Chevrolet lists five trims for the 2026 Trax. They occupy three prices.
The LS opens at $21,700. Then 1RS and LT both ask $23,200, and 2RS and ACTIV both ask $25,400. At each of those upper two rungs the choice is not how much equipment to buy but which direction to take the car, and that is the part a price list does not communicate.
Every one of them uses the same 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder, the same six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. There is no engine upgrade and no all-wheel-drive option anywhere in the lineup.
Key Takeaways
- Five trims, three prices. LS $21,700, 1RS and LT $23,200, 2RS and ACTIV $25,400, all before destination.
- 1RS and LT cost the same and are not the same car. Chevrolet points the 1RS at appearance with 18-inch machined wheels and RS styling, and the LT at content with an 11-inch touchscreen, remote start and automatic climate control.
- 2RS and ACTIV also cost the same. The 2RS runs 19-inch machined wheels and RS styling; the ACTIV runs 18-inch black-painted wheels and a black grille with Titanium chrome accents.
- Powertrain is identical across all five. A 1.2-liter turbo three-cylinder making 137 hp @ 5,000 rpm and 162 lb-ft @ 2,500 rpm, a six-speed automatic, and front-wheel drive.
- No trim adds all-wheel drive, including the ACTIV, whose name suggests otherwise.
- The $1,795 destination charge applies to every trim, so an LS is really $23,495 before options.
- Packages move the price a long way. One LT carrying four of them stickers at $27,975, which is above a base ACTIV.
The Price Ladder
| Trim | MSRP | Chevrolet’s positioning | Signature equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| LS | $21,700 | Everything essential | Chevy Safety Assist, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlights, active noise cancellation |
| 1RS | $23,200 | The sporty standout | 18-inch machined two-tone wheels, RS badging with unique grille, black bowtie emblems, red interior accents |
| LT | $23,200 | Capable and comfortable | 17-inch machined two-tone wheels, 11-inch touchscreen, 8-inch driver information center, remote start, automatic climate control |
| 2RS | $25,400 | Step out in style | 19-inch machined two-tone wheels, RS badging with unique grille, black bowtie emblems, red interior accents |
| ACTIV | $25,400 | Make your presence felt | 18-inch black-painted aluminum wheels, black grille with Titanium chrome accents, unique interior accents, ACTIV badging |
The equipment column lists what Chevrolet highlights as distinguishing each trim rather than a complete specification. Anything close to a deciding feature is worth confirming on the configurator, because marketing bullets skip content that carries over from one trim to the next.
LS: $21,700
The entry car covers safety and connectivity and stops there. Chevy Safety Assist is standard, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlights and active noise cancellation.
At $21,700 it is one of the least expensive new crossovers on sale, and $23,495 once destination lands.
What it gives up against the $23,200 cars is $1,500 of either styling or convenience, depending which of those you step to.
1RS vs LT: Same $23,200, Different Cars
This is the decision that trips people up, because the two trims sit at an identical price and Chevrolet points them at opposite buyers.
| 1RS | LT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $23,200 | $23,200 |
| Wheels | 18-inch machined two-tone | 17-inch machined two-tone |
| Exterior | RS badging, unique grille, black bowtie emblems | Standard treatment |
| Interior | Red accents | Standard trim |
| Highlighted tech | Not called out | 11-inch touchscreen, 8-inch driver information center |
| Convenience | Not called out | Remote start, automatic climate control |
Read plainly, the 1RS spends the step on how the car looks and the LT spends it on how the car is used every day. Remote start and automatic climate control are features an owner touches daily. Eighteen-inch wheels and red stitching are features an owner sees.
Neither is wrong, and the fact that they cost the same means nobody is paying a premium for the choice.
2RS vs ACTIV: Same $25,400, Different Looks
The upper pair repeats the pattern with the distinction narrowed to styling direction.
The 2RS goes street, with 19-inch machined two-tone wheels, RS badging, a unique grille, black bowtie emblems and red interior accents. Those 19s are the largest wheels in the lineup.
The ACTIV goes rugged, with 18-inch black-painted aluminum wheels, a black grille with Titanium chrome accents, unique interior accents and ACTIV badging.
The ACTIV name has caused genuine confusion, so it is worth stating flatly: it is an appearance trim. It does not add all-wheel drive, and no Trax offers it. Buyers who need driven rear wheels are covered in our explainer on the Trax and all-wheel drive.
What the Packages Add
Options move a Trax further than the trim ladder does. One 2026 Trax 1LT carried four of them, and its window sticker documents what each costs.
| Package | Price | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Sunroof Package | $895 | Power sliding glass sunroof with manual shade, wireless charging |
| Driver Confidence Package | $795 | Rear cross traffic alert, lane change alert with side blind zone alert, adaptive cruise control, rear park assist |
| Midnight Edition | $695 | 17-inch high gloss black alloy wheels, black bowtie center caps, black outside mirrors, black side roof rails, black grille bar, black front and rear bowties, black lower fascias, black exterior badging |
| LT Convenience Package | $595 | Heated steering wheel, keyless open, heated driver and front passenger seats |
| Total options | $2,980 |
That car’s arithmetic runs $23,200 base, $2,980 in options, $1,795 destination, for $27,975 delivered.
Which is $2,575 above a base ACTIV before that car’s own destination charge, and the reason a trim walk alone will not tell a buyer what to order. A well-optioned LT costs more than a bare top trim.
