Ford Escape vs Chevrolet Trax

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax underwent a significant transformation, shedding its previous image and adopting a more modern and stylish design. The new Trax was longer, lower, and wider than its predecessor, drawing inspiration from the midsize Chevy Blazer with its bold grille and distinctive body lines. This redesign gave the Trax a commanding presence, setting it apart from competitors like the Hyundai Venue and Nissan Kicks. The interior of the Trax featured a mix of materials, with higher trims offering Evotex upholstery and unique design elements like a freestanding touchscreen and large air vents, adding a touch of sophistication to the entry-level model.

In contrast, the 2024 Ford Escape received a facelift in 2023, which carried over into the 2024 model. The front end was restyled to present a more aggressive look, but the overall design remained soft and generic. The Escape was available in various trims, with the ST-Line Elite offering a sporty appearance. However, the interior, despite its upscale initial impression, was marred by excessively glossy surfaces and stiff upholstery. The Escape's design updates made it more appealing, but it still lacked the distinctive character seen in the Trax.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax featured a new 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. Although less powerful than the previous model's engine, the new Trax was quicker to 100 km/h by about a second. The engine's flat torque curve provided strong acceleration, and turbo lag was minimal. The Trax was only available with front-wheel drive, and its handling was tuned to be more car-like, offering a planted feel and nimble handling. Despite some limitations in grip and body roll, the Trax exceeded expectations in refinement, with active noise cancellation and a comfortable ride.

The 2024 Ford Escape offered a choice between a 192-horsepower hybrid powertrain and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Our test vehicle featured the turbo engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The Escape's driving dynamics were more focused on comfort than sportiness, with a soft ride and nimble handling. However, the steering felt sluggish, and the suspension allowed for unwanted body motion. The turbo engine provided quick acceleration, but the overall driving experience didn't match the sporty promise of the ST-Line badge.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax offered increased rear-seat legroom, but headroom decreased slightly in the second row. The Trax's interior space was comparable to its rivals, with comfortable seating and a car-like driving position. Cargo space increased to 725 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,532 litres with them folded, providing ample storage for a subcompact crossover.

The 2024 Ford Escape ST-Line featured a black interior with cloth inserts and artificial leather bolsters. The front seats were large and supportive, while the rear seats offered comfort when slid to their rearmost position. Interior storage was generous in the front, but rear passengers had fewer accommodations. Cargo volume measured 1,061 litres behind the back seat and 1,852 litres with the rear seat folded, offering more space than the Trax.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax saw significant upgrades in infotainment technology, with an 8-inch touchscreen standard on lower trims and an 11-inch touchscreen with an 8-inch digital instrument cluster on higher trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with wireless phone charging, were available for the first time. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with crisp graphics and a logical menu layout, although the screen's tilt favoured the driver.

The 2024 Ford Escape featured digital instrumentation, with upper trims offering a 12.3-inch display. The 13.2-inch Sync 4 infotainment system impressed with its landscape format and intuitive layout, but the colour theme and thin fonts were less appealing. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and FordPass Connect services. However, the infotainment system experienced lag, and the wireless charger heated devices excessively. The optional head-up display and Active Park Assist 2.0 added convenience, but the placement of controls was unconventional.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax offered a range of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist, and forward collision warning. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Trax also featured the Teen Driver system, which monitored driving behaviour and provided a report card to parents. Crash-test ratings were not available at the time of publication.

The 2024 Ford Escape came with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Our test vehicle also had adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a 360-degree camera system. The Escape's lane-keeping systems were inconsistent, but the adaptive cruise control performed well on highways. The NHTSA awarded the Escape five-star ratings, except for a four-star rollover resistance rating.