2026 Chevrolet Trax vs 2026 Hyundai Tucson
The Chevrolet Trax wins clearly, 89 to 82.4, on price, safety, fuel & range. The Hyundai Tucson is ahead on space & cargo and performance. Raise the space & cargo weight from 2 to 4.8 and it flips.
2026 Chevrolet Trax
The 2026 Chevrolet Trax is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Trax FFV, is EPA-rated at 30 m…
2026 Hyundai Tucson
The 2026 Hyundai Tucson is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas compact SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tuc…
2026 Chevrolet Trax
Clear winThe Chevrolet Trax wins clearly, 89 to 82.4, on price, safety, fuel & range. The Hyundai Tucson is ahead on space & cargo and performance. Raise the space & cargo weight from 2 to 4.8 and it flips.
| Category · weight | 2026 Chevrolet Traxoverall 89 | 2026 Hyundai Tucsonoverall 82.4 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 73.1 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 93.6 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 87.3 | 65.8 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 63.9 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 79.2 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 89 | 82.4 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Chevrolet Trax: base trim LS FWD · Hyundai Tucson: base trim SE FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the space & cargo weight from 2 to 4.8 and the answer flips.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Chevrolet Trax wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (19 against 100 filed with NHTSA).
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 70).
- It starts $8,000 lower ($21,700 against $29,700 base MSRP).
Where the 2026 Hyundai Tucson answers
- It lists 33 standard driver-assist features against 12.
- It holds 41.2 cu ft behind the second row against 25.6.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
45 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Chevrolet TraxLS FWD | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $21,700 | $29,700 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 3 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | — | 2,497 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | ECOTEC 1.2L Turbo I-3 | 2.5L GDI + MPI DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 137 hp | 187 hp |
| Torque | 162 lb-ft | 178 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 28 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 32 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.53 | 3.648 |
| Transmission speeds | 6 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 7.3 in | 7.1 in |
| Overall height | 61.4 in | 65.6 in |
| Overall length | 179 in | 183 in |
| Overall width | 71.7 in | 73.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 106 in | 109 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 54.1 cu-ft | 80.3 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 25.6 cu-ft | 41.2 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 99.8 cu-ft | 147 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 39.6 in | 40.1 in |
| Second-row headroom | 38.1 in | 39.5 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.9 in | 41.4 in |
| Second-row legroom | 38.7 in | 41.3 in |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson Strut with coil-over spring; direct-acting stabilizer bar | MacPherson strut with coil springs |
| Rear suspension type | Compound Crank (torsion beam); coil springs with twin-tube shock absorbers | Multi-link |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Column-mounted electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion | Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS), rack and pinion, column-mounted |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 38.6 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 325 mm |
| Front brake type | — | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | — | Electronic |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 300 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | 17 in |
| Wheel material | steel | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | — | 7 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 235/65R17 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | — | 14.3 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | Bluelink+ |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 55.7 in | 57.6 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 54.3 in | 56 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
122 features · differences first, then sharedSafety39 differ · 44 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraxLS FWD | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW) | — | std |
| Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go (SCC) | — | std |
| Forward Collision Alert | std | — |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Junction Turning Detection | — | std |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA) | — | std |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) | — | std |
| Airbags (Front - Advanced): Driver (1) / Front passenger (1) | — | std |
| Lane Departure Warning | std | — |
| Rearview camera with Parking Guidance | — | std |
| Downhill Brake Control (DBC) - Driver-selectable | — | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | — | std |
| Rear side airbags (2) | — | std |
| Safe Exit Warning (SEW) | — | std |
| 5-position seatbelt reminder | — | std |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | opt | — |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with 4-wheel disc brakes | — | std |
| Anti-theft System integrated with remote keyless entry and panic alarm | — | std |
| Automatic Emergency Braking | std | — |
| Bodyside reinforcements | — | std |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control (TCS) | — | std |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control (TCS) and Brake Assist | — | std |
| Following Distance Indicator | std | — |
| Frontal and knee airbags for driver and front passenger | std | — |
| Hillstart Assist Control (HAC) | — | std |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| LATCH Lower Anchors and Upper Tether Anchors | — | std |
| Occupant Classification System (OCS) - Seat weight sensor and seat track sensor | — | std |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | opt | — |
| Rear Occupant Alert (door logic-type) | — | std |
| Rear Park Assist | opt | — |
| Rear Vision Camera | std | — |
| Side air curtains with rollover sensors | — | std |
| Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert | opt | — |
| Steering wheel haptic feedback (for LKA and BCA) | — | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitor System with tire fill alert | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management | — | std |
| Immobilizer | — | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) w/ Individual Tire Indicator | — | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian, Cyclist Detection (sensor fusion-type) | std | std |
| Driver and front passenger side-impact FR (Thorax) airbags (2) | std | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) | std | std |
| Side air curtains (front and rear passengers) with rollover sensors (2) | std | std |
