Hyundai Tucson vs Chevrolet Trax

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax underwent an extraordinary transformation, rendering it almost unrecognizable from its predecessor. Designers adhered to a "longer, lower, wider" mantra, translating to an 11-inch increase in length, with nearly six inches added to the wheelbase, a four-inch reduction in height, and a two-inch gain in width. These alterations gave the Trax a more elongated and aggressive stance, enhanced by design elements borrowed from the midsize Chevy Blazer. The gaping grille and pronounced step between the rear body sides and windows provided a commanding presence, standing out against competitors like the boxy Hyundai Venue and Nissan Kicks.

Base models of the Trax LS featured 17-inch steel wheels, while higher trims such as Activ and RS offered 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum wheels, respectively. The Activ trim subtly leaned into a rugged look with faux skid plate trims, while the RS trim aimed for sportiness with additional blacked-out elements. Inside, the Trax LS boasted standard cloth upholstery and a pragmatic layout with interesting design features such as a freestanding touchscreen and streamlined controls. Higher trims introduced Evotex upholstery and design-specific flourishes like yellow contrast stitching on the Activ and piano-black plastic accents on the RS.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Tucson retained its impressive design from the 2022 model year, marked by sharp angles and a refined aesthetic. The headlights seamlessly integrated into the grille, lending the Tucson an aggressive yet handsome look. Each Tucson model had its unique styling, from the SE’s 17-inch alloy wheels and roof rails to the XRT’s black 19-inch alloys and rugged aesthetic. The Limited trim boasted a dark chrome grille and enhanced headlights.

The Tucson's interior mirrored its modern exterior. An abundance of technology was visibly present but packaged in an approachable manner, despite minor inconveniences like an absent volume dial replaced by touch-capacitive buttons. The layout of controls near the shifter and cupholders catered to user convenience, though it required some familiarization. The overall cabin exuded a sense of refinement and ease of use, compelling for daily driving and longer trips.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax switched from a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine to a smaller 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, yielding 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, a slight reduction from the previous 155 hp and 177 lb-ft. Despite this, Chevy claimed the new Trax achieved better acceleration, attributing it to the engine's flat torque curve that delivered brisk responses with minimal turbo lag, making city driving and highway overtakes worry-free. The six-speed automatic transmission carried over, but the new Trax was FWD-only, aiming for differentiation from the AWD-capable Trailblazer.

The Trax's handling received notable improvement with a wider track for a more stable feel. It handled more like the compact hatchbacks it was meant to replace, offering predictable and nimble handling traits despite limited grip and body roll. Active noise cancellation borrowed from other GM models contributed to a quieter cabin, though ride quality was described as a tad rough, a tradeoff for superior handling.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission available with FWD or AWD. While it sufficed for city driving, highway acceleration and overtakes demanded more throttle, resulting in elevated engine noise and less urgency. More robust alternatives included the 226-hp Tucson Hybrid and the 261-hp Tucson Plug-In Hybrid.

Hyundai's proprietary button-style shifter, standard on the Limited trim, required some acclimatization but efficiently utilized the center console space. The Tucson excelled in its blend of ride comfort and handling precision, soaking up road bumps proficiently while offering well-weighted and precise steering, making it particularly enjoyable on longer trips. It might not match the athleticism of the Mazda CX-5, but it provided a balanced driving experience suitable for varied driving conditions.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax saw mixed results in interior spaciousness despite its larger overall dimensions. It offered three more inches of rear-seat legroom and a slight increase in front-seat legroom, but first-row headroom remained unchanged, and second-row headroom saw a decrease of 0.7 inches. The seats appeared to be positioned further inboard, resulting in less shoulder room in both rows. Nevertheless, the Trax’s driving position was more car-like with low window sills providing excellent visibility, although lacking the typical SUV commanding view.

Cargo space increased significantly to 25.6 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 54.1 cubic feet when folded, a modest advantage over the Nissan Kicks but significantly more spacious than the Hyundai Venue.

On the other hand, the 2024 Hyundai Tucson excelled in cargo capacity, offering up to 74.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded and 38.7 cubic feet with them in use. These figures were among the best in the compact SUV segment, only slightly behind the Honda CR-V. The Tucson SE came with a manual liftgate, whereas higher trims featured a hands-free power liftgate, operable by simply standing near the rear bumper with the key fob.

Seating in the Tucson was adult-friendly in both rows, with ample headroom and legroom making it suitable for taking longer trips with four adults comfortably. The vehicle also incorporated numerous deep cup holders and practical storage solutions, adding to its family-friendly appeal.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax improved considerably in its infotainment offerings. An 8-inch touchscreen was standard on the LS and 1RS trims, while LT, 2RS, and Activ models featured an 11-inch touchscreen paired with an 8-inch digital instrument cluster. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and phone charging were available for the first time in the Trax. The larger screens impressed with their crisp graphics and intuitive layouts, although their angle favored the driver, making them less accessible for the front passenger.

Additional tech included two standard USB ports (one USB-A and one USB-C) with more USB ports available on higher trims. Wireless phone charging was optional and functioned adequately, though its unusual shape might not fit all phone sizes.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson provided an excellent standard infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Its user interface was intuitively arranged, featuring home buttons for easy navigation. Higher trims introduced a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a fully digital instrument panel but reverted to wired connectivity for smartphone integration. The haptic controls were glove-friendly but less user-friendly than traditional dials.

Hyundai’s remote start system was notable for its convenience. Remote started Tucson automatically detected the key fob when the driver entered and allowed them to drive off immediately. This seamless operation added a touch of modernity and convenience.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax came equipped with a suite of standard safety features, although crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available. These 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 safety features comprised adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. Chevy’s Teen Driver system was also standard, promoting safer driving habits among teenage drivers by implementing safety measures and monitoring driving behavior.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson offered a similarly comprehensive array of safety features. Standard equipment included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Limited trim added parking sensors, a 360-degree parking camera system, and Hyundai’s Smart Park feature for remote parking.

The Tucson earned impressive safety scores: IIHS awarded it a "Good" in most crash test phases and a "Superior" for crash prevention technology. Although the standard headlights were rated "Acceptable", the overall safety package was robust. NHTSA gave it five stars in frontal crash tests and four stars in rollover tests.