Chevy Sonic First Drive: Insideline

[PricklyPete]

Looks like the stars aligned and Chevy has put out a competitive subcompact that is actually built in the USA. I would say this is a pretty big achievement for GM given they have never managed to do this in the past.

http://www.insideline.com/chevrolet/sonic/2012/2012-chevrolet-sonic-ltz-first-drive.html

Lets hope GM continues down this road of releasing good cars. I'd love to see the ATS put a smack down the the 3 series/G37/A4.

 

[MagickMan]

Mmmm, Sonic, makes me want some tots.

Isn't it the one that was the collaboration with Daewoo?

 

[PricklyPete]

Mmmm, Sonic, makes me want some tots.

Isn't it the one that was the collaboration with Daewoo?

Both the Cruze and the Sonic have had a lot of influence from Daewoo (which is owned by GM). The car is being built in the Orion Township plant in the suburbs of Detroit, but a lot of the parts are sourced from global part suppliers (including many in Korea).

 

[Ferzerp]

I've had the Cruze with that engine as a rental. If this has the ridiculous auto-shift to neutral when stopped behavior that the cruze has, coupled with the exaggerated turbo power curve, I would run far, far away from this car!

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Great looking subcompact. But man, they HAVE to release a diesel with this car... 140hp into this small vehicle is pointless.

 

[Vetterin]

I've had the Cruze with that engine as a rental. If this has the ridiculous auto-shift to neutral when stopped behavior that the cruze has, coupled with the exaggerated turbo power curve, I would run far, far away from this car!

And I have the Cruze Eco with the 6MT which is great! Plus averaging just over 43 mpg after 9300 miles doesn't hurt matters either. "Exaggerated turbo power curve" ???

 

[PricklyPete]

Great looking subcompact. But man, they HAVE to release a diesel with this car... 140hp into this small vehicle is pointless.

Do you mean it is too powerful? It still takes 8 seconds to get to 60...which is better than most in the segment...so I can only imagine that you think it should have a weaker engine. I think you are getting great performance for a car that will return 40mpg.

 

[Ferzerp]

And I have the Cruze Eco with the 6MT which is great! Plus averaging just over 43 mpg after 9300 miles doesn't hurt matters either. "Exaggerated turbo power curve" ???

Maybe the one I drove had issues (it had under 500 miles on it though), but yes. It was no power, no power, no power, no power, hit ~2700 rpms get all the power.

Add in 1/2-3/4s for the thing to shift back in to drive from neutral before the "no power" section, and you'll get a better idea of why I couldn't stand that car.

When I give a car gas, I expect it to begin moving. What I don't expect is some overly aggressive attempt to save fuel to have shifted it in to neutral so that I have to wait for the oh so slow transaxle to shift back in to 1st.

 

[Arkaign]

^^ Hmm. Could be that it needs some more tweaking for the autos. Seems like a lot of them this round are getting complaints (the Focus DCT or whatever comes to mind). I'd bet a lot of it could be fixed by releasing new flashes for the computer. Nissan has done it several times for the GT-R, I think VW/Audi have done it a few times as well.

Meh, I like my three pedals though

 

[Ferzerp]

I enjoy manuals as well, but rentals are always auto.

My most recent purchase was an auto though. Sadly, in a reversal of all historic common sense, a high performance auto with manual gear selection is going to out-shift all but the most proficient drivers. That and my daily commute averages a stop per 1/3 mile.

 

[saratoga172]

Just curious what everyone's obsession with diesel engines are here. Is it the torque range thing?

 

[Ferzerp]

More efficient with given energy availability, and there is more available energy in a gallon of diesel compared to a gallon of gasoline as well.

More torque at low RPMs, yes but lower overall power, and not as clean burning.

 

[ElFenix]

big tires for that little car. that's the same size on my mazda3 and the tires look big on that.

 

[PricklyPete]

Just curious what everyone's obsession with diesel engines are here. Is it the torque range thing?

It's popular in Europe...so it must be good...am I right?

 

[Ferzerp]

big tires for that little car. that's the same size on my mazda3 and the tires look big on that.

They don't seem to look out of place on the pictures in the article.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The instrument cluster looks remarkably like that of a sportbike.

 

[saratoga172]

I like the instrument cluster. It gives a lot of information in one place.

On the diesel, what kind of mpg would we be looking at? If it's only 5-7 the cost difference wouldn't really add up. Even 10 better would be pushing it unless you kept the car for a long time considering the extra cost of the engines.

 

[hanoverphist]

big tires for that little car. that's the same size on my mazda3 and the tires look big on that.

thats one of the things i actually like about it. i cant stand when they dump little bitty tires on these small cars, and then keep the wells the same small size, so you cant put bigger tires on without hacking up the car. it makes the honda fit look like a cartoon car.

edit:
after checking out the rest of the pics in the link, thats a nice looking car. i like the blacked out tail lights, and it sounds like the Z trim package will have some "ricer" type mods you can get from the factory. kind of funny. whats up with the center dash looking like a face? that seems to be the new trend. if the ac vent sliders went back and forth, it would look like :sneaky: to me. it needs a mustache. if i had the cash, id probably look into buying one of these.

 

[Mxylplyx]

I actually really like this thing. My 2001 Accord EX is getting a little long in the tooth.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

I like the instrument cluster. It gives a lot of information in one place.

On the diesel, what kind of mpg would we be looking at? If it's only 5-7 the cost difference wouldn't really add up. Even 10 better would be pushing it unless you kept the car for a long time considering the extra cost of the engines.

I would not be surprised if they would put a new diesel, and it's mpg would go up considerably. If this car gets 42mpg on highway(suppose), I would expect it to get about 50 to 53mpg.

My uncle has a 2006 1.6L Peugeot 307SW Diesel. Bigger than toyota prius, faster, and more economical than prius. it gets 58mpg on highway.

My friend's 2000 Citroen Xantia 2.1L diesel. It gets 60mpg. ()

 

[Throckmorton]

I love the styling. No wacky vertical pointy headlights, no flame surfacing, no Gundam bulges. Clean and a little aggressive.

 

[arrfep]

I want to love the hatchback....but all I see is an Aveo. :|

 

[JulesMaximus]

I like the instrument cluster. It gives a lot of information in one place.

On the diesel, what kind of mpg would we be looking at? If it's only 5-7 the cost difference wouldn't really add up. Even 10 better would be pushing it unless you kept the car for a long time considering the extra cost of the engines.

I wasn't bashing it. It was just an observation.

Car looks good, could use some technology in the cab like NAV and maybe an option for leather and moonroof like the Focus Titanium. Guess that's a different class of vehicle though.

 

[ElFenix]

I wasn't bashing it. It was just an observation.

Car looks good, could use some technology in the cab like NAV and maybe an option for leather and moonroof like the Focus Titanium. Guess that's a different class of vehicle though.

as mentioned in the article, your phone does a better job at nav than car systems do, so why?

 

[96Firebird]

You can get "leatherette" seats and a sunroof on the LTZ model...