First Car, First Semester: Why the Trax Is the Smart Starting Point

It's a small front-wheel-drive crossover, having only one engine and offering no options to complicate things.

Each Trax is equipped with a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft and has a six-speed automatic transmission. It achieves 28 miles per gallon in the city and 32 miles per gallon on the highway, giving a combined figure of about 30 miles per gallon when using regular gasoline.

All-wheel drive is absent from the range, there is no engine with greater capacity, and since it is not designed as a vehicle for towing, it should be ruled out if anyone in the family was looking for a small utility trailer.

The safety part, which needs more attention than the brochure gives it

Chevy Safety Assist is included on all of the five trims and this includes automatic emergency braking, a forward collision alert, lane keep assist with a lane departure warning and automatic high beams, together with other features. For the complete list for that particular car, see the window sticker.

For a new driver the standard package is in fact the key feature, since automatic emergency braking is the system most likely to be of importance in normal stop-and-go traffic, which is the type of traffic in which a great deal of inexperienced driving takes place.

However, two features are not fitted as standard on all Trax, and it is in this regard that I would object to the way the car is typically promoted.

Both adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring are included in the Driver Confidence Package. Different sources give conflicting information regarding which trims come with that package and which offer it as an option, and it seems that the answer can differ from one car to another on the lot. Therefore, do not look for these features based on the trim name; instead, ask for the Driver Confidence Package by name and request that someone shows you where it is listed on the window sticker of the car you are actually considering.

Between the two, I think that blind-spot monitoring is more important for a new driver. It is during lane changes on Route 8 that inexperience becomes apparent. Adaptive cruise control is merely a comfort feature for highways.

The true state of the shopping problem is as follows: the higher trim level gets you screens, wheels and seating upholstery; the Driver Confidence Package provides the two driver aids that a nervous parent is actually concerned about. These are independent choices and it is possible for a car to have a more prestigious trim level without also having the package. Whatever price you see quoted for a trim, it is before the destination charge, so build a few hundred dollars into the ceiling you've set. 

Front-wheel drive and a Connecticut winter

The Trax doesn't have all-wheel drive; not the ACTIV, even though its rugged body cladding and roof rails might suggest that. The ACTIV is a style option, not a type of drivetrain.

It is a reasonable choice for a car of this type and at this price, since front-wheel-drive vehicles have been capable of handling New England's winters for decades. Yet it alters the question of what you should do with the money you have saved.

It's a good idea to buy winter tires; a set of four on their own wheels costs between several hundred dollars and just over a thousand, the exact amount depending on the size and the brand, and it provides better winter traction than all-wheel drive on all-season tires. For a child driving over the hill to Winsted in February, that is the best safety money you can spend, and it still costs less than going for a higher trim level.

It's also a good idea to find out if the bus operates for part of the week. The Northwestern Connecticut Transit District has a Winsted route which begins in Torrington and includes a stop at the college. Local service runs from Monday to Friday, the only Saturday service being in Torrington, meaning there is no bus to Winsted on the weekend. Although that won't replace the need for a car for the majority of students, a semester in which they drive three days rather than five does alter their fuel and wear calculations.

Being honest about the limits

137 horsepower is quite enough for a small crossover, even if it isn't especially fast. When merging onto Route 8 with three friends and a lot of gear, some planning is required. That isn't a drawback at this price level and it's important to be aware of it before going on the test drive.

You can hear the three-cylinder engine when the vehicle is under load. Some people notice it and stop being concerned about it after a week, while others never stop noticing. The way to find out which category you fall into is to drive the car on a highway, not just around the block.

The Trax is a small vehicle. It is suitable for use by a student with a backpack, for running errands such as shopping or for taking home a load of laundry. It is not appropriate to use it as a vehicle for a family's ski trip.

Where to look in Torrington

The Northwest Hills Chevrolet on East Main Street in Torrington is the local Chevrolet dealership. You should phone them in advance and request that they have two or three Trax with different equipment, since the choice of package is the key factor and the decision cannot be made based on a website.

When you're there, carry out three things.

Find out precisely what driver assistance features the car in front of you has; don't take a trim name as an answer. Ask them to show you the window sticker and then look for the Driver Confidence Package listed by name.

Drive it on Route 8, not just around the block; merge in, brake hard once, and then check how the engine reacts when you request speed at 50.

Let the student drive it rather than the parent since it is they who are living with the car and if a car makes a new driver nervous then it will be a car that is driven poorly.

The Trax carries out the duty that a first car must. It is inexpensive to buy, inexpensive to operate, and it includes the safety technology which used to cost real money.

Get the package question right. After that, use the money on snow tires rather than on a styling upgrade, and you'll have a car that can get someone through four semesters without any problems.

One final point for the person who is signing. Please verify the model year of that particular car. General Motors has been moving its range up to 2027 through the summer, and with a vehicle of this low price, the pricing and standard equipment can differ from year to year, since a few hundred dollars can make a difference.