Compare the2022 Honda HR-VVS 2022 Chevrolet Trax

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the HR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The HR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Trax’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The HR-V EX/EX-L has standard Collision Mitigation Braking System, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Trax doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The HR-V EX/EX-L’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Trax doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

Both the HR-V and the Trax 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

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 Honda HR-V is safer than the Chevrolet Trax:

	HR-V	Trax
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	321 lbs.	388 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	385 lbs.	672 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
HIC	203	382

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the HR-V is 2.6% to 6.3% less likely to roll over than the Trax.

The Honda HR-V has a better fatality history. The HR-V was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 34.2% lower per vehicle registered than the Trax, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Warranty

The HR-V’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Trax’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

The engine in the HR-V has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Trax has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the HR-V’s reliability 49 points higher than the Trax.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 12 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Transmission

The HR-V has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Trax doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Honda HR-V has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Rear drums are standard on the Trax. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The HR-V stops shorter than the Trax:

	HR-V	Trax
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the HR-V has larger standard tires than the Trax (215/55R17 vs. 205/70R16). The HR-V Sport’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Trax (225/50R18 vs. 215/55R18).

The HR-V’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Trax’s standard 70 series tires. The HR-V Sport’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Trax LT’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the HR-V has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Trax.

Suspension and Handling

The HR-V AWD has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the HR-V AWD flat and controlled during cornering. The Trax’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the HR-V’s wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer than on the Trax (102.8 inches vs. 100.6 inches).

The HR-V EX-L AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Trax LT AWD pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The HR-V EX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Trax LT AWD (27.8 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29.2 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the HR-V has greater minimum ground clearance than the Trax (6.7 vs. 6.2 inches), allowing the HR-V to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The HR-V Sport’s minimum ground clearance is .7 inch higher than on the Trax (6.9 vs. 6.2 inches).

Chassis

The Honda HR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 200 pounds less than the Chevrolet Trax.

The HR-V Sport/EX/EX-L uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Trax doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The HR-V has 7.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Trax (100.1 vs. 92.8).

The HR-V has .4 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 3.6 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Trax.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the HR-V’s rear seats recline. The Trax’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The HR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Trax with its rear seat up (24.3 vs. 18.7 cubic feet). The HR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Trax with its rear seat folded (58.8 vs. 48.4 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The HR-V’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Trax has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The HR-V has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Trax doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The HR-V’s available headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Trax’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the HR-V EX/EX-L detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Trax doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the HR-V has standard extendable sun visors. The Trax doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The HR-V EX-L’s standard rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Trax doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

The HR-V EX/EX-L’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Trax doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the HR-V EX/EX-L has a standard Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Trax doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The HR-V Touring’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Trax’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

With standard voice command, the HR-V Touring offers the driver hands free control of the radio and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Trax doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the HR-V owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the HR-V will cost $140 less than the Trax over a five-year period.

The HR-V will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the HR-V will retain 52.22% to 53.55% of its original price after five years, while the Trax only retains 32.21% to 34.8%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the HR-V is less expensive to operate than the Trax because it costs $28 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the HR-V than the Trax, including $187 less for a water pump, $425 less for a muffler, $24 less for front brake pads, $97 less for a fuel pump, $11 less for front struts, $604 less for a timing belt/chain and $222 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda HR-V will be $3870 to $4571 less than for the Chevrolet Trax.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports performed a comparison test in its October 2015 issue and they ranked the Honda HR-V LX AWD first. They ranked the Chevrolet Trax LT AWD third.