Chevy Sonic First Drive: Insideline

[Throckmorton]

Damnit, it's still a Daewoo!?

 

[Vetterin]

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.

There's a BIG difference with the 6MT. Peak torque (148ft/lb) comes in at 1850 rpm and you CAN feel it. A lot of owners are complaining about the Auto lag but it is supposed to be fixed on the 2012 models.

 

[overst33r]

It just placed second in C/D's subcompact roundup. Nearly $20k!

http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezf...lication/4c9bac7cfc10dfcdfdfd31ce0baf4799.pdf

 

[Arkaign]

It just placed second in C/D's subcompact roundup. Nearly $20k!

http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezf...lication/4c9bac7cfc10dfcdfdfd31ce0baf4799.pdf

Cool for certain super-dense urban environments, but I'll be damned if I'm exactly pleased at the spectre of paying about $20k for a subcompact.

 

[KentState]

It just placed second in C/D's subcompact roundup. Nearly $20k!

http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezf...lication/4c9bac7cfc10dfcdfdfd31ce0baf4799.pdf

I always love how C&D throws in the bonus points to swing the comparison.

 

[Bignate603]

It just placed second in C/D's subcompact roundup. Nearly $20k!

http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezf...lication/4c9bac7cfc10dfcdfdfd31ce0baf4799.pdf

If you check the boxes for all the options any small car gets expensive very quickly. They don't include them standard but there are now options in small cars that could only be had in very expensive cars just a few years ago.

 

[Doppel]

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.

????

And now time for the facts:

- I cannot get all its dimensions online but it appears to be an inch shorter than a Prius, though comparable in most major dimensions
- That car is MUCH slower than a Prius (don't be deceived by torque ratings--its horsepower is low and that's why it's so slow)
- It also requires diesel, which is pricier than gas in the US. But, even if it weren't, it still gets worse MPG combined than a Prius anyway (remember a Euro gallon is 4.54 liters; a US is 3.78). Prius combined mileage in Imperial gallons is 60--and that isn't highway, that includes city, too.

---

Anyway, this sonic looks ok. 8.2 0-60 is fun in that car I imagine. I will never understand people outfitting an econobox with a bunch of crap to pretend it's anything other than an econobox, though. The problem with built in NAV is you pay a ton for it up front and in five years it's the same damn NAV, and now it looks old. Isn't important to me in the least. I use a garmin, or put in a smart phone into a mount.

C&Ds fun to drive is the BMW smudge factor. Wow they hate the Versa, but it can be had for $11k barebones. That is if you're ok not having cruise and not having power locks or power windows. To get those, which really are essential features, you have to pay over $14, so they kind of bait and switch with that.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

????

And now time for the facts:

- I cannot get all its dimensions online but it appears to be an inch shorter than a Prius, though comparable in most major dimensions
- That car is MUCH slower than a Prius (don't be deceived by torque ratings--its horsepower is low and that's why it's so slow)
- It also requires diesel, which is pricier than gas in the US. But, even if it weren't, it still gets worse MPG combined than a Prius anyway (remember a Euro gallon is 4.54 liters; a US is 3.78). Prius combined mileage in Imperial gallons is 60--and that isn't highway, that includes city, too.

Sorry for thread hijack.

It's ok doppel. You are entitled to your opinion and math. I have said nothing about combined mileage. Plus, Prius does not get 60mpg US combined, which I have taken into account of US gallon and coming up with 58mpg. Here are official statistics - 4.2liters/100km. That is damn good for a station wagon. Peugeot's acceleration is 11.5 seconds to 100kph. It is 8kph faster in top speed than Prius. But prius gets to 100kph in 10.5 secs.. so I give you that point.

Diesel might be more expensive, but replacing the battery is not cheap either.

Back on Topic.

If this car is test driven by me, and if I am satisfied, then I would purchase it for my daily commute.

 

[Bignate603]

Sorry for thread hijack.

It's ok doppel. You are entitled to your opinion and math. I have said nothing about combined mileage. Plus, Prius does not get 60mpg US combined, which I have taken into account of US gallon and coming up with 58mpg. Here are official statistics - 4.2liters/100km. That is damn good for a station wagon. Peugeot's acceleration is 11.5 seconds to 100kph. It is 8kph faster in top speed than Prius. But prius gets to 100kph in 10.5 secs.. so I give you that point.

Diesel might be more expensive, but replacing the battery is not cheap either.

Back on Topic.

If this car is test driven by me, and if I am satisfied, then I would purchase it for my daily commute.

http://www.topcarguide.com/index.php?token=rWjeYx3Xfv3BlP%2FCmRiYI8gZfGH0ZwDkNNOuoNrU

City: 37 mpg (6.3 liter/100 km)
Highway: 52 mpg (4.5 liter/100 km)

0 - 100 kph (62 mph): 13.3 seconds

 

[Pulsar]

http://www.topcarguide.com/index.php?token=rWjeYx3Xfv3BlP%2FCmRiYI8gZfGH0ZwDkNNOuoNrU

City: 37 mpg (6.3 liter/100 km)
Highway: 52 mpg (4.5 liter/100 km)

0 - 100 kph (62 mph): 13.3 seconds

And the Prius number from the same site:
City:4.2 Liter / 100 km
Highway: 3.5 liter / 100 km
0 - 100 kph 10.9 seconds.

So now we have established that this mystical car is neither faster, nor bigger, nor does it get better mileage than a Prius.

ThatsABigOne, off topic is over there ------->
They get along much better with people who can't get even a single fact straight.

