2024 Chevrolet Trax vs 2025 Mazda CX-90

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 11 inches longer, four inches lower, and two inches wider than its predecessor. This redesign incorporated 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 Trax offered various trim levels, including the LS with 17-inch steel wheels and higher trims with 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum wheels. The Activ and RS trims added rugged and sporty styling cues, respectively, enhancing the Trax's appeal.

Inside, the Trax LS featured standard cloth upholstery and a practical interior design. Higher trims introduced Evotex upholstery, aiming for a leather-like appearance, with unique design elements like yellow contrast stitching on Activ models and piano-black plastic on RS models. The dashboard design was sleek, with a freestanding touchscreen and large air vents, while controls were conveniently placed in a pod below the dash. Despite its entry-level status, the Trax's interior design was far from boring, offering a blend of functionality and style.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 exuded luxury with its lustrous paint, polished chrome trim, and intricate 21-inch wheels, giving it the appearance of a high-end SUV. The sculptural sheet metal created an interplay of light and shadow, while the short front overhang, long hood, and rear-axle-focused cabin placement contributed to its athletic stance. Inside, the CX-90 continued the premium theme with polished metallic trim, Nappa leather upholstery, and clearly marked switchgear. While some materials reflected its competitive pricing, the cabin felt upscale overall.

However, the CX-90's design had some ergonomic issues, such as a confusing electronic shifter and a counterintuitive climate panel. The infotainment system lacked touchscreen functionality for native Mazda Connect functions, requiring reliance on a knob and buttons. Despite these drawbacks, the CX-90 stood out among midsize three-row SUVs for its sophisticated appearance and feel, offering a compelling option for those seeking a blend of style and practicality.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax featured a new 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, replacing the previous 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. This change resulted in a slight decrease in power, with the new engine producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, compared to the previous 155 hp and 177 lb-ft. Despite the reduction in power, the 2024 Trax was estimated to be quicker to 60 mph by about a second. The engine's flat torque curve provided strong response from a stop and made highway overtakes smooth, with minimal turbo lag. The Trax retained its six-speed automatic transmission but was now 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 providing a planted feel. While it wasn't a hot hatch, the Trax offered nimble handling reminiscent of small cars. Active noise cancellation improved refinement, though tire noise was noticeable in the 2RS model. Ride quality was slightly rough, but the tradeoff was above-average handling for a subcompact crossover.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90's performance was less refined than its design suggested. The 3.3 Turbo model featured a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six engine producing 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. The 3.3 Turbo S variant offered 319 hp and 369 lb-ft, with 340 hp on premium gas. Power was delivered through an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard all-wheel-drive system, with a rear-wheel bias for improved dynamics. The CX-90 offered Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

While the CX-90 provided impressive ride and handling, drivetrain refinement was lacking, especially during cold starts. Power delivery and transmission behavior were unpredictable until warmed up, and unwanted engine surge was experienced in certain situations. The CX-90's drivetrain lacked isolation from noise and impact harshness, affecting overall refinement. Despite these issues, the CX-90 offered a dynamic driving experience, with a firm suspension that communicated road conditions effectively. Switching between driving modes allowed for a satisfying rhythm, with Normal mode providing smoother driving.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax's larger dimensions didn't uniformly translate to increased interior space. While rear-seat legroom increased by three inches, front-seat legroom saw a slight improvement. However, first-row headroom remained unchanged, and second-row headroom decreased by 0.7 inches. Shoulder room also decreased, resulting in a snugger seating position. Despite these changes, the Trax offered competitive passenger space compared to rivals like the Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue. The Trax's car-like driving position and low window sills provided excellent visibility, though SUV enthusiasts might miss the elevated driving position.

Cargo space in the Trax increased by about 12%, offering 25.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 54.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This was slightly better than the Kicks and significantly more than the Venue, making the Trax a practical choice for those needing cargo versatility.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90's interior, despite its premium features, had some shortcomings. The three-zone climate control system struggled to cool the cabin quickly, raising concerns about its effectiveness in hotter climates. The CX-90's Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain's chairs added comfort, though front-seat ventilation was less effective. The panoramic sunroof provided ample natural light, and second-row passengers enjoyed elevated seating positions. However, limited seat-track travel and long rear doors posed challenges for child seat installation and loading.

The CX-90's third row was best suited for children, with limited space for adults on longer trips. The electronic shifter didn't provide additional storage space, and the center console lacked practicality. Cargo space behind the third row measured 14.9 cubic feet, with 40 cubic feet available with the third row folded. Maximum cargo volume reached 74.2 cubic feet, which was small for the segment.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax saw significant infotainment upgrades for 2024. An 8-inch touchscreen was standard on LS and 1RS trims, while LT, 2RS, and Activ models featured an 11-inch touchscreen and 8-inch digital instrument cluster. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with wireless phone charging, were available for the first time. The Trax's infotainment system was user-friendly, with crisp graphics and a logical menu layout. However, the screen's tilt toward the driver wasn't ideal for front-seat passengers. The optional digital instrument cluster provided a modern design and allowed information transfer from the main touchscreen.

The Trax offered two front USB ports and additional USB ports for rear-seat passengers on higher trims. Wireless phone charging was optional, though the charging pad's shape and angle might not suit all phones.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90's dashboard featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. While the technology was present, it was presented in a traditional manner. The infotainment screen was touch-sensitive only for wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, requiring the use of a knob and buttons for the native Mazda Connect platform. Mazda's voice recognition system fell short of modern expectations, and a new Google Built-in infotainment system was anticipated in future models.

The CX-90's 12-speaker Bose audio system provided a rewarding listening experience, and the Active Driving Display offered helpful data. However, the lack of a conversational digital voice assistant and the reliance on traditional controls detracted from the overall tech experience.

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. Standard features included 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 featured the Teen Driver system, which activated certain safety features, monitored driving behavior, and provided a "report card" to parents.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 excelled in safety, earning a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings in all NHTSA crash tests for the PHEV model. Gas-only models received four-star ratings in frontal-impact testing. The CX-90 offered a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist. Higher trim levels added advanced features like steering assist, emergency lane-keeping assist, front cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera system.

Cruising and Traffic Support, available on higher trims, combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist for highway use. While effective, the system's speed reduction feature could be irritating. The CX-90's driver aids generally met expectations, with effective lane-keeping technologies and a communicative blind-spot monitoring system. However, the abundance of warning chimes could be overwhelming.