Wireless charging was standard, utilizing a pocket-style holder. The Prologue's infotainment ran off an 11.3-inch screen, sharing duties with an 11-inch digital driver's display. Google Built-In, including Google Maps, ensured seamless navigation and charger locations for EV users. Touring and Elite trims offered a premium 12-speaker Bose audio system, enriching the Prologue’s quiet cabin with high-quality sound, supplemented by Active Sound Control technology to simulate engine noises, especially in Sport mode.

While crash-test ratings for the Chevrolet Trax were pending, it didn't skimp on safety features. Standard equipment 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 covered adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. The Teen Driver system ensured safe driving practices for young drivers, monitoring behavior and providing feedback.

The Honda Prologue also awaited official safety ratings but came equipped with the Honda Sensing suite. This suite included standard features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. New additions included rear cross-traffic braking and blind-zone steering assist. Higher trims offered additional safety perks like front-park assist, a surround-vision system, and rear pedestrian alert.