2025 Chevrolet Trax vs 2026 Hyundai Tucson

$20,500 · Crossover

$29,200 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Choosing between the budget-friendly 2025 Chevrolet Trax and the roomier 2026 Hyundai Tucson often boils down to prioritizing immediate savings versus long-term utility. If your biggest hurdle is that $8,700 price gap—the Trax starts at just $20,500 versus the Tucson's $29,200—the Chevy is the clear frontrunner for affordability. However, that upfront savings means accepting 137 hp compared to the Tucson's robust 187 hp. While the Trax offers slightly better overall efficiency at 30 combined MPG, the Tucson compensates with significantly more space, boasting 38.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity against the Trax's 25.6 cu ft. The Tucson’s extra 5.1 inches in length contributes to this utility. For city dwellers needing a practical, low-cost entry into the crossover segment, the Trax excels, but buyers needing passenger space or power will lean toward the pricier Tucson.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Chevrolet Trax

The 2025 Chevrolet Trax wins for commuters due to its lower starting price of $20,500 and slightly superior combined MPG rating of 30.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Hyundai Tucson

The 2026 Hyundai Tucson is the better choice for families, offering substantially more storage with 38.7 cu ft of cargo capacity versus Car 1's 25.6 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Hyundai Tucson

Enthusiasts will prefer the 2026 Hyundai Tucson because it delivers 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, significantly outmuscling the Trax's 137 hp.

💰 Best Value

2025 Chevrolet Trax

The Chevrolet Trax provides excellent entry-level value, drastically undercutting the Tucson by $8,700 MSRP while still delivering 30 MPG.

Choose the Chevrolet Trax if...

You are prioritizing the lowest possible ownership cost, given the $8,700 lower MSRP ($20,500).
You want the most fuel-efficient option, achieving 30 combined MPG versus the Tucson's 28.
Your driving is predominantly city-based and you don't require high horsepower (137 hp is sufficient for basic driving).

Choose the Hyundai Tucson if...

You frequently haul bulky items, as the Tucson provides an impressive 38.7 cu ft of cargo space.
You prioritize performance, benefiting from the 50 hp advantage (187 hp total) and 8-speed transmission.
You need a slightly larger vehicle, as the Tucson is over 5 inches longer than the Trax (182.7 inches vs 178.6 inches).

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Chevrolet Trax	Hyundai Tucson
Length	178.6"	182.7"
Width	71.8"	73.4"
Height	61.4"	-
Wheelbase	106.0"	108.5"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	2	3
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Blind Spot Monitor	—	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	—	✓
Driver Attention Alert	—	✓
Brake Assist	—	✓
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Base Engine Displacement	1.2 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 3	inline 4
Base Engine Type	flex-fuel (FFV)	gas
Horsepower	137 hp @ 5000 rpm	187 hp @ 6100 rpm
Torque	162 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm	178 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Number of Valves	12	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Transmission Type	6-speed shiftable automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	28/32 MPG	25/33 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	30 MPG	28 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	369.6/422.4 mi.	357.5/471.9 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	13.2 gal.	14.3 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Cruise Control	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Push Button Start	—	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	—	✓
Rear Cupholders	—	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	—	✓
Front Seatback Storage	—	✓
Extended Cabin Cooling	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	4	6
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	✓	—
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—

Power Feature

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
One-Touch Power Windows	4	1
Remote Keyless Entry	✓	—
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Keyless Entry	—	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Front Head Room	39.6 in.	40.1 in.
Front Leg Room	41.9 in.	41.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room	55.7 in.	57.6 in.
Front Hip Room	52.1 in.	54.5 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	6-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	6-way
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	—	✓

Rearseats

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Rear Head Room	38.1 in.	39.5 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.7 in.	41.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	54.3 in.	56.0 in.
Rear Hip Room	45.8 in.	53.9 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	—	✓
Folding Center Armrest	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Wheel Finish	Painted Steel	—
Wheel Cover Type	Full	—
Wheel Diameter	17 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	225/60R17	235/65R17
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Material	—	Alloy
Wheel Size	—	17 x 7.0 in

Suspension

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Front Suspension Type	Independent	—
Stabilizer Bar	✓	—
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	—	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	—	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	—	✓

Warranty

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	6 yr./ 100000 mi.	7 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	1 yr./ unlimited mi.	—

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Chevrolet Trax and 2026 Hyundai Tucson.

How significant is the performance gap between the Trax and the Tucson?

The gap is quite noticeable; the 2026 Hyundai Tucson offers 187 horsepower, which is 50 more than the 2025 Chevrolet Trax's 137 hp. This means the Tucson will feel much quicker when merging or accelerating onto highways.

Is the Chevrolet Trax significantly cheaper to run day-to-day besides the purchase price?

Not dramatically, as both use regular unleaded fuel. The Trax is slightly thriftier with 30 combined MPG compared to the Tucson’s 28 combined MPG. Both are FWD models with shiftable automatics, keeping operational complexity similar.

Which vehicle offers more usable space for passengers and cargo?

The 2026 Hyundai Tucson offers significantly more utility with 38.7 cubic feet of cargo space, whereas the Trax is limited to 25.6 cubic feet. The Tucson is also physically larger in width and length.

If I'm on a strict budget, why would I consider the more expensive Tucson?

The $8,700 price difference buys you 50 extra horsepower, a slightly more modern 8-speed automatic transmission, and nearly 13 cubic feet more cargo capacity. These features can justify the extra cost if utility is critical.

Are highway mileage figures very different for commuters?

They are very similar on the highway; the Trax achieves 32 MPG highway, while the Tucson gets 33 MPG highway. Highway efficiency is comparable despite the power difference.

Do the physical dimensions impact parking ease in the city?

Yes, the Trax is the smaller vehicle at 178.6 inches long and 71.8 inches wide. This slightly smaller footprint will generally make the Trax easier to maneuver and park in tight city spots compared to the Tucson.