| High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | std |
Infotainment10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraxLS FWD | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3" color touchscreen with AM/FM, HD Radio™, SiriusXM® Satellite Radio system with 6-speakers (ccNC Lite) | — | std |
| Bluetooth controls (Voice recognition, Accept call, Hang up) | — | std |
| Audio controls (Volume up/down, Mute, Seek up/down, Mode) | — | std |
| Bluelink+ Connected Car System | — | std |
| Controller OTA update capability | — | std |
| Front Dual USB Type-C ports (1 data/charge + 1 charge port (27W)) | — | std |
| HD Radio™ Technology | — | std |
| Second row Dual USB ports (27W charging power) | — | std |
| SiriusXM® Satellite Radio (3-month trial subscription) | — | std |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ | — | std |
Convenience9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraxLS FWD | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Proximity key entry with push button start | — | std |
| Electronic Parking Brake w/ Automatic Vehicle Hold | — | std |
| Power door locks | — | std |
| Power Window Switches - Driver auto down/up | — | std |
| Proximity w/ detachable valet key (2) | — | std |
| Remote keyless entry system with alarm and panic | — | std |
| Remote release Hood | — | std |
| Storage tray (below 12-volt outlet) | — | std |
| 12-volt outlet (2) - Front (1) / cargo (1) | — | std |
Climate4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraxLS FWD | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| After-Blow logic | — | std |
| Cabin air filter | — | std |
| Manual air conditioning | — | std |
| Rear seat heater ducts | — | std |
Seating5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraxLS FWD | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 Split fold-down & reclining rear seatback with adjustable head restraint | — | std |
| 6-way adjustable driver's seat | — | std |
| Cloth-trimmed seats (stain- and odor-resistant) | — | std |
| Remote release folding rear seats (from cargo) | — | std |
| Rear center armrest with cupholders | — | std |
Interior22 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraxLS FWD | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2" Multi-Information Display | — | std |
| 3-spoke steering wheel | — | std |
| Assist grips (4) | — | std |
| Bag hook - 2nd row seat back | — | std |
| Central dome light (with delay) and auto cut-off | — | std |
| Cruise control buttons | — | std |
| Cupholders, Dual - Front center console-mounted | — | std |
| Door handles - Metal paint | — | std |
| Front center console - Fixed armrest storage box | — | std |
| Glove compartment with Damper | — | std |
| I/P switch illumination (hazard) | — | std |
| Illuminated power window switches | — | std |
| Rear coat hanger (1) | — | std |
| Roof trim - Gray | — | std |
| Tilt & Telescoping steering wheel | — | std |
| Inside rearview mirror - Manual day/night | — | std |
| Floor mats - Carpeted | — | opt |
| Front and Rear LED overhead lighting | — | std |
| LED Cargo area light | — | std |
| Seatback map pocket(s) | — | std |
| Sunvisors - Dual vanity mirror with cover, w/ sliding function | — | std |
| Trip odometer | — | std |
Exterior19 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraxLS FWD | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 17-inch steel wheels | std | — |
| Acoustic Laminated Windshield | — | std |
| Automatic headlights | — | std |
| Bi-LED headlights (high/low beam) | — | std |
| Body color door handles | — | std |
| Bodycolor side mirror housing | — | std |
| Chrome upper door window molding | — | std |
| Front variable intermittent windshield wipers | — | std |
| Intermittent rear window wiper/washer (non-variable) | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | std |
| LED front turn signals | — | std |
| Shark-fin roof antenna | — | std |
| Side sills - Material Black | — | std |
| Rear window defroster with timer | — | std |
| Solar glass - Front Door, Windshield | — | std |
| Mud Guards - Front/Rear | — | opt |
| Rear spoiler - Integrated with CHMSL, bodycolor | — | std |
| Roof-mounted Center High-Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL) | — | std |
| Spare Tire - Compact Temporary Tire | — | std |
Powertrain4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraxLS FWD | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Type - FWD | — | std |
| AWD Lock | — | opt |
| Drive Mode - Center-console mounted | — | std |
| Idle Stop & Go | — | std |
Cargo5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraxLS FWD | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Tow Hitch | — | opt |
| Cargo cover - Retractable | — | opt |
| Cargo tie-down anchors (6) - 3 on each side, 2 floor & 1 upper per side | — | std |
| Dual level cargo floor (n/a on PHEV) | — | std |
| Trailer pre-wiring | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPChevrolet Trax
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Hyundai Tucson
Top recalls
- high Suspension 26V692000 · 24 vehicles
- high Forward Collision Avoidance 26V316000 · 423,062 vehicles
- high Air Bags 26V254000 · 2,931 vehicles
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 25V549000 · 29 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 26V047000 · 41,651 vehicles
- minor Electrical System 26V400000 · 96,310 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Chevrolet TraxLS FWD | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $21,700 (base trim) | $29,700 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $21,700 – $25,400 5 trims | $29,700 – $48,900 21 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | PHEV, HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Trax FFV | Tucson FWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 30 | 28 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,250 | $2,400 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi (make terms) | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi (make terms) | — |
| Roadside assistance | 5 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Chevrolet Trax or the 2026 Hyundai Tucson?
The Chevrolet Trax wins clearly, 89 to 82.4, on price, safety, fuel & range. The Hyundai Tucson is ahead on space & cargo and performance. Raise the space & cargo weight from 2 to 4.8 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Chevrolet Trax scores 89 and the 2026 Hyundai Tucson 82.4. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Chevrolet Trax or the 2026 Hyundai Tucson?
The 2026 Chevrolet Trax starts lower — $21,700 against $29,700, a gap of $8,000 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Chevrolet Trax or the 2026 Hyundai Tucson?
2026 Chevrolet Trax: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 Hyundai Tucson: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 6 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Chevrolet Trax and the 2026 Hyundai Tucson?
Where the 2026 Chevrolet Trax wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (19 against 100 filed with NHTSA), has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 70), and starts $8,000 lower ($21,700 against $29,700 base MSRP). Where the 2026 Hyundai Tucson answers: it lists 33 standard driver-assist features against 12 and holds 41.2 cu ft behind the second row against 25.6.