2026 Chevy Trax vs. Trailblazer: Which Small SUV Fits Bastrop Commuters?

That letter shows up about six months out. Your lease is ending, here are your options, please call us. Most people set it on the kitchen counter and forget about it until there are eight weeks left. Then the scramble starts. It doesn't have to go that way. Lease-end is one of the most predictable things in car ownership, and if you understand the moving parts ahead of time, you get to make the call instead of reacting to a deadline. Here's how a Chevy lease return actually works around Bastrop, what it costs, and where people leave money on the table. What happens when your Chevy lease ends? When a Chevrolet lease reaches its final month, you owe the lender the vehicle or the buyout price. That's the whole deal in one sentence. You return the Equinox, Silverado, Traverse or Blazer to a Chevrolet dealer, the lender inspects it, and any charges for excess mileage, excess wear, or a disposition fee get billed after the fact. If you'd rather keep it, you pay the residual value listed in your original contract and the car is yours. Nothing about that process is a surprise. Every number you need is printed in the lease agreement you signed. Pull it out of the glovebox before you do anything else. Your three options at lease end Option What it means Makes sense when Return it Hand over the keys, pay any end-of-term charges, walk away You're over on miles, the car has real wear, or you're done with payments for a while Buy it Pay the residual value in your contract, finance it or pay cash The car is worth more than the residual, or you're way over the mileage allowance Trade and upgrade Roll into a new Chevy, dealer settles the lease with the lender You want a newer vehicle and want any equity applied to the next one Option three is the one most Bastrop drivers end up choosing, and it's the one that hides the most upside. More on that in a second. Can a leased vehicle have equity? Yes, and it's real money Here's the part dealerships don't shout about. Your residual value was set three years ago by a lender guessing what the truck would be worth today. Guesses miss. If your 2023 Silverado is worth $34,000 on the open market and your buyout is $30,500, that $3,500 gap belongs to you, not to the bank. You capture it by trading, not by turning the keys in at the counter. If you hand back a vehicle with equity, that value evaporates. Silverado, Colorado and Tahoe leases in Central Texas have run positive more often than not, because used trucks and full-size SUVs hold up well here. Nobody around Cedar Creek or Red Rock is short on demand for a clean used pickup. Start with the Value Your Trade tool to get a number on your leased vehicle, then compare it against the buyout figure on your contract. Two minutes of math. It can be worth a few thousand dollars. What counts as normal wear and tear? Lenders publish wear guidelines, and GM Financial's are reasonable compared to most. Small door dings, light scratches you can't catch a fingernail in, and interior scuffs from normal use generally pass. What gets charged is damage a reasonable person would call damage. Tires: tread has to meet the minimum depth in your guidelines and all four should be a matching, approved size. Mismatched replacements from a roadside emergency in Smithville can flag. Glass: chips and cracks in the windshield usually get billed. A rock off Highway 71 is the most common cause we see. Body damage: dents beyond the published size limit, panel damage, and any repair with mismatched paint. Interior: burns, tears, stains that won't come out, missing third-row headrests or cargo covers. Missing items: the second key fob, wheel locks and the lock key, factory floor mats, charge cords on an EV. That second key fob is the sneakiest charge on the list. Replacing one after the fact costs a lot more than finding it in a junk drawer. What if I'm over on mileage? Most Chevrolet leases run 10,000, 12,000 or 15,000 miles a year, and per-mile overage charges are spelled out in the contract. Commuters running Bastrop to Austin daily blow through a 10,000-mile allowance without trying. Sixty miles round trip, five days a week, and you're at 15,000 before you've driven anywhere fun. If you're going to finish 8,000 miles over, do the multiplication now. Sometimes the overage bill is bigger than the gap between your buyout and the vehicle's market value, which means buying the car outright or trading it is the cheaper path. Excess mileage charges do not apply if you purchase the vehicle. That's the single most useful fact in this article for high-mileage drivers. What fees should I expect? Two show up most often. A disposition fee is charged when you return the vehicle and don't buy or lease another one from the same lender, and it covers reconditioning and resale prep. Your contract lists the exact amount. In many cases that fee is waived when you lease or finance another Chevrolet through the same lender, which is worth asking about directly. The second is excess wear and mileage, billed after the inspection. You'll also be responsible for any unpaid property tax, tolls or tickets. Central Texas toll roads have a way of catching up with people. When should I start the lease return process? Ninety days out is the sweet spot. Here's a simple timeline that works. 