 

[Doppel]

are entitled to your opinion and math. I have said nothing about combined mileage. Plus, Prius does not get 60mpg US combined, which I have taken into account of US gallon and coming up with 58mpg

Sorry to belabor, but yes the 3rd gen Prius does get 60 MPG combined if you're using Euro gallons. It gets 51/48 EPA rating = 50 combined. 4.54/3.78 * 50 = 60. Also, the Prius can do 112 mph top speed, if not more, though it hardly matters in these cars (strongly doubt that Peugeot can match with such a tiny engine. And finally, the battery replacement FUD is just that. Those who have looked into it know that the majority of Prii from even a decade ago are on original battery.

 

[BUTCH1]

Looks to be a huge improvement from the Aveo which was underwhelming in every way, as others have mentioned though if you option it out to 19K your getting into the price range of base mid size sedans and that might hurt it's sales some, a true entry level car should not get much over 13K IMO, Versa fit's that bill but damm, that's one ulgy car IMO..

 

[Ferzerp]

There's a BIG difference with the 6MT. Peak torque (148ft/lb) comes in at 1850 rpm and you CAN feel it. A lot of owners are complaining about the Auto lag but it is supposed to be fixed on the 2012 models.

Well, the driving experience in this thing was so poor, that I was convinced there were some major issues with it. I was stuck with it a week with no easy way to swap it for something else though.

Now, granted, this was the first rental I had after I had just gotten my new car (470 HP/tq challenger), so I may have just been overreacting. I've had an anemic Malibu rental since then, and I much preferred driving it to that Ecotec Cruze.

 

[Bignate603]

Looks to be a huge improvement from the Aveo which was underwhelming in every way, as others have mentioned though if you option it out to 19K your getting into the price range of base mid size sedans and that might hurt it's sales some, a true entry level car should not get much over 13K IMO, Versa fit's that bill but damm, that's one ulgy car IMO..

Why would options being available hurt the sales? You don't need to check the box for the options if you don't want them.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

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

Because that's what it is. It's just a renamed Aveo. The Aveo had a bad name and rap so they dropped the name and gave it a new name.

 

[evident]

Because that's what it is. It's just a renamed Aveo. The Aveo had a bad name and rap so they dropped the name and gave it a new name.

crapalier to cobalt type of thing. although this one looks a little nicer than the aveo

 

[vi edit]

I always love how C&D throws in the bonus points to swing the comparison.

When I look at that the Hyundai Accent looks like the winner. Especially when you factor in that it's the one of the biggest, the fastest, the best braking, highest milage, and lowest price one of the bunch.

 

[heymrdj]

Turbo integrated into the exhaust manifold...that seems like a nightmare for repair costs when it comes to the turbo. It'll add at least 2 hours of labor I'd imagine on any shop visit.

 

[Drako]

Good improvement over the Aveo, but I would still take a Fiesta over the Sonic if I was in the subcompact market.

 

[Pulsar]

Good improvement over the Aveo, but I would still take a Fiesta over the Sonic if I was in the subcompact market.

One might wonder if there was a vested interested in CarandDriver not including the Fiesta (since we all know how "truthful" they are). Somehow I see them just looking at 'new this year' cars at quite convenient, considering it means the car generally considered to be among the best is left out.

Of course I'm sure they would have subtracted points for it not being new. God I hate that rag of a magazine.

 

[Arkaign]

One might wonder if there was a vested interested in CarandDriver not including the Fiesta (since we all know how "truthful" they are). Somehow I see them just looking at 'new this year' cars at quite convenient, considering it means the car generally considered to be among the best is left out.

Of course I'm sure they would have subtracted points for it not being new. God I hate that rag of a magazine.

So much truth. C&D is toilet paper. Thankfully this is the internet age, so they can be rightfully ignored in the face of overwhelming truth from the rest of the world.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

What's wrong with C/D? I read it once in a while. How does Motor Trend compare?

What is best/fairest car magazine to read?

 

[Arkaign]

What's wrong with C/D? I read it once in a while. How does Motor Trend compare?

What is best/fairest car magazine to read?

The best is really to mix it up. Motor Trend is definitely a cut above. Edmunds does generally very good work as well. C&D has just shown us nonsense for so many years that it's literally impossible to take them seriously. I can probably find some immediate lol factor in basically any of their comparison roundups. They always go like this :

Car A, B, and C are compared.

Car A is the least expensive, performs the best in the tests, and looks/sells well. Car B is middle of the road, and car C is from (insert German maker here) and is the most expensive, least fuel efficient, and probably the least reliable. Car C wins on points due to 'gotta have it' factor, which nonsensically weighs so heavily in the point values as to make the comparison ridiculous altogether. Turn page. See two page ad for car C.

 

[LTC8K6]

The best is really to mix it up. Motor Trend is definitely a cut above. Edmunds does generally very good work as well. C&D has just shown us nonsense for so many years that it's literally impossible to take them seriously. I can probably find some immediate lol factor in basically any of their comparison roundups. They always go like this :

Car A, B, and C are compared.

Car A is the least expensive, performs the best in the tests, and looks/sells well. Car B is middle of the road, and car C is from (insert German maker here) and is the most expensive, least fuel efficient, and probably the least reliable. Car C wins on points due to 'gotta have it' factor, which nonsensically weighs so heavily in the point values as to make the comparison ridiculous altogether. Turn page. See two page ad for car C.

They got rid of "gotta have it" long ago, and didn't have it that long anyway.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with C/D's evaluations that isn't also wrong with everyone else's.

All of the car mags and online sites have their quirks and biases.

You need to look at several reviews when evaluating a vehicle, and take them all in context and in comparison.

 

[Pocatello]

C/D : We love Honda and BMW, the end.