Cargo Kingdom: The 2024 Chevy Trax 2RS Review - Where Space Meets Adventurous Affordability!

Compact SUVs have enjoyed their well-deserved time in the spotlight over the past few years here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse! As drivers of all types are on the hunt for an economical and modern vehicle, the 2024 Chevy Trax has been completely redesigned for the current model year. This redesign resulted in a refreshed compact SUV that is easier on the pocketbook to boot. The review staff on duty at the CarPro blog took a close look at the new Trax this week, first loving its sharp lines, front views like a Blazer, boomerang-style rear taillights, roof rails, and rear spoiler.

The 19” machined wheels add a distinct urban flair that is ideal for setting your driver’s sights on the coming of spring, and under the hood is a 1.2-liter inline 3-cylinder turbocharged engine that cranks out 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. The head auto editor claimed that with the Trax’s lightweight frame, this engine still does well at powering the entire party and remaining very efficient! Once inside the 2RS package, there’s a well laid-out interior waiting, with this one sporting a black interior and red accents all around, and rich black gloss trim on the center console.

After reviewing numerous sedans and crossovers over the past few years, this writer appreciated how thoroughly attractive the interior was at this appealing price point. It features Evotex seating materials, which look like leather and are very simple to keep clean. There is an 8” color driver information screen that is very easy to read, with an 11” touchscreen situated directly on the center dash. This shows the rear camera, controls the Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, the 6-speaker sound system, Wi-Fi hotspot, and Sirius XM.

As you prepare to hit the interstate or plan to quickly meet your favorite work buddies for frisbee golf, you’ll enjoy the abundant back seat leg and headroom, where you could easily seat 3 adults if needed! There are also two USB-C ports in the backseat to keep everything properly charged. The Trax boasts 26 cubic feet of cargo that is amply covered, with the cover raising up when you decide to lift the tailgate. Everyone will love the safety features of the Driver Confidence Package, which provides rear cross-traffic alert, lane change alert with blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise.

Fuel economy is rated at 28 mpg city, 32 mpg highway,
and 30 mpg overall, which pairs nicely with the 6-speed transmission and overall quality of daily drive manners. The 2024 Trax is an incredible value by today’s standards, with a top-of-the-line price point at under $30,000. The 2RS trim adds 245/45R19 all-season tires, along with the 19-inch black alloy wheels and keyless open feature. The JDPower.com review team praised the Trax for its electric-boosted rack-and-pinion steering, along with a lower center of gravity that is a bit like a hatchback car.

The KBB.com review staff posted a consumer rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, heralding it as an industry-leading value for its roomy seating and cargo area for an extra-small SUV, available 11-inch touchscreen, and numerous driver assistance features. We hope to see you here before Easter to check out the 2024 Chevy Trax here at the Mid-MO Powerhouse. It is sharp and striking, and always entertaining to drive. Simple and straightforward yet still hitting the sweet spot in many ways, the Trax has improved its game significantly while remaining fresh and favorable! 

J.D. Power Ranks Chevy Silverado “Best Large Light-Duty Pickup” in 2022 IQS

We have always appreciated and admired the Chevy Silverado 1500 here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse, as it’s our signature breed of work truck, and a perfect vehicle to take on adventuresome weekend expeditions. Some customers who are looking for the truck that will best meet their needs have a checklist that they won't bend the rules on, and some are just happy to drive away in something that looks and runs amazing. For those that are always on the watch for awards and accolades, the Silverado is already having another successful year!

The Chevy Silverado 1500 has recently secured another bragging right: J.D. Power ranked it as the “Best Large Light-Duty Pickup”. The J.D. Power IQS is now enjoying its 36th year, giving the final word on major car brands and individual vehicle models with a final ranking based on responses from brand new vehicle owners. This 2022 study is based on return survey responses from over 84,000 individuals, all surveyed very early on after they purchased a new vehicle. 

These savvy consumers who provided their input were asked to answer 223 questions that ranked the vehicle’s quality based on nine important traits. Among these were powertrain capability, climate, accessibility of controls and displays, exterior, driving assistance features, infotainment, interior, seat comfort,  other features, and overall driving experience. Once these answers are calculated, J.D. Power provides a finished ranking using a metric that dictates “Problems Per 100 Vehicles”: the lower this score, the higher the vehicle ranks in overall quality.

Individual models were also grouped into very specific segments, with our prized light-duty Chevy Silverado 1500 taking the very top honors in the Large Light Duty Pickup category. The runner-up models in the segment include the light-duty GMC Sierra 1500, as well as the rival in the form of the Ford F150. The Bow Tie brand enjoyed the success of securing six segment wins total, including the Chevy Corvette as the premium Sporty Car win, The Chevy Equinox for the compact SUV, The Chevy Malibu as the midsize car, and The Chevy Silverado HD and Chevy Tahoe for the larger sized heavy-duty pickup and SUV segments. 

GM’s full-size truck category had also outsold the Ford F-series and Ram pickup during the second quarter of this year, continuing along with the GMC Sierra to be the best-selling manufacturer of full-size pickups in the nation. Adding to these high-performing and sought-after lineups, Chevy recently officially teased the upcoming 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Bison made with the assistance of world-class field and stream (as well as Army-Grade engineering!) AEV Outfitters. After this, GM will refresh both the Sierra HD and Silverado HD, and for the 2024 model year, they will both gain updated exterior styling, overhauled cabins, along with more horsepower and torque for the 6.6-liter Duramax diesel.

