2024 Chevrolet Trax vs 2025 Lincoln Aviator

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax underwent a significant transformation, shedding its previous image to emerge as a more stylish and modern vehicle. The design team embraced a "longer, lower, wider" philosophy, resulting in a vehicle that was 28 centimetres longer, 10 centimetres lower, and 5 centimetres wider than its predecessor. This redesign borrowed elements from the midsize Chevy Blazer, such as a prominent grille and distinctive rear styling, giving the Trax a commanding presence despite its compact size. The base Trax LS featured 17-inch steel wheels, while higher trims offered 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum options. The Trax Activ and RS trims added rugged and sporty touches, respectively, with the RS trim featuring blacked-out accents reminiscent of a smaller Blazer. Inside, the Trax LS came with cloth upholstery and a practical interior design, while higher trims offered Evotex upholstery and unique design elements like a freestanding touchscreen and large air vents.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator, built on a rear-wheel-drive platform shared with the Ford Explorer, boasted classic design proportions with a blunt nose, short front overhang, and a sleek roofline. While the 2025 styling was considered less elegant than before, the Aviator maintained a sophisticated appearance. Inside, the Aviator's plush interior exuded a classic architectural sensibility, with a focus on comfort rather than overwhelming technology. The remote keyless entry fob, however, was criticized for its cheap feel. In Canada, the Aviator was available in Premiere and Reserve trims, with prices ranging from $79,595 to $81,695. The Reserve trim, equipped with all-wheel drive, featured options like Whisper Blue paint and a centre console between second-row captain’s chairs. The Reserve 201A package added desirable features such as upgraded lighting, 30-way-adjustable front seats with massage, and a 28-speaker Revel Ultima audio system.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax featured a new 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. While power was slightly reduced compared to the previous 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the new Trax was estimated to reach 100 km/h about a second faster. The engine's flat torque curve provided strong acceleration from a stop and smooth highway overtakes, with minimal turbo lag. The Trax retained its six-speed automatic transmission and was available only with front-wheel drive, differentiating it from the all-wheel-drive Trailblazer. The Trax's handling was tuned to be more car-like, with a wider track for a planted feel. Despite limited grip and body roll, the Trax offered nimble handling reminiscent of small hatchbacks. Active noise cancellation improved refinement, though tire noise was noticeable in the 2RS model.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Aviator offered various driving modes, including Excite, Conserve, Normal, Slippery, and Deep Conditions. The optional adaptive air suspension firmed up in Excite mode, but the Aviator prioritized comfort over excitement. The V6 provided ample power for acceleration and passing, though fuel economy was observed at 13.3 L/100 km, higher than the official rating. The Aviator offered clear sightlines and a 360-degree camera view for parking. While the ride was generally pleasant, larger bumps and road imperfections were felt due to the 22-inch wheels and thin tires. The adaptive air suspension controlled body motions and roll, ensuring a composed ride.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax, despite its larger size, offered mixed interior space improvements. Rear-seat legroom increased by 7.6 cm, with a slight increase in front-seat legroom. However, first-row headroom remained unchanged, and second-row headroom decreased by 1.7 cm. Shoulder room also decreased, resulting in a snugger seating position. The Trax's passenger space was comparable to rivals like the Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue, with the Trax offering the most rear legroom. The Trax's car-like driving position provided excellent visibility, though SUV enthusiasts might miss the elevated seating. Cargo space increased by 12% to 725 litres with the rear seats up and 1,532 litres with them folded, surpassing the Venue but only slightly better than the Kicks.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator offered luxurious comfort with its Perfect Position front seats, featuring 30-way adjustments, heating, ventilation, and massage functions. Second-row captain’s chairs provided ample space and support, with available heating and ventilation. However, the third-row seats were less accommodating, with low cushions and limited legroom, suitable mainly for children. The Aviator excelled in storage space, with a well-organized centre console, deep door pockets, and an optional second-row console. Cargo space measured 466 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,131 litres with it folded, and a maximum of 2,149 litres with all seats down, offering practicality for family trips.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax saw significant infotainment upgrades, with an 8-inch touchscreen standard on LS and 1RS trims, and an 11-inch touchscreen with an 8-inch digital instrument cluster on LT, 2RS, and Activ models. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and phone charging were available for the first time, along with Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity. The Trax's screens were impressive for an entry-level model, with the larger optional screen featuring crisp graphics and a user-friendly menu layout. However, the screen's tilt towards the driver made it less accessible for passengers. The digital instrument cluster offered a modern design and could display information from the main touchscreen. USB ports were standard, with additional ports and wireless charging available on higher trims.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator featured a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system powered by Lincoln Digital Experience. The system included Google Built-in, Alexa Built-in, and supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the Google Assistant struggled with voice prompts in the test vehicle, though Apple CarPlay and Siri worked well. The Aviator's infotainment system included an app called Elevated Journey, offering mindfulness coaching for the road. The 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D sound system provided excellent audio quality. The Aviator's head-up display offered a widescreen presentation of data, including lane departure and blind-spot warnings, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax's crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of publication. However, the Trax offered a decent array of driver-assist features, including automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, and a following distance indicator. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. The Trax also came standard with the Teen Driver system, which activated safety features, monitored driving behaviour, and provided a report card to parents.

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator came equipped with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Drive 2.0 suite of advanced driver assistance systems. Notable features included active blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage, intersection assist, evasive steering assist, and reverse braking assist. The reverse braking assist system was overly sensitive in certain situations, requiring deactivation. Adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist worked effectively, with BlueCruise providing hands-free driving assistance on approved highways. BlueCruise was proactive in predicting when driver control was necessary. The Aviator received five-star ratings from the NHTSA and Good ratings from the IIHS, indicating strong safety performance.