Compare the2023 Fiat 500XVS 2022 Chevrolet Trax

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The 500X has standard Reactive Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Reactive Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Trax doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The 500X has standard Active Braking, 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the 500X. But it costs extra on the Trax.

The 500X Sport’s optional 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.

The 500X offers optional ParkSense to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or, optionally, in front of the vehicle. The Trax doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The 500X Sport’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Trax doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 500X and the Trax have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the 500X the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 227 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Trax has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The 500X comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The Trax’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The 500X’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Trax’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

The engine in the 500X 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.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the 500X has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Trax’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The 500X’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (177 vs. 155) and 33 lbs.-ft. more torque (210 vs. 177) than the Trax’s 1.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 500X gets better fuel mileage than the Trax AWD (24 city/30 hwy vs. 23 city/30 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 500X’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Trax doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The 500X has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Trax doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Fiat 500X, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Trax.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 500X’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Trax:

	500X	Trax
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	10.95 inches	9” drums
Opt Rear Rotors		10.6 inches

The Fiat 500X 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 500X stops shorter than the Trax:

	500X	Trax
70 to 0 MPH	163 feet	169 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	119 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the 500X has larger standard tires than the Trax (215/60R17 vs. 205/70R16). The 500X AWD’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Trax (225/55R18 vs. 215/55R18).

The 500X AWD’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Trax’s standard 70 series tires. The 500X Sport’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Trax LT’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 500X AWD has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Trax. The 500X Sport’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the Trax LT.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Fiat 500X has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Chevrolet Trax has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The 500X has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the 500X flat and controlled during cornering. The Trax’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The 500X handles at .78 G’s, while the Trax LT AWD pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The 500X Pop executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Trax LT AWD (28 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29.2 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The 500X has .6 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, .2 inches more front shoulder room and 1.5 inches more rear hip room than the Trax.

Cargo Capacity

The 500X’s cargo area is larger than the Trax’s in almost every dimension:

	500X	Trax
Max Width	41.3”	39.5”
Min Width	37.8”	36”
Height	28.8”	31.8”

Towing

The 500X has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Trax has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

The 500X’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 500X’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Trax’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

The 500X’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Trax’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The 500X’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Trax LS’ standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen. The 500X’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Trax’s projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the 500X detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Trax doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 500X Sport has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Trax doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the 500X has standard extendable sun visors. The Trax doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The 500X’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Chevrolet only offers heated mirrors on the Trax LT.

The 500X’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 500X Sport’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Trax doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

The 500X Sport’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 500X Sport offers an optional 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 500X Sport’s available 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 500X 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 500X owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the 500X with a number “5” insurance rate while the Trax is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 500X is less expensive to operate than the Trax because it costs $146 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the 500X than the Trax, including $44 less for a water pump, $500 less for a muffler, $12 less for front brake pads, $1 less for a starter, $125 less for front struts, $684 less for a timing belt/chain and $308 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its September 2015 issue and they ranked the Fiat 500X two places higher than the Chevrolet Trax LT AWD.

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