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

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

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

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

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.