Fuel Economy and Mechanicals Do Not Change
No trim alters the powertrain. Every 2026 Trax runs the 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder rated at 137 hp @ 5,000 rpm and 162 lb-ft @ 2,500 rpm, paired with a six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive.
EPA ratings are 28 mpg city, 32 highway and 30 combined, with a 393-mile gasoline driving range from the 13.2-gallon tank. The engine is flex-fuel capable, and running E85 drops the rated range to 288 miles.
Larger wheels can affect real-world consumption at the margins, so a 19-inch 2RS and a 17-inch LT will not necessarily match in practice even though they share an EPA rating.
Which Trim to Buy
Buy the LS if the price is the point. At $21,700 it keeps the safety suite and phone integration, and it is the least expensive route into the model.
Buy the LT if you want the daily-use features. Remote start, automatic climate control and the larger screens are the things that matter on a February morning, and they cost the same as the 1RS’s wheels.
Buy the 1RS if you prefer the way it looks and can live without the LT’s convenience content, since the price is identical.
Buy the ACTIV or 2RS only for the styling. Both sit at $25,400 and differ from each other in wheels, grille and badging. Neither adds capability.
Price a loaded LT against a base ACTIV before deciding. Four packages take an LT to $27,975, past the ACTIV’s starting point, and the LT’s options include heated seats, adaptive cruise and a sunroof that appearance trims do not automatically bring.
Verdict
The 2026 Trax lineup is narrower than five trim names suggest. Three prices, one powertrain, one drivetrain, and two of the three rungs offering a choice of character rather than a choice of content.
The most consequential decision is the one at $23,200. An LT buys remote start, automatic climate control and the larger displays. A 1RS buys 18-inch wheels and RS trim. Same money, and only one of those changes the daily routine.
Above that, $25,400 buys appearance and nothing mechanical, which makes a well-optioned LT the more interesting car at similar money. Anyone drawn to the ACTIV for what its name implies should know it drives the same front wheels as every other Trax.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 2026 Chevy Trax trim levels?
Five: LS at $21,700, 1RS at $23,200, LT at $23,200, 2RS at $25,400 and ACTIV at $25,400, all before the $1,795 destination charge. Because 1RS and LT share a price, as do 2RS and ACTIV, the lineup occupies three price points rather than five.
What is the difference between the Chevy Trax LS and LT?
$1,500 and a meaningful jump in daily-use content. The LS at $21,700 covers Chevy Safety Assist, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlights and active noise cancellation. The LT at $23,200 adds an 11-inch touchscreen, an 8-inch driver information center, remote start, automatic climate control and 17-inch machined two-tone wheels.
What is the difference between the Trax 1RS and 2RS?
$2,200 and wheel size, primarily. The 1RS at $23,200 runs 18-inch machined two-tone wheels, while the 2RS at $25,400 runs 19-inch versions. Both carry RS badging, a unique grille, black bowtie emblems and red interior accents. Neither changes the powertrain, which is the same 1.2-liter three-cylinder across the lineup.
Is the Trax ACTIV or 2RS better?
They cost the same $25,400 and the difference is styling direction rather than capability. The 2RS goes street with 19-inch machined two-tone wheels and RS badging; the ACTIV goes rugged with 18-inch black-painted aluminum wheels, a black grille with Titanium chrome accents and ACTIV badging. Neither adds all-wheel drive or a different engine.
Which Chevy Trax trim is the best value?
The LT, for most buyers. At $23,200 it costs the same as the 1RS but spends the money on remote start, automatic climate control and the larger displays rather than on wheels and badging. Buyers who want the appearance content instead pay nothing extra for it, which makes the choice a preference rather than a compromise.
Does the Chevy Trax ACTIV have all-wheel drive?
No. ACTIV is an appearance and equipment trim, and no 2026 Chevrolet Trax offers all-wheel drive on any trim at any price. Every Trax is front-wheel drive with a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder and a six-speed automatic.
How much is a fully loaded Chevy Trax?
One 2026 Trax 1LT fitted with the Sunroof Package at $895, the Driver Confidence Package at $795, the Midnight Edition at $695 and the LT Convenience Package at $595 reached $27,975 including the $1,795 destination charge. That is $2,980 in options on a $23,200 car, and it lands above a base ACTIV.
What gas mileage does the Chevy Trax get?
EPA ratings are 28 mpg city, 32 highway and 30 combined for every 2026 trim, since all five share the same 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder and six-speed automatic. Gasoline driving range is rated at 393 miles from a 13.2-gallon tank. The engine is flex-fuel capable, and running E85 drops the rated range to 288 miles.
Sources and Disclosure
Trim pricing and equipment callouts are Chevrolet’s published figures, verified against chevrolet.com in July 2026, and exclude destination unless noted. Equipment lists reflect what Chevrolet highlights per trim rather than complete specifications. Package contents, package pricing, EPA ratings and the as-delivered total come from the window sticker of a 2026 Trax 1LT that the manufacturer provided to The Weekly Driver. That same car supplied the photography published here. No driving evaluation informed the analysis, and no observed fuel economy figure is reported.
Michael Kahn
Michael Kahn is the writer, photographer, and publisher behind The Weekly Driver. He cares about how cars drive and what they're like to own. He covers automobile industry news, car shows and events, and new car reviews. The reviews come from behind the wheel: day trips that favor back routes, treating a good meal as half the reason to go. He directs and produces the visual media, matching each car to a setting and mood that fit it. When he's not reviewing new cars, Michael races paddleboards, camels, and ostriches, along with the occasional exotic car on the racetrack, and has driven in every state and country visited.
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