Chevy is famous for a few highly popular vehicles, each of which is a standout in their class: the Silverado lineup of pickup trucks, the Equinox and Tahoe SUVs, and hot performance cars like the Camaro and Corvette. But Chevy actually has one of the most diverse and populous vehicle lineups among worldwide auto brands, meaning there’s more to find at local Chevy car dealers than the obvious models. In fact, some of these models may be unfamiliar to the general public.
Take a look at some of the less popular but still noteworthy vehicles in the 2021 Chevy lineup below, including the adventurous Colorado, spacious Trax, and surprisingly practical Bolt EV. These vehicles are, at the very least, variations of their more popular cousins in the Chevy family and target a different type of driver. Today at CarLifeNation, we are breaking down the notable features of four overlooked Chevy vehicles, followed by our take on whether these vehicles are underrated or actually belong in the shadows.
#1 – 2021 Trax
A more compact SUV in the Chevy lineup, the 2021 Trax is highly affordable, efficient, and surprisingly sporty. Off-road-oriented like the Trailblazer but family-friendly like the Equinox and Tahoe, the Trax is one of the most balanced vehicles by Chevy. In fact, it’s designed to do it all and look good doing it. With a super-low starting price of $21,400 for the 2021 model year, the Trax makes the latest Chevy technology available to drivers on a budget, too.
Its 1.4-liter turbocharged engine offers agile performance, especially because this SUV isn’t as bulky as the larger Chevy SUVs. Paired with all-wheel-drive and a smooth 6-speed automatic transmission, you get just as superb driving on asphalt as you would on wild terrain. Best of all, the Trax’s EcoTec engine offers up to 26 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway, ample efficiency ratings for such a spacious SUV.
Its advanced safety features, excellent infotainment system, flexible seating arrangement, and innovative design that maximizes cabin space add up a well-balanced vehicle for everyday needs. If drivers want more luxury, off-road capability, or sporty looks out of their 2021 Trax, they can select from a host of available packages to customize their selection. We recommend the sophisticated look at the Midnight edition with its gloss black wheels and darkened exterior.
#2 – 2021 Bolt EV
Since when has Chevy been environmentally focused? Quite a while, actually. The all-electric Bolt EV is the culmination of Chevy’s nearly 60 years of research in electric vehicles, and the 2021 edition is the best one yet. With a maximum range of a whopping 259 miles on a single charge, this compact car is designed to offer an innovative alternative to fuel-burning engines without the insane price tag of other electric vehicles.
You don’t sacrifice performance when you go green, either. The 2021 Bolt EV can tear from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just over 6 seconds, thanks to its 200 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of instant torque. And with its weight carried low in the vehicle, it offers surprisingly good handling as well. It’s the perfect choice for drivers who want both a green vehicle at an affordable price and reliable performance for everyday drives.
The new Bolt EV has a nearly futuristic interior to match its electric powertrain, too. Take a look at its standard 10.2-inch tablet display screen, which streams audio, internet, detailed vehicle data, and more. Cycle through displays, connect a smartphone, and interact with the vehicle from anywhere with the myChevrolet smartphone app. Drivers who feel hesitant to transform their routine with a wholly different vehicle may be happy to learn that Chevy has a Going Electric guide right on their website, which details how and where to charge the vehicle, as well as a breakdown of just how easy it is to make the switch.
#3 – 2021 Spark
Chevy advertises the subcompact 2021 Spark with bright, bold, and electric colors, including a two-tone roof and accent mirrors. Clearly, the Spark is aimed at a younger driver, although anyone young at heart could appreciate the Spark’s innovative styling and excellent driving performance.
It’s designed to handle like a dream with tight cornering, a compact design to ease crowded city driving and parking, as well as available manual and automatic transmission options. Its short wheelbase allows for sharp maneuvering, and the steering is superbly responsive. Even better, the Spark is a fuel-efficient hatchback that achieves up to 30 MPG in the city and 38 MPG on the highway – competitive figures for a gas-engine vehicle.
You can customize the interior of the Spark with color-coordinated accent stripes and a variety of infotainment features like a Wi-Fi hotspot and real-time navigation. Another appeal to young drivers – or at least their parents – is the 2021 Spark’s excellent built-in safety features, including a whopping ten airbags in the base model, active safety technology like a rear camera, and high-strength steel construction that makes this vehicle hardier than it looks.
#4 – 2021 Colorado
In a brand famous for its variety of full-size Silverado trucks, as well as a huge selection of ultra-capable commercial models, there’s the other Chevy pickup: the Colorado. While it’s still as tough as you’d expect from a Chevy product, capable of handling up to 7,700 pounds of trailering and 1,510 pounds of payload, the Silverado is still more potent than the Colorado. But while Chevy’s midsize option may not be a do-everything truck, it is a go-anywhere truck – a perfect feature for ranchers, farmers, outdoors enthusiasts, and anyone partial to its more youthful, adventurous design.
The 2021 Colorado is extremely durable and off-road capable thanks to features like its fully boxed frame, 4-wheel disc brakes with Duralife rotors, and the available ZR2 package. This off-road upgrade adds superpowered suspension, a rear electronic locking differential, extra ground clearance, skid plates, and even rock sliders so the 2021 Colorado can explore just about any terrain with ease.
Its luxurious cabin is more relaxing than that of the Silverado lineup, too, thanks to its noise-canceling interior, available Bose sound system, available leather-wrapped seats that can heat or cool for comfort, and ample infotainment touchscreen in the center console. Meanwhile, the exterior look of the 2021 Colorado is largely dependent on which trim you select, as each is surprisingly unique and specific. While the ZR2 trim appears sporty and off-road-ready, with a more aggressive front-end design, the LT edition looks more like a powerful work truck with a boxier, heftier silhouette.
Do Chevy’s Underdogs Deserve More Attention?
The Trax, Bolt EV, Spark, and Colorado represent some of Chevy’s most overlooked products, even if they do offer uniquely appealing features. But are they deservedly overshadowed by Chevy’s rockstar models like the Equinox and Silverado? It’s hard to gauge which came first: the brand recognition of Chevy’s most popular vehicles or their widespread popularity. While we think that the vehicles in this publication deserve a closer look, they’re certainly overshadowed by the more recognizable models in their lineup.
Another concern is that Chevy’s lineup has noticeably shrunk, what with the discontinuation of the Sonic as of 2020 and the loss of the Cruze and Avalanche a few years prior. However, Chevrolet does still offer one of the most diverse lineups of any auto brand, from the compact and energy-saving Bolt EV to the bulky and hardy diesel Silverado HD. If anything, leaving some vehicles behind just communicates Chevrolet’s commitment to making its best vehicles even better. We, for one, think that the above vehicles aren’t less popular because they’re inferior; rather, they’re catered to specific tastes and may well be the perfect car for drivers with more unique needs.