90 days: Pull the contract. Note your residual, mileage allowance, current odometer and disposition fee. Get a trade value. 60 days: Schedule the complimentary pre-inspection with the lender. You'll get a written report of anything that would be charged. 45 days: Fix what's cheap to fix. Windshield chips, a set of tires, a paintless dent repair. Independent repair is usually less than the lender's charge. 30 days: Decide. Return, buy, or trade. Line up financing so nothing stalls. Final week: Gather both keys, the owner's manual, floor mats, wheel lock key and any accessories that came with it. Can I turn in my Chevy lease early? Often, yes. Pull-ahead programs let you end a lease a few months early with the remaining payments waived, and they come and go depending on inventory and the model you're in. If a new Equinox or Trax is sitting on the lot and the manufacturer wants to move it, the incentive to get you out of your current lease early can be significant. Ask what's running the month you're shopping, because these programs change constantly. Can I return my lease to Covert Chevy Bastrop if I leased somewhere else? If you leased a Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac through GM Financial, you can generally return it to any franchised dealer for that brand. So yes, a Chevy leased in Austin, Round Rock or San Marcos can come back to us here in Bastrop. Call ahead so we can have the paperwork ready and get the inspection scheduled. Leases from other manufacturers usually need to go back to their own brand's dealer, though we can still buy the vehicle from you outright in many cases. Lining up your next Chevy Most people returning a lease already know what they want next. Browse the New Inventory before you come in so you're comparing real stock numbers and not brochure trims. Run the figures through the Payment Calculator with your equity applied as a down payment and see how the monthly number moves. If you'd rather have the approval handled before you walk in, the Finance Application takes a few minutes and our Finance Center team works with a full slate of lenders, including credit unions plenty of Bastrop County folks already bank with. Bring these when you return the vehicle Both key fobs Owner's manual and any accessory manuals Factory floor mats and cargo cover Wheel lock key Charging cord, if you leased an EV Your lease agreement and current mileage Lease-end is not a trap. It's just a deadline with paperwork attached, and the people who handle it early almost always come out ahead of the people who wait for the final notice. Bring us your Chevy, whether you leased it here or somewhere up I-35, and we'll walk the numbers with you side by side. Stop by Covert Chevy Bastrop, or give us a call to schedule your lease return appointment and see what your current vehicle is worth today.

The Equinox is Chevrolet's best-selling SUV, and the 2027 model year brings a short list of changes that punch above their weight. No new sheet metal this year, but the updates under the surface address two of the most common complaints buyers had about the fourth-generation model. Here is what is new for 2027, what it costs, and how it stacks up against the 2026 models on our lot in Bastrop right now. The CVT Is Gone This is the big one. For the 2025 and 2026 model years, front-wheel drive Equinox models used a continuously variable transmission while all-wheel drive models got a traditional eight-speed automatic. For 2027, the CVT is retired and the eight-speed automatic is standard across every configuration. That also simplifies the shopping process. You no longer have to check which transmission comes attached to the drivetrain you want, because the answer is the same on every trim and every configuration on the lot. Plenty of shoppers cross a CVT off their list on principle, fairly or not. If that was your hesitation, the 2027 Equinox removes it entirely. Front-Wheel Drive Towing Nearly Doubles The transmission change brings a real capability benefit. Front-wheel drive Equinox models previously topped out at 800 pounds of towing, which is among the lowest ratings in the compact SUV segment. For 2027, FWD models move up to 1,500 pounds, matching the all-wheel drive rating. Fifteen hundred pounds covers a small utility trailer, a pair of jet skis on a light trailer, or a load of mulch and fencing from a Bastrop supply run. It is not a towing vehicle, but it is now genuinely useful instead of nearly useless. 