LOOKS

Chevy already has a small SUV -- the Equinox; This one is even smaller. Too small for my tastes, but these extra compact crossovers are aimed as an alternative for younger or single folks, because I wouldn’t think anyone with a family would want this kind of ride. It’s also aimed at urban dwellers who want a more compact vehicle for parking purposes.

The rear storage space is pretty minimal, and the interior is pretty spartan in its appearance -- nothing to get too excited about. Only things of note are the leather wrapped steering wheel and leatherette seat trim.

Technically you can fit five people in the Trax, but I wouldn’t want to be the folks in the back seat (save it for the kids or short adults. It’s a tight squeeze for tall folks.

I will say that the exterior design does have a sharp look, and on the interior the overall layout and controls, both on the dash and steering wheel, are easy to figure out.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER

Small car = small engine.

The Trax features an uninspiring 1.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine that produces only 138 horsepower.
The sound when you’re trying to get this thing to go quickly isn’t pretty.

Anybody wanting power will probably avoid this vehicle, but to be fair they will probably avoid the entire class of vehicles -- as none of the small crossovers are that powerful.

All trim levels of the Trax are offered in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It features a six-speed automatic transmission.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

Safety features offered on the Trax LTZ that I tested included: 10 total air bags, keyless entry and remote start, child security locks, stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes, rear park assist, daytime running lamps, tire pressure monitoring system, and a rear vision camera.

The Trax is strong in the tech area too:

I had a USB port, Bluetooth connection, 12-volt AUX power outlet, and the central tech system was the Chevrolet MyLink system -- which comes with a 7-inch color touchscreen.

The MyLink system isn’t quite as intuitive as its competition stateside (both Ford and Chrysler have systems that I prefer slightly over GM’s offerings), but compared to some systems on foreign competition it works quite well.

OnStar is a strong tech/safety offering GM can boast of, with features varying from Automatic Crash Notification to turn-by-turn directions and much more. A 4G LTE hotspot is offered in the car, letting your family stay connected to WiFi even on the road. There is also an app you can download to control some features of the car remotely via your phone.

MPG
The Trax slots in pretty strongly in this category on the fuel mileage chart, with numbers of 24 city, 31 highway and 27 combined.

PRICE
The base version of the Trax starts a tick over $20K ($20,120), but my all-wheel drive Trax LTZ came in at $27,405.

BOTTOM LINE

Chevy and other automakers are betting that the recent popularity of compact crossovers is here to stay, and is hoping the Trax will be a leader in the category as it continues to grow.

Personally, I don’t see too much use for this niche type of vehicle and generally find them too cramped, but it’s clear from sales numbers that some people out there like them. Whether its urban dwellers or young folks looking for their first ride and want something more than a sedan, these vehicles do pretty well.

If you’re looking for a smaller crossover, the Trax is worth a test, if only for its affordability ($20K base price is not much more than you’ll pay for some small sedans).

There’s some hot competition from foreign automakers headed its way (Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3), but if GM’s bet pays off the Trax could be a staple of the Chevy brand for years to come.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu