The Five Best Chevy Models for Jersey Village Drivers to Buy Used

At last, you’re shopping for your first vehicle, and you likely couldn’t be more excited and optimistic. Buying your first car is a milestone in life, and you understandably don’t want to make the wrong decision for such an important moment. To help you, we’ve put together a list of the top five used Chevy vehicles driven by Jersey Village residents, in the hopes that it may point you toward the perfect first vehicle. Take this knowledge with you when you visit us, your go-to Chevy dealer near Jersey Village.

#1. The Chevy Trax

We’re starting with the Chevy Trax for our list of the top five used Chevy models. The Trax has been on the market for around a decade, with the 2015 Trax being the first in America. The Trax is a subcompact SUV that has long been touted as the most cost-effective vehicle in Chevy’s lineup. That’s regarding new cars, so how does the Trax hold up against its used brethren and the wide range of competition from the likes of Honda, Kia, and Mazda, among others? It holds up very well.

Ultimately, the Trax isn’t an old vehicle, given it launched around ten years ago. If you buy the first Trax model ever released, you’re getting a subcompact SUV with a turbocharged 1.4L I-4 engine that outputs 138 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. The most recent Trax uses a turbocharged 1.2L I-3 engine that outputs a similar 137 hp. Something that has changed over the years is cargo space, with 2015 through 2022 models offering 48.4 cu.ft. of space before Chevy gave the Trax a year off, with the 2024 model reintroducing the car with 54.1 cu.ft. of cargo space.

The Trax is an efficient SUV that’s perfect for first-time drivers. Your first vehicle shouldn’t be a gas guzzler, and buying a pre-owned Trax as your first car means you can commute to your job in Houston or take your dog to the park while saving money. If you’re shopping for a pre-owned Trax, consider starting with a 2017 model for added tech like an infotainment center, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, although a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot has been available since day one.

#2. The Chevy Trailblazer

The Chevy Trailblazer is an excellent pre-owned vehicle for first-time car shoppers. Like the Trax, the Trailblazer is a subcompact SUV. However, if you stack any Trailblazer and Trax against one another from the same model year, the Trailblazer is likely the pricier one. After all, that’s how you’d find it in Chevy’s lineup if you theoretically wanted a brand-new model, so those shopping for a pre-owned Trailblazer—especially if it’s your first vehicle—are likely willing to spend a bit more and get a decent performance increase. If this sounds like you, you’ll be pleased to know a pre-owned Trailblazer will give you a great driving experience.

When someone mentions the Trailblazer, it doesn’t always mean they’re referring to the subcompact SUV currently in Chevy’s lineup. The Trailblazer once existed as a midsize SUV, but these models have been discontinued for the better half of 15 years. In 2020, the Trailblazer was relaunched as the subcompact SUV you’d find today. This leads us to the primary reason why the Trailblazer is such an excellent purchase for first-time buyers: the oldest pre-owned model is from the current decade, which could regularly pose a problem for first-time buyers if it weren’t for the cost-effective nature of the Trailblazer. Combined with depreciation, a 2021 Trailblazer costs a fraction of what it costs upon launch.

A 2021 Trailblazer is a great place to start your shopping. The 2021 Trailblazer comes standard with a turbocharged 1.2L I-3 engine like the one in the Trax, but an available turbocharged 1.3L I-3 engine creates 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque, and AWD is available for this powertrain. The 2021 Trailblazer has 25.3 and 54.4 cu.ft. of space, meaning pre-owned Trailblazer models tend to be the more spacious subcompact SUV.

#3. The Chevy Equinox

The Chevy Equinox is the priciest SUV we’ll mention today, but there’s a good reason behind this. The Equinox is the last SUV in its price range within Chevy’s lineup because the following model—the Blazer—has a surmountable price hike over the Equinox. For first-time buyers, the Equinox is perfect for those looking to stretch their wallets to enhance their lives’ versatility.

One of the reasons the Equinox increases your versatility is that it’s a compact SUV rather than a subcompact like the Trax and Trailblazer, meaning you can expect excellent performance and cargo space for the price. It also helps that the Equinox is a regularly fuel-efficient ride, with many earlier models featuring performant yet practical I-4 and V6 engines, and models from 2018 onward have a standard turbocharged engine.

If you purchase an Equinox from 2018, your SUV will output 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to EPA-estimated ratings of 26 MPG in the city, 32 MPG on the highway, and 28 MPG combined, the base 2018 Equinox is perfect for those trying to get around town, whether you’re attending classes at Lone Star College or are dropping your younger siblings off at Arnold Middle School, a pre-owned Equinox is the way to go.

#4. The Chevy Malibu

First-time shoppers in Jersey Village should consider the Malibu if they want a sedan. The Malibu is the perfect model if you’re shopping for your first car because it’s a popular, reliable, and fuel-efficient sedan with a long history dating back to the 1960s. The Malibu as it’s known today, however, was released in the late 1990s, and those shopping for a Chevy sedan are given the Malibu as the sole choice. Used Malibus are a clever way to save money on one of America’s favorite sedans, and it can easily become your favorite within minutes of driving.

When shopping for a pre-owned Malibu, you should start with the 2016 models because Malibus released from then onward are the most comparable to the newest on the market. The 2016 Malibu loses some horsepower over its predecessor, but it’s a more fuel-efficient vehicle thanks to the 2.5L I-4 engine in the 2015 model being replaced by a turbocharged 1.5L I-4. As a first-time shopper, the extra fuel efficiency is helpful if you live in Jersey Village, and you’ll be set for your media thanks to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto first appearing in the 2016 Malibu.

#5. The Chevy Colorado

The Chevy Colorado is the ideal pickup truck for first-time shoppers. The Colorado is a midsize model, which makes it the smallest of Chevy’s truck lineup when placed against its larger Silverado siblings. If you’re shopping for your first vehicle and you’ve always wanted to drive a pickup truck, buying a pre-owned model will give you a better first experience than many others. The Chevy Colorado is a comfortable ride and you’ll have enough towing power to kickstart a new chapter of your hobby. The excellent cargo space makes you the go-to driver for camping trips with your friends, or you can host your first tailgating party at an Astros game or before attending a Rockets game.

Many pre-owned Colorados fit the bill for first-time ownership. The Colorado has been a part of Chevy’s lineup for around 20 years, and for a first-time truck owner, there’s no bad model year to consider. However, if your budget allows for more modern features and performance, the latter half of the second-generation Colorados is where you should look. Our recommendation begins with the 2016 Colorado for reasons similar to those mentioned with our Malibu recommendation, including Apple CarPlay integration.

A model like the 2016 Colorado can be found with one of three powertrains—a standard I-4, a turbo-diesel engine for excellent fuel efficiency, and a 3.6L V6 creating 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. If your wallet deems a 2016 model unfeasible, you can still get excellent performance out of an even older Colorado, like the 2012 Colorado, which can be found with a 5.3L V8 outputting 300 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. Compared to the newer models, this V8 highlights how far fuel efficiency has come since then, but there’s no denying it has more than enough performance for first-time shoppers.

A Moment to Remember

There’s a first time for everything, and buying a vehicle is no exception. Buying your first car is a right of passage between yourself and freedom—unlike anything you’ve experienced. While many who have owned their vehicles may find the simple act of choosing when you go to the store novel and unexciting, buying your first car is the first time you’re given the ability to go where you please and whenever you choose. You’re in for a treat, and we hope our selection of the top five pre-owned Chevy vehicles for first-time buyers in Jersey Village has helped guide you in the right direction. Happy driving, and we’ll see you on the road!