Three Great Chevy Models to Buy Used for Your Commute

We’re not in the era of flying cars, and self-driving cars are in their infancy, so we make do with what we have—and what we have is a list of some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles you should keep your eye on if you’re a commuter looking for a great new ride from a trusted used car dealer. Keep reading because we’ll help you get a better understanding of what you’ll expect to find once you visit us, with a bolstering selection of Chevy favorites. Let’s begin! 

The Chevy Trax

The subcompact Trax is one of the best SUVs for commuters because it’s affordable, fuel-efficient, and equipped with many fantastic features. We recommend beginning your journey with the 2015 Trax onward. Why? The 2015-2020 Trax models have the same powertrain: a turbocharged 1.4L I-4 engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, outputting 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. These models are available in Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) and All-Wheel Drive (AWD). Most impressive is its fuel efficiency, with 26 MPG in the city, 31 MPG on the highway, and 28 MPG combined with FWD. This is slightly reduced with AWD, where ratings are 25 MPG in the city, 30 MPG on the highway, and 27 MPG combined.

Efficiency isn’t the only reason why you should buy a particular vehicle, and the Trax leads by example. Even stretching back to the 2015 model reveals impressive tech. For example, 2015-2022 Trax models have a standard 7-inch touchscreen and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were introduced with the 2017 model, and these are great features for commuters because you’ll have access to your favorite media and navigation apps, as well as voice-activated hands-free calling and texting. 

Tech is undeniably one of the Trax’s strong suits, which is all the more impressive when you consider its price when stacked against the competition. However, these Trax models also understand comfort. You can opt for power-adjustable seats, with some pre-owned models also including high-quality leatherette instead of cloth. The 2017 Trax did more than introduce new connectivity and entertainment features because it also introduced heated seats and a heated steering wheel to keep you warm during chilly winter days. 

The Chevy Equinox

The compact Equinox is yet another Chevy SUV that’s perfect for commuters. We believe that some model years are better suited to the task than others, so you should consider beginning your shopping by looking at the 2018 model or later. Why? Chevy put the Equinox on a diet following the 2017 model’s release by removing the 2.4L I-4 and 3.6L V6 engines in favor of smaller, turbocharged ones. For 2018 models, these include gasoline-powered 1.5L and 2.0L turbocharged I-4 engines and even a 1.6L turbocharged diesel I-4, resulting in far greater efficiency and, by extension, removing hundreds of pounds of weight compared to its predecessors. 

Let’s look deeper into the 2018 Equinox’s three powertrains, starting with the standard turbocharged 1.5L I-4 engine, which outputs 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque, earning EPA-estimated ratings of 26 MPG in the city, 32 MPG on the highway, and 28 MPG combined with FWD. This engine and configuration would be the only one to remain for the 2021 model, and it would gain 5 hp with the 2023 model. The stronger gas engine (the turbocharged 2.0L I-4 engine) outputs 252 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, earning EPA-estimated ratings of 22 MPG in the city, 29 MPG on the highway, and 25 MPG combined with FWD in the 2018 model. 

2018 Equinox models with the turbocharged 2.0L I-4 engine and AWD, despite having slightly lower fuel economy ratings than FWD models, have a larger estimated 374-mile travel range with a full tank of gas instead of 368 miles with FWD. This is because the AWD models with this engine have a 15.6-gal tank instead of a 14.7-gal one. It’s also worth noting that this engine is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission instead of the 6-speed automatic that’s with the two engines. 

If you want the best fuel efficiency from the 2018 and 2019 Equinox, you should look for the 1.6L turbocharged diesel I-4 engine; it produces 136 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque, with its claim to fame, of course, being its reliance on diesel instead of gasoline. The results speak for themselves, earning 28 MPG in the city and 32 MPG combined with FWD and AWD, with the former also getting 39 MPG on the highway to the latter’s 38 MPG. With full tanks (and the same tank size difference between FWD and AWD models), an AWD diesel Equinox can travel an estimated 499 miles before reaching empty; FWD models have an estimated 477-mile travel range that still bests anything else we’ve discussed today. 

You can tell that the Equinox and Trax are cut from the same cloth because commuter-friendly tech like robust infotainment centers with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ultimately arrived around the same time, with one year separating the two. (The Equinox received Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with the 2016 model, a year before the Trax.) However, not every 2016 Equinox has the features built in, so if these are crucial to your daily commuting or you’d simply enjoy having these features, make sure it’s installed on whichever model you buy. 

The Chevy Malibu 

The Malibu deserves a mention because it’s a great sedan despite being discontinued after the 2025 model year. With no new Malibu models on the horizon, barring the possibility of an electric variant someday, commuters looking for a Chevy sedan will have no choice but to look to the used market to get what they’re looking for. And since the Malibu has been around for decades, it’s worth narrowing your scope down to one generation—and we recommend the ninth generation. 

This generation began with the launch of the 2016 Malibu. It was also the last generation, as no replacement came before this sedan’s discontinuation. This Malibu generation spans nine model years, which was the most released for a single generation, with the overall average being around six years. However, the 2016 Malibu isn’t identical to the 2025 one, and yet you can expect particular features to appear in every model, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. (Though these features weren’t standard until the 2020 model, so keep that in mind.)

2016-2019 Malibus are worth shopping for if fuel efficiency is your primary goal because they have an available hybrid powertrain. This is a 1.8L I-4 engine paired with two electric motors and a Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission (CVT). Using a 2019 model for reference, the Malibu with its hybrid powertrain earns impressive EPA-estimated ratings of 49 MPG in the city, 43 MPG on the highway, and 46 MPG combined, with an estimated 598-mile travel range on a full tank of gas. Commuting with this Malibu means even fewer trips to the gas station, saving you time and money.

The ninth-gen Malibu’s turbocharged 2.0L I-4 engine provides strong performance, and it retained its 9-speed automatic transmission between 2017 and 2022. The 2019 iteration produced 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, earning efficiency ratings of 22 MPG in the city, 32 MPG on the highway, and 26 MPG combined, with up to a 411-mile travel range. This larger engine was dropped in favor of the standard turbocharged 1.5L I-4 engine, which was first introduced in 2017; it became the sole option, starting with the 2023 model. It gets better fuel efficiency and makes the Malibu a generally lighter vehicle because it’s smaller. It had a 6-speed automatic transmission between 2016 and 2018, and 2019 swapped it out for an even better 9-speed automatic transmission. Commuters will undoubtedly save money with this engine, with its efficiency ratings of 29 MPG in the city, 36 MPG on the highway, and 32 MPG combined.  

Three Fantastic Choices, So Which Should You Buy?

We’ve discussed three fantastic pre-owned Chevy models that are perfect for commuters, but which one should you buy? We’re fans of all three, but we understand that everyone has different wants and needs. If you don’t want an SUV, the Malibu is a better option, whereas the Trax and Equinox are both fantastic options for commuters who want more interior space at great value. The Trax is a must-see for budget-minded shoppers, while the Equinox is a slightly more powerful option. Whatever you’re looking for, we can help you take it home.

Posted in Used Car Dealer | No Comments »