2012 Chevy Sonic Review

2012 Chevy Sonic Review

Bruce Sheridan

Overview

The 2012 Chevy Sonic is a completely new subcompact car for Chevrolet, and can claim that it is the only vehicle in its class that is made in the United States, at the GM plant in Lake Orion, Michigan. It seems to have done a lot of things well in a segment that Chevy has not really been competitive in. Chevy has gone through quite a few small cars in its time, and few of them were really ever noteworthy, especially the most recent outgoing vehicle, the Chevy Aveo. That is all ancient history now for Chevy, and the Sonic has a new name, new design, new attitude and new everything that is helping it establish itself as one of the premier choices for car deals on affordable vehicles.

The Sonic handles and performs excellently, and is exceptionally roomy for a subcompact car. It is also one of the best looking vehicles in its segment, and is more than just a pretty face. While the gas mileage and standard equipment of the base model is a little behind the competition, the Sonic has affordable higher trims that can offer most small car buyers everything they want and more. If you need a cheap and efficient car that you will actually enjoy driving, you need to check out the 2012 Chevy Sonic.

[CTA1]

2012 Chevy Sonic

Starting MSRP	Max City / Hwy MPG
$13,865	29 / 40

Pros	Cons
Well balanced car	Lower base model mpg
Excellent performance	Less standard technology
Great handling
Made in America

Trims

The 2012 Chevy Sonic comes in either the sedan or 4 door hatchback styles. There are three different trim levels for both styles, the base LS that starts at $13,865, the mid level LT starts at $15,065, and the premium LTZ trim starts at $16,665. The base LS does not come with many luxury or technology amenities, and the price spread is not a huge difference to get access to everything the Sonic has to offer, including the more capable and fuel efficient turbo 1.4-liter engine on the higher trims.

Performance

The Sonic gets the same kind of 4 cylinder engines as its big brother Cruze, which starts with the 1.8-liter engine that boasts 138 horsepower and 125 lb/ft or torque power. This engine can come with the standard 5 speed manual transmission and the 6 speed automatic transmission option. The manual 1.8-liter engine gets an EPA estimated 26 city / 35 hwy / 29 combined mpg and the automatic gets 25 city / 35 hwy / 28 combined mpg. This is a little bit short of some of the competition when it comes to standard models, namely the Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Accent. For the LT and LTZ trims, you can get the $700 option of the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, which bumps the mpg of the Sonic to 29 city / 40 hwy mpg and 138 horsepower and an impressive 148 lb/ft of torque. The 6 speed manual is the only available transmission for the turbo engine.

Interior / Exterior

The 2012 Chevy Sonic has gathered some praise for its roomy interior, especially for the more accommodating rear seat. While its total interior area space, trunk space and hatchback space are not quite as big as some of the competitors, the Sonic is more than spacious and comfortable enough for even the biggest passengers. There is no mistaking this car when you see it, with both the sedan and hatchback models. This is a vehicle that carries distinct characteristics of a Chevy car, and it lets you know it is a Chevy, which is not a bad thing. It is definitely one of the most refined and best looking subcompact cars.

Features

Standard features are a category where the Sonic does not quite equal the competition, but Chevy has made some strides to bring drivers more of what they want. Every Sonic from the LS up comes standard with OnStar, air conditioning, power locks, keyless entry, AM / FM radio, an auxiliary jack, telescoping adjustable steering wheel, and alloy wheels. With the higher LT trim, you get more optional features like XM satellite radio with a 6 speaker sound system, among others. The LTZ trim has an optional Connectivity Package which comes with even more features, including steering wheel audio controls and a USB port. A built in navigation system is not currently available as a feature for any trim or package.

Safety

You can not get any safer when it comes to subcompact cars than the 2012 Chevy Sonic. It received perfect scores from the government crash tests, and was also named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. It led all subcompact cars in these scores. The Sonic comes with anti lock front disc and rear drum brakes, stability control, and the full set of airbags, all as standard equipment. For a small and affordable vehicle, the Sonic certainly can offer you peace of mind behind the wheel.