In motion, the Sonic holds the road well and has decent feel through its electric power steering. It gets coarse and boomy at higher revs, and can feel tapped out under heavy loads. Following a strong beginning in 2010, sales have eased lately, partly because gas prices are comparatively low. Air bags, thorax side-impact seat-mounted, side-front and rear. Looks like the mighty little 1. The dash flows into a V-shaped center stack before reaching a console that wraps its way around the front seats.
Two engine options power the lineup: a naturally aspirated 1. We strongly recommend the 1. You won't be left wanting for places to put your things in the Sonic thanks to its never-ending bins, trays, and compartments to hold every single one of your personal items. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives it five stars, overall and on all tests except rollover where it got four stars. Not likely,turbo upgrades and 4wheel disk brakes have been reserved for Chevy Sonic up to 2016 model only, so there goes nothing.
Two cool passive safety features on the Sonic include forward collision alert and lane departure warning. And every Sonic has Bluetooth connectivity, steering-wheel audio controls, air conditioning, and keyless entry. Decades later, when General Motors announced that it would be releasing a subcompact with a turbo, a six-speed manual gearbox, and the same nameplate as our spiky blue superhero, we were skeptical as to whether it would live up to its name. The Sonic's looks aren't quite as fresh as they were in 2012, but the hatchback especially is nicely proportioned and accented to avoid the box-on-wheels look of some small cars. Clear headlight covers wrap back along the fenders.
Even after a few years since a major redesign, the Sonic's interior feels more expensive than it ought to. Round projector-look headlights flank a horizontal split grille. Similar to European cars, the Sonic handles well around turns, with notably responsive steering, yet it also rides well enough that long road trips are not an endurance test. Most Sonic buyers will end up in a car powered by the 1. It also has a hidden storage area underneath the high load floor that's large enough to hold a laptop bag.
These commissions help support our ability to spend time providing additional content. It produces the same number of horses, but a healthy 148 ft-lb of torque. Available as a sedan or hatchback, it gets exclusive cosmetic touches, handling revisions and different gearing. That is unless you're a rear-seat rider. The also incorporates a heat shield to help protect incoming air from radiant heat under the hood.
All of these design components come together to deliver horsepower and torque gains. It's a nice balance of bold and conservative, and it looks every bit like a Chevrolet. Final Word In addition to driving fun with the turbo, Sonic offers more space than a lot of rivals. The ride is smooth, and road and engine noise are muted. The 2016 Sonic remains stylish—if not so fresh—as it was back in 2012 and enjoyable to drive.
Head and shoulder space is fine in the rear. I own a 2014 1. The premium has been determined based on annual premium data for defined coverages liability, comprehensive and collision from a major insurer. Models with the base engine come standard with a five-speed manual transmission, while turbocharged models come with a six-speed manual. Car manufactures are prone to indicate the break horsepower for 2016 Chevrolet Sonic technical brochures. Two engine options power the lineup: a naturally aspirated 1.
Cruising and daily-driving purposes are also surprisingly agreeable, as the manual remains forgiving in stop-and-go traffic and the engine offers a quiet ride with mild exhaust notes. The situation in the second row isn't nearly as generous. Introduced for 2010, the Chevrolet Sonic hatchback and sedan might swing either way, depending on the engine chosen. The five-passenger Sonic is powered by a 1. Air intake is precision-engineered and guaranteed to increase horsepower and torque on the 2012 to 2016 Chevrolet Sonic 1. Last year, it was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
That'll put an extra pep in your Chevy Sonic's step. An infotainment system with 7-inch display, a rear backup camera, cruise control and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity are also included. Chevy added an optional crash-avoidance system in 2014, and all models have 10 airbags and blind-spot warning mirrors as standard. Driving Impressions Handling decently overall, the Sonic feels strong and sturdy on the highway, holding the road securely. It has more torque, and it's more refined and flexible—elevating the Sonic to more of a premium feel, against a base 1. An air guide inside the tube helps straighten airflow across the mass air flow sensor and ensure proper readings are sent to the computer.