Anyone who has chronically had to watch their finances knows this little maxim to be true: If you wait long enough, what was once only available to the elite will become affordable to the masses. This could not be truer for vehicle amenities. Many features that were once reserved either for luxury models or the luxury trims of otherwise affordable models have rapidly made their way into wallet-friendly options. Plus, the bar has steadily been raised on what drivers (even of affordable vehicles) have come to expect from a car.
No model represents this evolution better than the Chevy Trax. Should you find a 2015 Chevy Trax for sale and compare it, inch by inch, to a 2025 Chevy Trax, you’d be shocked by the differences. You might even wonder, “How did we ever get by with such a primitive version of this SUV?” As the lowest-priced model in the Chevy lineup, the 2025 Trax delivers a surprisingly upscale experience and is a far cry from its 2015 ancestor. Today, I’m comparing key features of the 2015 and 2025 models side-by-side to demonstrate just how far affordable cars have come.
How Cabin Comfort Has Evolved
I’ll start with the cabin’s look and feel because I know that’s where a vehicle generally makes its first and longest-lasting impression. We’ve all slid into a car and instantly thought, “Ah, it’s nice in here” or “Uh, it feels kind of cheap in here.” Nobody likes that second feeling. The 2015 Trax’s cabin would be considered by most to “leave a lot to be desired” compared to the 2025 model’s.
First, there are the upholstery options. Now, the fact that leather is still reserved for pricy vehicles remains true, so the 2025 Trax still uses a leather alternative for those who don’t want the standard cloth seats. That said, the newer one’s alternative is way better than the option offered on the 2015 Trax.
The 2025 model has available EvoTex seats, while the 2015 model has available leatherette seats. EvoTex has slowly become the standard for premium leather-alternative upholstery. Compared to leatherette, it’s more durable and softer to the touch. EvoTex has even been reported to last up to ten years without showing wear and tear! Some might even argue it looks a bit more like leather than leatherette does.
Next, there’s seating adjustability. In 2015, the standard driver’s seat was a 4-way manual, and there was an available 6-way power option. By 2025, both the standard and available seat options saw a boost by two settings: The base driver’s seat for the newer model is a 6-way manual, and the available option is an 8-way power. This is reflective of an industry trend to create highly adjustable driver seats. On some luxury models, you can find up to 16-way power-adjustable seats! This makes sense because being able to customize parts of your vehicle to meet your unique needs is part of what makes a vehicle feel truly special.
How Infotainment Has Improved
Today, most of us are accustomed to getting in a brand-new car and being able to connect our smartphone to the touchscreen. It’s almost instantaneous: You get in a vehicle, and your phone asks you if you want to connect to its infotainment system. But just ten years ago, it was not like that.
The 2015 Chevy Trax only has rudimentary smartphone connectivity. It has Siri Eyes, which allows for some hands-free functions like sending messages and asking for directions, but you can not sync up your smartphone to the touchscreen. You would not enjoy the same swipe capabilities and the option to see all of your favorite apps displayed on the large screen the way that you can today.
Additionally, ten years ago, if you wanted to connect your smartphone to your car, you almost certainly would have to use a USB cord. Meanwhile, wireless smartphone connectivity is standard on the 2025 Chevy Trax and many comparable models, so you can enjoy a tidy cabin without all of the wires dangling over your gearshift. You can also get a wireless charging pad on the Trax of today; this was likewise not available ten years ago.
All in all, smartphone connectivity is far more advanced and can be set up in a way that is much sleeker and tidier than ever before. Touchscreens keep getting bigger and bigger, too. The 2015 Trax has just a small 7-inch touchscreen, whereas the 2025 Trax boasts a touchscreen of up to 11 inches. People are used to having what feels like a mini laptop in their vehicles; it makes it much easier to see the next direction or incoming caller info with a quick glance.
A Look at Safety Through the Years
We’ve become spoiled in recent years with driver assistance features. Some of us are so accustomed to our vehicles looking out for us that we’ve stopped looking out for ourselves on the road—and that’s in part due to advancements like blind zone monitoring systems and lane-keeping aids, both of which you will find on the 2025 Trax. These systems can alert you when someone is entering your blind zone, so long as you signal that you would like to change lanes; these features can also help you remain in your lane if you’re drifting with gentle steering inputs.
The 2025 Trax has a high-definition rearview camera, too, which provides crystal-clear footage of what’s happening behind your vehicle when you are in reverse. The 2015 Trax has very simple safety features. For example, it has a rearview camera, but it is not high-definition, and it offers a rear sensor for guidance when parking. Features like blind zone monitoring, forward collision alert, and pedestrian alert (which are all found on the 2025 Trax) are nowhere to be seen on the 2015 Trax. You are mostly on your own for monitoring your surroundings in older vehicles. Driver assistance features aren’t just a luxury, though; such features can result in fewer collisions, big and small, as well as fewer traffic tickets.
We’ve Come a Long Way
Advancements in automotive features, from connectivity to comfort to safety, have happened rapidly in the last decade. Gone are the days when you had to have a budget built for luxury in order to afford anything more than a basic, bare-boned car. The 2025 Chevy Trax starts at under $22k; it’s a price that’s very appealing to people on a tight budget, like students or young families. But when you drive it, you won’t feel like you made any sacrifices. Now, if you were to go back to the 2015 Trax, you’d lose most of the impressive driver assistance features, the advanced smartphone connectivity, the massive touchscreen, the highly adjustable seats, and the upscale EvoTex upholstery option.
All of this has happened in a matter of just ten years, so it really shows the value in holding off for a few years when you see a car you’re enchanted with but can’t quite afford. Chances are that, if you’re patient, more budget-friendly models will mirror those upscale features soon enough, and then, suddenly, those premium seats or that awesome sound system you’ve wanted will be within reach.
