The Buick Envista has already impressed with its cargo capability right here at Baggage Take a look at HQ, managing to suit greater than was anticipated given its 20.6-cubic-foot official measurement and a coupe-like physique form that often does not portend effectively for carrying baggage. Nicely, now it is time to take a look at 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 much and away the Ford Bronco Sport by way of each official quantity (32.5) and precise baggage take a look at 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 principle, 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 have a look at 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 components that may make a giant distinction when stuffing in stuff.
Just like the Envista and others within the phase, the Trax is caught with this big, inflexible, hatchback-style cargo cowl. You positively cannot retailer this within the automobile, which implies there is a state of affairs the place you want extra space however neglect (or did not know) to take away the rattling cargo cowl. That is the dreaded “my friends have too much crap at the airport” state of affairs.
This proved to be a big-time detriment for the Envista. I may match solely three baggage, even when dislodging the duvet to take a seat atop these baggage.
Just like the Envista, the Trax additionally has plenty 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 ground setup as in so many different SUVs, together with these on this phase, that permits you to maximize area behind the raised again seat whereas guaranteeing the choice of a totally flat load ground when that seat is lowered.
As such, the Trax can’t make the most of this area for the needs of loading bigger gadgets like baggage (similar to the Envista) and with none form of foam encompass with makeshift bins and such (one other commonality), it is more durable to make use of this for storage. Perhaps 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, protecting in thoughts I will probably be testing with and with out the cargo cowl. As with each Baggage Take a look at, I exploit two midsize curler suitcases that will have to be checked in on the airport (26 inches lengthy, 16 broad, 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 consequence! That might 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 ground and cargo cowl/seat again.
Now, to make this occur, I did have to dislodge the cargo cowl’s left-side clasp, however the cowl and liftgate it is hooked up to nonetheless went down. The Envista wouldn’t do that once I tried to stuff one other bag in and hover the duvet on high.
That mentioned, I may match all however the fancy bag underneath the Kia Seltos’ cargo cowl (aka another bag). The VW Taos did not present a cargo cowl for me to check with.
OK, now let’s chuck the duvet.
Right here is one other consequence! 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 may 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 simple. The truth is, I virtually gave up pondering it simply wasn’t attainable. Sure, you may match all the luggage inside, but it surely certain appears to be like like there’s extra space within the Envista, no? Keep in mind, its most is proven above.
So sure, the Trax is just a little bit taller than the Envista, but it surely nonetheless has a reasonably steeply raked liftgate, which impedes loading. That is the sideview of the above formation, and by some means the liftgate managed to shut round all of it. You possibly can actually see right here how a lot of a “by the skin of its teeth” this consequence was.
It must also be famous how near the roof this formation was, however visibility was nonetheless adequate because the medium bag up high 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 positively not amongst these class-best performers. It is on the high of a tier under 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 a minimum of no extra helpful. It’s, nonetheless, fairly just like the Trailblazer, which is simply another reason to decide on the Trax over its quite lame massive(?) brother.
OK, so the Trailblazer enables you to do that because of its out there fold-flat entrance seat. It has that going for it.