J.D. Power 2022 Initial Quality Study Crowns Chevy Tahoe as “Best Large SUV”

Larger SUVs allow for a commanding on road presence and have enough room to take the whole group in tow with you on any ride. The J.D. Power Initial Quality Studies are useful in ranking car brands and models using survey responses from new vehicle customers. This year, the Chevy Tahoe was once again at the top of the list, being hailed as the highest-ranked large SUV in its class.

The J.D. Power Initial Quality Study is now in its 36th year, using “problems per 100” (PP100) to indicate the number of issues that arise during early ownership. This most recent study was based on answers from over 84,000 new vehicle customers, taking place between February and May of this year. Finishing just above the GMC Yukon, the Tahoe was ranked at the top of the list for the large SUV segment. 

Several other Chevrolet vehicles fared well in this study as well, with other top ranked segment leaders including the Chevy Silverado LD and HD, Chevy Malibu, Chevy Corvette, and the practical Chevy Equinox. This is proof that consumers these days love data driven by high performing results!

With a roomy interior for passengers and cargo, a smooth ride, easy-to-use touchscreen, and powerful diesel engine option, drivers will love Lane Keeping Assist and front and rear parking sensors now standard. There are also enhanced Google-based voice controls for the 10.2-inch infotainment system and the model has seen a redesign that showed big improvements in ride comfort, convenience features, and technology. A family hauler with contest-winning capability and usefulness, the Tahoe remains a proud staple of any growing family or business’s valued and crucial daily drive time! 

J.D. Power’s 2022 Dependability Study Ranks Chevy Among Top Brands

Chevy was ranked well in the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, with GM’s mass-market brand earning high marks this year. This annual study takes 184 specific problem areas across nine vehicle categories into consideration, allowing customers to see just what features are best as they make their decision to purchase.

Driving experience, exterior, features and displays, infotainment options, interior, powertrain, along with HVAC and climate and seating are elements surveyed while customers reflect on what makes an ideal driving experience come together for them. This year’s study analyzed a different number of responses on vehicles from 2019, and took into consideration the problems per 100 vehicles. This provides a representation of various problems experienced by owners gauging how the vehicle meets their needs.

Chevy earned a solid, respectable PP100 score of 171 in this study, placing it ahead of Mazda, Lincoln, BMW, Ford, GMC, and many more brands. This study counts even the smallest of infotainment problems or other issues, making for incredibly thorough results. The Chevy Suburban specifically stood out, as customers driving the model daily took a liking to its expectation-exceeding performance.

It's no surprise that the 2022 Suburban was such a hit in many ways, as it offers swift acceleration, a firm and polished ride, expansive seating and cargo space, and the industry’s latest and greatest in safety and tech features. Boasting seating for 7 to 9 occupants and more cargo space than any other SUV on the market, a great deal of useful tech and driver assistance features also come as standard. The 10.2-inch touchscreen is a current favorite, as so many drivers are understandably on the hunt for ease and convenience.

With trusted auto review entities such as U.S. News backing it, the Suburban rolls on, leading a star-studded Chevy lineup we love to show customers each year. Now is the best time to trade in your used car at high value and see what a great deal you’ll get on something newer and more reliable! Come see us at the Powerhouse this February to check out the Tahoe, Traverse, Silverado, Camaro, Equinox and more! 

Chevy Blazer Tops J.D. Power's Seat Satisfaction Survey

The Chevy Blazer was recently honored as a top pick in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Seat Quality And Satisfaction Study. This study ranks vehicles based on how consumers rate the comfort of their seats.

To complete this study, J.D. Power surveyed 110,827 customers who had just purchased or leased the a 2021 model year vehicle and asked them to provide a seat rating based on ergonomics, comfort level, and the perceived quality of manufacturing. The responses were used to score each vehicle based on the problems reported per 100 vehicles, with a lower score meaning a higher seat quality. The seats in the Blazer had an average of just 6.1 complaints per 100 vehicles, rendering them the best-performing seats in the large SUV category.

These seats are proudly manufactured in the United States by Southfield, Michigan-based supplier Lear Corporation. They are more durable and outperform the alternative cloth upholstery during many tests that measure back and leg circulation along with drive-time posture. Viable leather alternatives have evolved to a point where they can be used without sacrificing customer experience and possess a unique comfort all their own. 

Reintroduced two years ago, the Blazer is now a midsize crossover, situated comfortably just between the Equinox and Traverse in Chevy’s lineup. Proving itself right away as one of the top-selling models in its segment, it will receive a mid-cycle enhancement for the 2023 model year with updated interior and exterior styling, and a complete refresh of its technology features. Production for next year’s model started this week, and test models in light camouflage have already been spotted!

The model spotted was the Premier trim with black paint and black-and-white camo to obscure the revised styling underneath. It sported a new front fascia along with revisions to the grille and front lighting elements. On top of being the most comfortable seating, we also expect a larger infotainment screen and an improved center stack design.