The Buick Envista has already impressed with its cargo capability right here at Baggage Check HQ, managing to suit greater than was anticipated given its 20.6-cubic-foot official measurement and a coupe-like physique form that normally does not portend properly for carrying baggage. Nicely, now it is time to check its mechanical twin, the Chevrolet Trax. It has 25.6 cubic-feet formally and a boxier rear finish. That has to imply greater and higher issues, proper? Proper?!?
Nicely, earlier than we get to that reply, let’s additionally put that 25.6-cubic-foot quantity into context for the broader subcompact SUV phase. At current, the category chief is way and away the Ford Bronco Sport when it comes to each official quantity (32.5) and precise baggage check outcomes. Subsequent up is the Kia Seltos (26.6) and the VW Taos, which has 27.9 cubic-feet with front-wheel drive and 24.9 with all-wheel drive. In idea, the Trax ought to be capable to swallow a comparable quantity as these. And when you’re questioning, the somehow-more-expensive Chevrolet Trailblazer has a hair lower than the Trax at 25.3 cubic-feet. Spoiler alert, it is real-world efficiency underperformed that. OK, now, let’s examine what the Trax can do.
Right here is the cargo space. At first look, it is fairly typical, however earlier than attending to the luggage, let’s discuss two key parts that may make an enormous distinction when stuffing in stuff.
Just like the Envista and others within the phase, the Trax is caught with this large, inflexible, hatchback-style cargo cowl. You undoubtedly cannot retailer this within the automotive, which suggests there is a situation the place you want more room however neglect (or did not know) to take away the rattling cargo cowl. That is the dreaded “my pals have an excessive amount of crap on the airport” situation.
This proved to be a big-time detriment for the Envista. I may match solely three baggage, even when dislodging the quilt to sit down atop these baggage.
Just like the Envista, the Trax additionally has a number of underfloor area. The excellent news: This implies it has a spare tire. The unhealthy information: There is no such thing as a dual-level cargo flooring setup as in so many different SUVs, together with these on this phase, that lets you maximize area behind the raised again seat whereas guaranteeing the choice of a completely flat load flooring when that seat is lowered.
As such, the Trax can not make the most of this area for the needs of loading bigger objects like baggage (identical to the Envista) and with none type of foam encompass with makeshift bins and such (one other commonality), it is tougher to make use of this for storage. Possibly jumper cables, chains or different stuff that would not fling round, which is not nothing I suppose.
OK, now let’s get to the luggage, maintaining in thoughts I will probably be testing with and with out the cargo cowl. As with each Baggage Check, I take advantage of two midsize curler suitcases that will must be checked in on the airport (26 inches lengthy, 16 vast, 11 deep), two roll-aboard suitcases that simply barely match within the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller roll-aboard that matches simply (23L x 15W x 10D). I additionally embrace my spouse’s fancy in a single day bag simply to spruce issues up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D).
Now here is a end result! That will be the 4 largest baggage underneath the Trax’s cargo cowl, whereas the Envista may solely and simply barely match the 2 largest baggage and one of many medium ones. The Trax clearly has a taller area between flooring and cargo cowl/seat again.
Now, to make this occur, I did must dislodge the cargo cowl’s left-side clasp, however the cowl and liftgate it is connected to nonetheless went down. The Envista wouldn’t do that once I tried to stuff one other bag in and hover the quilt on prime.
That mentioned, I may match all however the fancy bag underneath the Kia Seltos’ cargo cowl (aka yet one more bag). The VW Taos did not present a cargo cowl for me to check with.
OK, now let’s chuck the quilt.
Right here is one other end result! The Trax’s cargo space is clearly not so long as the Envista’s. This might be the very same Tetris formation (minus the highest baggage) in each, but you possibly can see that there is not sufficient size within the Trax to make it occur.
OK, however clearly there’s area remaining. Let’s examine how, or even when, I can match all the luggage in.
OK, so this was not straightforward. The truth is, I virtually gave up considering it simply wasn’t attainable. Sure, you possibly can match all the luggage inside, however it positive appears to be like like there’s more room within the Envista, no? Keep in mind, its most is proven above.
So sure, the Trax is somewhat bit taller than the Envista, however it nonetheless has a fairly steeply raked liftgate, which impedes loading. That is the sideview of the above formation, and in some way the liftgate managed to shut round all of it. You possibly can actually see right here how a lot of a “by the pores and skin of its enamel” this end result was.
It also needs to be famous how near the roof this formation was, however visibility was nonetheless adequate for the reason that medium bag up prime was behind the comparably excessive head restraint.
The general conclusion: Whereas the Envista overperformed its official cargo determine, the Trax underperformed its determine. It is undoubtedly not amongst these class-best performers. It is on the prime of a tier beneath them, together with the Envista.
I am not denying it has extra quantity than the Envista, however its area simply is not as helpful, or not less than no extra helpful. It’s, nonetheless, fairly just like the Trailblazer, which is simply another reason to decide on the Trax over its relatively lame large(?) brother.
OK, so the Trailblazer permits you to do that due to its obtainable fold-flat entrance seat. It has that going for it.