2027 Equinox Pricing Chevrolet's pricing for the 2027 Equinox starts at $30,995 for LT front-wheel drive and $32,995 for LT all-wheel drive. The Activ and RS trims are both $35,895 with front-wheel drive and $37,895 with all-wheel drive. All figures include the $1,995 destination charge. Compared to 2026, that is a $200 increase on LT and $300 on Activ and RS. Modest, especially given the transmission upgrade that came with it. Worth noting that all-wheel drive carries a $2,000 premium at every trim level, which is the same walk as last year. If you are choosing between a higher trim with front-wheel drive and a lower trim with all-wheel drive, that number is the one to work from. Other Updates The rest of the 2027 changes are smaller in scope, but a few of them are the kind of thing you notice on a walkaround or in the first week of ownership. A new vehicle surveillance feature that gives owners added peace of mind when the Equinox is parked Cacti Green is discontinued, replaced by a new color called Autumn Harvest Metallic RS models get a subtle seat trim revision The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder carries over across the lineup 2026 or 2027: Which One Fits You If you tow anything at all with front-wheel drive, or the CVT was a dealbreaker for you, ask our team about 2027 availability. Those changes are aimed directly at you, and we can tell you exactly what is on the ground and what is in transit. If neither applies, the 2026 Equinox is the smarter buy right now. It is the same vehicle to look at, sit in, and drive, and outgoing model year inventory typically carries stronger incentives than a fresh model year does. That gap is usually worth more than $200 to $300 in price difference. What the Eight-Speed Actually Changes Retiring the CVT is not only about reputation. A conventional eight-speed behaves differently in the situations Central Texas drivers meet most: merging onto Highway 71 at speed, holding a gear on a grade with the air conditioning working hard, and pulling a small trailer without the engine droning at a fixed pitch. It is also the change that makes the towing improvement possible. The transmission is the reason the number moved, not a separate upgrade alongside it. Equinox, Trax, or Trailblazer These three overlap enough that people cross-shop them on our lot most weeks, and the honest split is size rather than price. Trax is front-wheel drive only, and the value pick for a paved commute Trailblazer adds available all-wheel drive in a slightly taller shape Equinox is the larger vehicle, with more rear seat and cargo room and, for 2027, the towing rating to match If you carry adults in the back regularly, or you want the 1,500 pound rating, the Equinox is the one. If the vehicle spends its life on Highway 71 with one or two people in it, the smaller pair will save you money without costing you anything you use. Living With One in Central Texas Two things worth specifying here for our climate. Ventilated front seats matter more than the option sheet suggests if you park outside all day, and remote start is close to essential from June through September. Both are worth checking against the trim you are considering rather than assuming. Window tint and a sunshade are the cheap follow-ups, and they make a bigger difference on a west-facing driveway than most people expect. If your commute runs east and west on Highway 71, the sun visors and the quality of the glass are things to pay attention to on the test drive. Frequently Asked Questions Is the 2027 Equinox available in Bastrop now? Availability depends on allocation and trim. Contact our sales team for current on-the-ground inventory and what is in transit. Is there an Equinox hybrid coming? A refresh and a hybrid are expected further out in the model cycle, not for 2027. Nothing is confirmed at this point. What engine does the 2027 Equinox use? A turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder, standard on all trims and both drivetrains. Does the 2027 Equinox tow enough for a small utility trailer? Properly equipped, 1,500 pounds on either drivetrain. That covers a small utility trailer, a pair of jet skis on a light trailer, or a load of mulch and fencing. It is not a substitute for a truck. What is the difference between the Activ and RS trims? Both sit at the same price. Activ leans toward a rugged appearance package, RS toward a sportier blacked-out look. Mechanically they are the same vehicle, so pick on appearance and equipment rather than capability. Shop Equinox at Covert Chevrolet Bastrop We serve Equinox shoppers throughout Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville, Lockhart, Cedar Creek, and the Austin metro. View new Equinox inventory or contact us to schedule a test drive and compare trims side by side.

