Is it enough? Why the upcoming 2024 Chevrolet Trax has a 1.2-liter inline-3 turbo

Crossovers are as hot as ever in the Philippines.

After the June 30, 2023 launch of the GAC GS3 Emzoom, which has the potential to snag sales away from the popular Geely Coolray, another five-seater will debut during America’s Independence Day celebration on July 4, 2023.

This is, of course, the 2024 Chevrolet Trax – which is now considerably larger than its predecessor. Another notable change is the switch to a turbocharged inline-3 engine from the old model’s 4-cylinder turbo motor.

We look into the advantages and disadvantages of having one fewer cylinder, especially since the all-new Trax faces stiff competition from Chinese brands.

Lighter, more economical

It doesn’t take a genius to understand that, given the same engine size, losing a cylinder leads to a lighter motor.

In effect, you get rid of one piston, one connecting rod, a set of valves and additional metal for the crankshaft, camshaft, cylinder head and block. From a cost standpoint, an inline-3 is cheaper to manufacture.

Having a smaller engine also leads to better fuel economy when compared to an equivalent-sized 4-cylinder engine, along with fewer harmful emissions.

However, one drawback is that a 3-cylinder engine produces less power and torque. As such, Chevrolet has fitted a turbocharger so that its little motor can help the big Trax hustle.

For comparison, the 1.2-liter, non-turbocharged inline-3 of a Mitsubishi Mirage produces 78 PS and 100 Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the subcompact Toyota Raize crossover has a non-turbo 1.2 with 88 PS and 113 Nm of torque.

But the turbocharged 1.2 motor in the larger 2024 Trax pumps out 137 PS and 219 Nm of torque, which are coursed through a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

Chevrolet claims a 0 to 100 km/h time of 9.3 seconds. However, a long-term road test will determine how good the power is in the low-to-mid RPM range.

Nicer sound, but at a cost

If you’ve ever revved a 3-cylinder engine hard, you’ll notice that it has a fabulously throaty growl, compared to the generic sound of an inline-4.

However, you’ll also notice that an inline-3 produces plenty of vibrations. That’s because these engines are unbalanced – two cylinders will have pistons in the downstroke or upstroke, while only one cylinder is going in the other direction.

To counter this, car manufacturers use everything from balancer shafts to better soundproofing. The upcoming Trax will likely feature similar technology for a truly smooth ride.

Do you think that the 2024 Chevrolet Trax is packing enough heat to take on other crossovers?

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