Compare the2022 Chevrolet TraxVS 2021 Hyundai Tucson

The Chevrolet Trax has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Tucson doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the Trax and the Tucson have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Trax is safer than the Hyundai Tucson:

	Trax	Tucson
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	122	172
Neck Compression	12 lbs.	97 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	207	226
Chest Compression	.3 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	122 lbs.	162 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Trax is safer than the Hyundai Tucson:

	Trax	Tucson
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	73	94
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	100	241
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	55 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Spine Acceleration	46 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	707 lbs.	1028 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Chevrolet Trax is safer than the Tucson:

	Trax	Tucson
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	188	209
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	POOR
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	1874 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	126	302
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	.55 in	2.2 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.34 in	2.13 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	14 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

There are almost 4 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Trax’s warranty.

The Trax’s 1.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 27 lbs.-ft. more torque (177 vs. 150) than the Tucson’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Trax’s 1.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (177 vs. 175) than the Tucson’s optional 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Trax higher (7 out of 10) than the Hyundai Tucson (5 to 7). This means the Trax produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Tucson every 15,000 miles.

The Trax stops much shorter than the Tucson:

	Trax	Tucson
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

The Trax is 8.8 inches shorter than the Tucson, making the Trax easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front step up height for the Trax is 2.2 inches lower than the Tucson (16.8” vs. 19”). The Trax’s rear step up height is 3.2 inches lower than the Tucson’s (16.8” vs. 20”).

The Trax’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Tucson’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

The Trax LT has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Tucson doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Trax is less expensive to operate than the Tucson because it costs $200 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Trax than the Tucson, including $43 less for a starter and $200 less for fuel injection.