2025 Chevrolet Trax vs 2025 Buick Envista: 10 Key Differences Between Each Small GM SUV

2025 Buick Envista

Small SUVs like the 2025 Chevrolet Trax and 2025 Buick Envista offer an appealing combination of practicality, affordability, and modern features. Both are front-wheel-drive subcompact crossovers built on the same platform and powered by the same engine. Yet, they serve very different roles in the General Motors portfolio. While the Trax leans toward a youthful, utility-focused personality with bold styling and great value, the Envista aims for refinement and comfort with upscale design cues and added tech.

For buyers visiting Humberview GM in Toronto, choosing between these two SUVs often comes down to priorities: Do you want something sporty and practical, or something a bit more premium without stepping too far up in price? This comparison explores ten key differences to help you make the right choice, using up-to-date Canadian specifications.

1. Exterior Design and Road Presence

The 2025 Chevrolet Trax continues to stand out in the subcompact segment with its wide stance, high shoulder line, and aggressive front-end design. It borrows cues from larger Chevrolet SUVs like the Blazer and Trailblazer, resulting in a sporty, almost athletic presence on the road. Higher trims such as the ACTIV and RS elevate this appeal with unique exterior treatments like gloss-black accents and 18-inch or 19-inch alloy wheels.

In contrast, the 2025 Buick Envista takes a more refined and sleek approach. With a lower profile and a coupe-like silhouette, the Envista appears more premium from the outside despite its similar price point. Its design is influenced by the upscale Buick Wildcat EV concept, especially in the front fascia. It wears a confident grille, sculpted hood lines, and comes standard with LED lighting across the lineup. Overall, the Envista carries a more luxurious and mature visual identity.

Category

2025 Chevrolet Trax

2025 Buick Envista

Design Style

Sporty, upright SUV look

Sleek, coupe-inspired silhouette

LED Lighting

Available on higher trims

Standard on all trims

Wheel Options

17" to 19" depending on trim

17" to 19" depending on trim

Design Influence

Chevrolet Blazer/Tahoe cues

Buick Wildcat EV concept

2. Interior Layout and Comfort

Buick Envista Avenir


Step inside the Trax and you'll find a clean, functional cabin with surprising rear-seat legroom for a subcompact vehicle. The dashboard is anchored by a standard 8-inch or available 11-inch infotainment screen, depending on trim. Seating is supportive, and the overall cabin feels well-put-together, especially in the ACTIV and RS models which offer exclusive finishes like Evotex seat trim or red contrast stitching.

The Envista offers a noticeably more refined interior for its class. It features a sweeping dashboard with a horizontal design theme, seamlessly integrating an 11-inch infotainment display and an 8-inch digital driver display into a single panel. The materials feel more upscale than in the Trax, and Buick's use of soft-touch surfaces and muted colour palettes creates a more serene atmosphere. Despite its sloping roofline, rear headroom remains adequate.

Category

2025 Chevrolet Trax

2025 Buick Envista

Display Sizes

8" std / 11" available infotainment

11" infotainment + 8" driver display std

Interior Theme

Sporty, bold accents

Minimalist, refined, premium materials

Rear Seat Comfort

Excellent legroom for the segment

Slightly reduced headroom, great padding

Upholstery Options

Cloth or Evotex depending on trim

Cloth, leatherette on higher trims

3. Powertrain and Performance Feel

Both the 2025 Chevrolet Trax and the 2025 Buick Envista are powered by the same engine: a 1.2-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder that delivers 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, the powertrain prioritizes efficiency over outright acceleration. Still, in urban environments, the low-end torque offers respectable responsiveness.

Where they differ is in tuning and driving character. The Trax leans toward a firmer suspension setup, especially in the RS and ACTIV trims, which results in more confident handling at the expense of some ride comfort. The Envista, however, has a more comfort-biased suspension that absorbs bumps better and isolates road imperfections. It’s tuned for relaxed cruising rather than spirited driving.

Category

2025 Chevrolet Trax

2025 Buick Envista

Engine

1.2L Turbo I-3 (137 hp / 162 lb-ft)

1.2L Turbo I-3 (137 hp / 162 lb-ft)

Transmission

6-speed automatic

6-speed automatic

Drivetrain

Front-wheel drive only

Front-wheel drive only

Suspension Feel

Slightly sportier

Softer, more comfortable

4. Technology and Connectivity

2025 Chevrolet Trax


Technology is where Buick aims to offer an edge. The Envista comes standard with an 11-inch touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also offers an 8-speaker audio system on upper trims and features a digital instrument cluster as standard. Available wireless phone charging and a customizable digital gauge display bring more sophistication to the mix.

