2012 Chevy Sonic

[MBrown]

link

By far the best looking sub compact yet IMO.

Edit: Let me clarify: By far the best looking sub compact sedan yet IMO. The Fiesta hatch still looks a bit better...IMO.

 

[alkalinetaupehat]

Since the powertrain options are very clearly shared with the Cruze, it doesn't make sense to develop a 5-speed specifically for a subcompact car given the inherent market disadvantage (everything else out has six speeds) and additional R&D cost.

I like this car though, it looks like a bug in a good way.

Anyone else remember that the Aveo got worse gas mileage than the Cobalt? Just gotta see the Sonic hit ~50mpg with the 1.4T and 6-spd manual, and there should be enough product differentiation to separate the Sonic and Cruze.

Edit: It appears in some photos, more distinctly in the hatchback set, that the Sonic is sporting a 6-speed manual. I would hope that Chevy isn't giving away their advantage in what is obviously a MPG race at this level, especially considering that the Aveo was kinda crap.

 

[Vette73]

Reports are saying the sonic will weigh 500 pounds less than the Cruze.

Base motor is a 1.8L 135hp and the option is the 1.4L turbo motor.

So should be decently quick and have good gas milage. If they can get it out the door this year that would help with winter gas already over $3 a gallon. No telling what will happen this summer.

 

[jaydee]

Since the powertrain options are very clearly shared with the Cruze, it doesn't make sense to develop a 5-speed specifically for a subcompact car given the inherent market disadvantage (everything else out has six speeds) and additional R&D cost.

I like this car though, it looks like a bug in a good way.

Anyone else remember that the Aveo got worse gas mileage than the Cobalt? Just gotta see the Sonic hit ~50mpg with the 1.4T and 6-spd manual, and there should be enough product differentiation to separate the Sonic and Cruze.

Edit: It appears in some photos, more distinctly in the hatchback set, that the Sonic is sporting a 6-speed manual. I would hope that Chevy isn't giving away their advantage in what is obviously a MPG race at this level, especially considering that the Aveo was kinda crap.

The size difference between the Sonic and the Cruze is going to be substantial. I don't expect the fuel economy to be much different. You only get so much return on fuel economy with a smaller car. Furthermore, I'm guessing the 1.4T 6-speed manual is going to be tuned more for performance than for fuel economy, since Corvette engineers had their hand in the tuning of ride and handling. 40-45mpg with class leading performance and handling.

 

[Vette73]

The size difference between the Sonic and the Cruze is going to be substantial. I don't expect the fuel economy to be much different. You only get so much return on fuel economy with a smaller car. Furthermore, I'm guessing the 1.4T 6-speed manual is going to be tuned more for performance than for fuel economy, since Corvette engineers had their hand in the tuning of ride and handling. 40-45mpg with class leading performance and handling.

500 pounds is a good amount of differance. Only thing that may mess that up would be the gearing differance, if any.

 

[LTC8K6]

That 500 pounds should have a decent effect on city mileage, not so much on highway mileage.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

The sedan looks pretty sharp. The hatch is missing something. When is the release date?

 

[ElFenix]

the sedan looks pretty good. yaris isn't bad looking as a sedan either. fiesta sedan is weird looking.

as a hatch this thing is boring. as boring as the aveo. fit and fiesta hatch look much better. though the fit interior was designed by alien invaders.

 

[CupCak3]

Not too shabby at all.

I'm actually pretty impressed this will be assembled in the US with these smaller cars having lower profit margins.

 

[SonicIce]

why is it squished

 

[ShawnD1]

Anyone else remember that the Aveo got worse gas mileage than the Cobalt?

lol yeah. Piece of shit Aveo with its 3 speed automatic transmission. What were they thinking??? Tranmissions is $200 cheaper and it burns twice as much gas

 

[Vette73]

lol yeah. Piece of shit Aveo with its 3 speed automatic transmission. What were they thinking??? Tranmissions is $200 cheaper and it burns twice as much gas

I am sure it was a pricing point issue to get people on the lot.

But that is one good thing about CAFE, it makes setups like that not worth it.

 

[angry hampster]

Leather interior in a subcompact? LOL

 

[Bignate603]

Leather interior in a subcompact? LOL

I don't see what it's a bad thing. Some people want a small car but want nice options.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I actually prefer the sedan...

Would be interesting to take the Turbo 6sp for a spin I guess.

 

[Howard]

why is it squished

i lol'd so hard

 

[Tristicus]

Every time I look at these interiors, they look built for midgets...and they are different in person, but the pictures just make them seem so damn small.

 

[foghorn67]

I love how Chevy and Ford have great interiors now. In fact, I would call them the new benchmark in interiors. Excluding premium vehicles.

 

[rcpratt]

First decent looking Chevy I've seen in awhile. Coming from a Ford guy.

 

[Harrod]

I like it minus the giant chevy emblem on the bumper.

 

[evident]

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/2012-chevrolet-sonic-detroit-2011/ ugh stock riced. this car is hideous like the aveo

 

[MDE]

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/2012-chevrolet-sonic-detroit-2011/ ugh stock riced. this car is hideous like the aveo

Please read a little more closely...

2012 Chevrolet Sonic Z Spec Concept

 

[Throckmorton]

Good to see some clean styling and HORIZONTAL headlights, instead of vertical headlights that go all the way to the A pillar

 

[Imp]

I like it, but it kind of looks like a Suzuki SX-4, or even a Yaris dare I say.

 

[alkalinetaupehat]

The size difference between the Sonic and the Cruze is going to be substantial. I don't expect the fuel economy to be much different. You only get so much return on fuel economy with a smaller car. Furthermore, I'm guessing the 1.4T 6-speed manual is going to be tuned more for performance than for fuel economy, since Corvette engineers had their hand in the tuning of ride and handling. 40-45mpg with class leading performance and handling.

Referring back to choosing an Aveo vs Cobalt, the cost difference was something around $3k and for that you got better mileage, more space, and probably a better-built car (even though both were lacking in the fit and finish). Here, the perceived quality is very close between the two, and they largely share the same powertrains. Working under the assumption that since Chevy is targeting the Ford Fiesta with the Sonic they will start it under $14k, there will therefore be a $4k gap between the Sonic and Cruze. The Cruze will offer an additional crusing gear with base trim and more space. Other specifics are unknown, though both will have 10 airbags.

This said, Chevy has competition not only within the subcompact segment but also from the compact segment. My point is that there needs to be either a significant difference in fuel mileage or significant difference in initial cost for a car buyer to NOT move up and instead buy the Cruze et. al. While $4k is nothing to sneeze at, the mileage should be at least in the upper 40's if Chevy is going to ward off other segments from cannibalizing Sonic sales.