The addition of the Chevy Trailblazer was supposed to mark the end of the Chevy Trax. While both are sold together, the expectations are that at least one would be gone from the market. Because the Trailblazer returns to the SUV world, we expected the Trax would disappear. Some news has surfaced that tells us this might not be the case.

The Chevy Trax SUV remains while the Buick Encore departs

Chevrolet updated the Trax SUV with a new powertrain in 2021.  Even so, the addition of the Trailblazer signaled the end of the Trax. News surfaced telling us a new model will arrive in 2023 as part of the 2024 model year. Motor 1 reports the Buick Encore is gone after this year, mostly because the Encore GX is part of the market, the Trax will continue. Production of the current model ends later this year, while a new model starts production in the middle of 2023.

Do sales numbers support a new subcompact SUV?

Even though other brands have multiple models in the subcompact SUV class, that doesn’t mean a new Chevy Trax will be a success. Hyundai offers the Venue and Kona in this class, but that’s not enough to prove that Chevy can handle two models so closely related.

Sales of the Trax were down 59.9 percent for 2021 compared to 2020, Things got even worse with sales dropping 65.8 percent in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same time in 2021. This doesn’t offer confidence that a new model of this Chevy SUV will succeed in the market.

How reliable is the Chevy Trax?

Repair Pal rates the Trax with a 4.0 out of 5.0 regarding reliability. The annual repair cost of $488 is much lower than the average in the industry. Major repairs for the Trax are uncommon, making it a reliable and durable SUV that can offer a good drive for many miles.

Is Chevy discontinuing the Chevy Trax?

Why would we ask a question that conflicts with initial reporting? Not even a month ago, Automotive News reported expectations that GM discontinue both the Chevy Trax and Buick Encore. The scheduled end of Trax production only impacts the current model. This begs the question of which publication to believe; Motor 1 or Automotive News. The Motor 1 report is more recent, meaning GM has changed its direction with a new model arriving next year.

Are you going to buy this subcompact Chevy SUV?

Will the new Trax have the features you want when it arrives? We won’t know this until we see the new production model crossing the stage as GM shows off their newest subcompact. You might want to hold off on your decision until this new SUV shows up. A more pressing question might be whether or not this SUV will garner enough attention to be worth selling for several more years. Is it possible the new Trax will be one of the early EV models coming from this brand? This speculation can only be confirmed or dispelled when the new Trax SUV arrives.