The Trax is no slouch, especially in the 2RS and ACTIV trims, which also feature the larger 11-inch screen and offer wireless smartphone connectivity. However, the base models use an 8-inch screen, and the overall tech interface, while user-friendly, is slightly more basic than in the Envista. That said, both vehicles provide multiple USB ports and Wi-Fi hotspot capability, making them practical for everyday use.

Category

2025 Chevrolet Trax

2025 Buick Envista

Standard Infotainment

8" screen (LS, 1RS)

11" screen (all trims)

Smartphone Integration

Wireless Apple CarPlay / Android Auto

Wireless Apple CarPlay / Android Auto

Audio System

4 to 6 speakers depending on trim

Up to 8 speakers

Wireless Charging

Available on upper trims

Available on Preferred Sport Touring

5. Safety and Driver Assistance Features

Both the Trax and Envista come standard with a strong suite of driver assistance technologies under GM’s Safety Assist umbrella. This includes automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keeping assist, and forward collision alert. The systems are responsive and well-calibrated in both models, making them reassuring companions in daily traffic.

Where the Envista distinguishes itself is with the availability of additional features like rear cross-traffic alert and lane change alert with blind zone detection on more trims. The Trax also offers these, but they are typically limited to higher trims. The Buick also provides optional adaptive cruise control, which is less common in this segment and not available in all versions of the Trax.

Category

2025 Chevrolet Trax

2025 Buick Envista

Standard Safety Suite

Chevy Safety Assist

Buick Driver Confidence

Blind Spot Monitoring

Available on higher trims

Available on more trims

Adaptive Cruise Control

Not available on most trims

Optional on Preferred Sport Touring

Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

Upper trims only

Mid and upper trims

6. Cargo Capacity and Versatility

2025 Chevrolet Trax


Despite its lower roofline, the 2025 Buick Envista offers surprisingly competitive cargo capacity. Behind the rear seats, it delivers around 586 litres, expanding to just over 1,189 litres with the seats folded flat. The space is wide and accessible, though the slope of the rear hatch limits vertical space for larger boxes.

The Chevrolet Trax, on the other hand, is more traditional in its SUV shape, which benefits cargo-hauling capability. It offers around 725 litres of space behind the rear seats and up to 1,532 litres when the seats are folded down. For those prioritizing practicality and cargo space, the Trax remains the better choice.

Category

2025 Chevrolet Trax

2025 Buick Envista

Cargo Capacity (Seats Up)

~725 litres

~586 litres

Cargo Capacity (Folded)

~1,532 litres

~1,189 litres

Seat Fold Configuration

60/40 split-folding rear seats

60/40 split-folding rear seats

7. Trim Lineup and Customization Options

Buick Envista ST


The Trax offers five distinct trims in Canada: LS, 1RS, LT, 2RS, and ACTIV, each with different styling, wheel options, and features. The RS trims highlight a sportier aesthetic, while the ACTIV is aimed at buyers who prefer a rugged look. This wide range allows customers to fine-tune their ideal combination of looks and equipment.

The Envista keeps things simpler with Preferred, Sport Touring, and Avenir trims. The Avenir, in particular, pushes the boundaries of luxury in a subcompact SUV with quilted leatherette seating, a powered driver seat, and a blacked-out mesh grille. For those looking for a streamlined shopping process with upscale results, the Envista lineup delivers.

Category

2025 Chevrolet Trax

2025 Buick Envista

Number of Trims

Five

Three

Sport-Oriented Trim

1RS, 2RS

Sport Touring

Luxury-Oriented Trim

ACTIV

Avenir

Unique Styling Options

Gloss-black, off-road style (ACTIV)

Black mesh grille, Avenir badging

Conclusion: Which One Should You Choose?

Choosing between the 2025 Chevrolet Trax and the 2025 Buick Envista comes down to what you value most. If you're looking for maximum practicality, affordability, and sport-inspired styling, the Trax is the clear choice. It's especially appealing to younger drivers or those prioritizing cargo space and cost-conscious ownership.

On the other hand, the Buick Envista offers a more refined and comfortable experience, with standard tech and design elements that feel well above its price point. If you want a premium feel in a compact, efficient package—and can stretch the budget slightly—then the Envista is well worth a closer look.

At Humberview GM in Toronto, you’ll find both models in stock and ready for a test drive. Let our team help you explore which small GM SUV fits your lifestyle best.

2025 BUICK Envista

2025 BUICK Envista
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Photo for illustrative purposes only.

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