Chevrolet pulled the cover off the next-generation 2027 Silverado 1500 in June, and it is the biggest change to the half-ton truck in years. This is not a refresh with a new grille. It is a ground-up redesign covering the exterior, the interior, the powertrains, and the trim structure. If you are a truck buyer in Bastrop, Elgin, Lockhart, or anywhere in Bastrop County, here is what actually changed and how to think about timing your purchase. A Completely New Look The 2027 Silverado gets an all-new exterior with a broader stance, a stronger front end, and new LED headlights and taillights. Wheel opening moldings, which used to be a ZR2 exclusive, now appear across the lineup. Custom trims and above get standard dual exhaust for a more finished appearance. Chevrolet's design team framed the goal as making the truck look stronger and more modern while keeping the work-ready character that Silverado buyers expect. In person, the changes read clearly at a distance, which matters when you are the one paying for a new truck. It also matters at trade-in time, because a design people can identify as the current truck tends to hold attention on a used lot. New V8 Engines This is the headline for a lot of buyers. The 2027 Silverado 1500 introduces next-generation 5.7L and 6.6L V8 engines, offered alongside the Duramax 3.0L turbo-diesel. Chevrolet is positioning this as the most capable and refined Silverado 1500 powertrain lineup it has built, with improved power and torque over the outgoing engines. For Central Texas, that combination is well matched. The diesel remains the choice for high-mileage highway towing, and the new V8s serve buyers who want traditional gas truck power without the diesel maintenance profile. If your towing is occasional — a bass boat, a utility trailer, a couple of round bales — the gas V8s are the simpler ownership story. If you are pulling a loaded gooseneck to Houston and back every week, the diesel earns its cost. A Much Bigger Screen, Standard Every 2027 Silverado 1500 gets a 16.3-inch center display and a 12.2-inch driver information display as standard equipment. That is a significant change, because the previous generation had two different dash setups depending on trim. Now the entry-level work truck gets the same screen hardware as the loaded models, which is genuinely unusual in this segment and a real win for fleet and contractor buyers. ZR2 and High Country add an 11.5-inch front passenger screen paired with a head-up display and a rear camera mirror. Dual wireless phone chargers and a reconfigurable Multi-Flex center console are also available. Seven Trims, and LT Is Gone Chevrolet simplified the lineup into seven models: WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, Silverado, Trail Boss, ZR2, and High Country. The notable change is that "Silverado" is now a trim name, replacing what buyers previously knew as LT. That is the mid-range volume trim, so if you have been shopping LT trucks, that is the one to look at. WT remains the work-focused value model, and there are now three lifted off-road trims in the lineup: Custom Trail Boss, Trail Boss, and ZR2. That spread gives you an off-road truck at three different price points instead of forcing an all-or-nothing jump to the top of the range. When Can You Buy One? The 2027 Silverado is expected to go on sale later this year, with pricing announced closer to launch. Early allocation is typically limited, so getting on our reservation list now is what separates first-wave delivery from shopping picked-over inventory months down the road. Redesign years in particular tend to see the popular trims and color combinations spoken for well before trucks reach the lot. Two Good Moves Available Today You have two solid paths, and both start with a conversation now. Reserve a 2027. If the new design, the new V8s, and the standard big-screen interior are what you want, get your build specified and on our allocation list. Trucks are matched to reservations first. Buy a 2026 today. The 2026 Silverado is a proven, highly capable truck, it is on the ground right now, and model year end is historically the strongest incentive window of the year. If you need a truck working for you this month, this is the value play. What to Settle Before You Reserve Early allocation is matched to reservations, so the specification you name now is the truck you take delivery of. Four decisions do most of the work, and they are worth thinking through before you are sitting at a desk: Cab and bed. Crew cab with the short bed is the volume choice, but if you carry sheet goods or run a gooseneck, the longer bed changes what the truck can do Powertrain. One of the new V8s for traditional gas truck power, or the Duramax 3.0L turbo-diesel for high annual towing miles Trim. WT and Custom for work, Silverado for the volume mid-range, Trail Boss and ZR2 for off pavement, High Country for the loaded interior Rear axle ratio. It directly changes your tow rating, and it is the box people most often skip Bring us the heaviest thing you tow and how often you tow it. That single answer settles the powertrain and the axle at the same time, and it stops you paying for capability you will not use. Frequently Asked Questions When was the 2027 Silverado revealed? Chevrolet introduced the next-generation 2027 Silverado 1500 in mid-June 2026, with sales expected to begin later in the year. Is there a Silverado plug-in hybrid coming? Chevrolet did not announce a Silverado PHEV alongside the 2027 reveal. Nothing is confirmed for the 2027 model year. How do I reserve a 2027 Silverado in Bastrop? Contact our sales team and we will add you to the interest list with your preferred trim, cab, bed, and powertrain so we can match you to incoming allocation. There is no cost to be on the list, and the earlier your build is specified, the better your odds on first-wave trucks. Will my current accessories fit the redesigned truck? Bed and cab dimensions change with a ground-up redesign, so tonneau covers, bed racks, and some hitch accessories may not carry over. Our parts department can check a specific item against the new specification. Get on the 2027 Silverado List Covert Chevrolet Bastrop serves truck buyers across Bastrop, Smithville, Elgin, Lockhart, Cedar Creek, Paige, and the Austin area. Contact our team to reserve your spot, shop current Silverado inventory, or see this month's manager's specials while incentives are strong.