Chevy goes super Sonic for 2012

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2012 Chevrolet Sonic

The new subcompact Aveo replacement is not fast, but Chevrolet hopes it will take off (in sales) like its bigger brother Cruze.

The all-new 2012 Sonic represents the third vehicle in the center of Chevrolet’s ongoing passenger car line makeover. The remaining bookends are the mini Spark wagon and the new Malibu, which will arrive in 2012.

The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is a subcompact with a nice amount of features and amenities available in two body styles: a four-door sedan and a sportier five-door.

Sonic’s suggested retail price begins at $14,495, including destination, for LS models ($15,395 for the five-door). The sub-$20,000 price category is hot with manufacturers looking to tap into a burgeoning market dominated by sub-30-year-olds, downsizing empty-nesters and parents shopping for their teens.

All these potential customers are seeking connectivity, functionality, features and fuel economy at an affordable price point. That’s what Chevy hopes its has in the Sonic.

I tested several Sonics and I think that Sonic does a nice job of meeting customer needs.

Surprisingly, Chevrolet’s front-wheel-drive Sonic is a fun-to-pilot car — one you’ll actually want to drive.

I put the MacPherson strut front suspension through its paces and found the Sonic to have decent balance and stability with one exception: The rear tended to hop around and become jittery on rough and uneven pavement. Sonic is nimble and maneuverable in tight spaces and the electric power steering is decent. I experienced a bit of understeer when I pushed the cars in some tight left hand turns.

I tossed the cars around a bit on twisty roads and each car managed the road better than some competitive models I have driven on the same roads. Sonics feature up-level braking, including a four-channel antilock braking system, a brake assist system for improved panic stopping and integrated electronic brake distribution to proportion brake pressure.

I tested the 138-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic. In city driving, the 1.8-liter was fine with enough low-end torque to step out and away from traffic lights and zip through traffic. The issue for me was top-end power — there wasn’t much. In trying to execute a simulated 55 mph+ semi-truck pass the car did not have enough ponies and thus required too much road and time to finally make a pass; ditto for accelerating up mild to midgrades in drive.

It was a better story with the optional 1.4-liter, turbo four-cylinder and manual six-speed transmission. Again, the horses are the same at 138, but the turbo has a bit of gallop left on the upper end that makes the same passing and merging exercises more comfortable. The difference is that the turbo motor has 23 more pound-feet of torque and a manual transmission. Both powertrains are seasoned; they share it with Cruze.

The all-important fuel economy numbers for the sedan with the 1.8-liter engine are 26 city/35 highway with the six-speed manual and 25 city/35 highway with the automatic. The five-door Sonic with the 1.4-liter engine and six-speed manual has higher Environmental Protection Agency numbers of 29 city/40 highway.

Exterior styling is contemporary and fittingly the Sonic’s nose and body lines resemble Cruze and Malibu.

The inside design blasts off with fit and finish that puts Sonic in the stratosphere. I like the quality of the materials – the motorcycle-inspired gauges are a bit gimmicky but they are fresh, well lit at night and not distracting. The seats are comfortable and are nicely bolstered for long and short trips.

There is enough room in the rear for two 6-footers for short trips. Cargo room is surprisingly good in the sedan, including 60/40 split rear seats and a voluminous 14 cubic feet trunk. The five-door features 19 cubic feet behind second row seats and 30.7 cubic feet when rear seats are folded down.

Two gripes are visors that don’t extend for taller drivers and no center flip down armrest for the front passenger.

A few final notes: Sonic will compete (favorably) with the Honda Fit, Mazda2, Ford Fiesta and Toyota Yaris. Chevrolet proudly boasts that Sonic is a made-in-the USA car, meaning all major components are produced in this country and the car is assembled in Michigan.

Check out Chevrolet Sonic at Webb Chevrolet.