5th place - 2012 Chevrolet Sonic (76.9%)
GM's latest subcompact is a real player. Be it styling inside or out, the level of kit and the drive, the new Sonic scores. Poor visibility and excessive fuel consumption are its major shortfalls.
The $15,495 Sonic 5-door rolls in as the most expensive basic subcompact in this test. The pricing is no accident as the upcoming 2013 Chevrolet Spark will retail for $2,000 less. On a related note, less than $1,200 more are required to jump into a Chevrolet Cruze.
The real question surrounding the Sonic is: does it really have its place in GM's line-up? Given the results of this test, the answer is not that obvious. Despite the negative connotation of the question, the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic surpassed our expectations on numerous levels.
In the design department, we nearly all approved the car's aggressive and funky front end. The rear end left us all perplexed; it looked as though GM cut the budget once they got passed the C-pillars.
The cabin is especially airy and we liked the seats. The large doors provided easy ingress and egress, particularly in the rear. The numerous storage compartments in the dash reminded us of the Yaris' old layout and most enjoyed the driving position.
Here, the shortcomings were the large A-pillars severely hampering forward visibility and a steering wheel that most drivers had difficulty properly handling, much like that of the Camaro.
Where the Chevrolet Sonic impressed was in the drive. As the largest engine of the group, the 136-hp 1.8L 4-cylinder provided the most grunt. This, in turn, allowed the 6-speed autobox to hold gears somewhat longer thanks to the engine's torque; however, the automatic also made the car lazier as it occasionally resisted a kickdown request.
Gratifying were the car's reasonably well isolated ride, precise steering and responsive brakes. The most criticized negative point was its excessive fuel consumption, about 15% more than the overall average.
In the end, we like the Sonic despite some important faults. Its score clearly demonstrates that GM has a good product but it could be better. Is it because of the aforementioned Spark and Cruze? We think that the Cruze would actually make a better pick in this price range.
*prices exclude sales taxes, A/C tax as well as freight and delivery charges.
GM's latest subcompact is a real player. Be it styling inside or out, the level of kit and the drive, the new Sonic scores. Poor visibility and excessive fuel consumption are its major shortfalls.
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| Photo: Matthieu Lambert |
The $15,495 Sonic 5-door rolls in as the most expensive basic subcompact in this test. The pricing is no accident as the upcoming 2013 Chevrolet Spark will retail for $2,000 less. On a related note, less than $1,200 more are required to jump into a Chevrolet Cruze.
The real question surrounding the Sonic is: does it really have its place in GM's line-up? Given the results of this test, the answer is not that obvious. Despite the negative connotation of the question, the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic surpassed our expectations on numerous levels.
In the design department, we nearly all approved the car's aggressive and funky front end. The rear end left us all perplexed; it looked as though GM cut the budget once they got passed the C-pillars.
The cabin is especially airy and we liked the seats. The large doors provided easy ingress and egress, particularly in the rear. The numerous storage compartments in the dash reminded us of the Yaris' old layout and most enjoyed the driving position.
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| The cabin is especially airy and we liked the seats. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert) |
Here, the shortcomings were the large A-pillars severely hampering forward visibility and a steering wheel that most drivers had difficulty properly handling, much like that of the Camaro.
Where the Chevrolet Sonic impressed was in the drive. As the largest engine of the group, the 136-hp 1.8L 4-cylinder provided the most grunt. This, in turn, allowed the 6-speed autobox to hold gears somewhat longer thanks to the engine's torque; however, the automatic also made the car lazier as it occasionally resisted a kickdown request.
Gratifying were the car's reasonably well isolated ride, precise steering and responsive brakes. The most criticized negative point was its excessive fuel consumption, about 15% more than the overall average.
In the end, we like the Sonic despite some important faults. Its score clearly demonstrates that GM has a good product but it could be better. Is it because of the aforementioned Spark and Cruze? We think that the Cruze would actually make a better pick in this price range.
| 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT | 2012 Ford Fiesta SES | 2012 Hyundai Accent GLS | 2012 Kia Rio LX+ | 2012 Toyota Yaris SE | |
| Base price* | $17,495 | $18,999 | $17,199 | $15,595 | $18,990 |
| Price as tested* | $21,860 | $22,949 | $18,399 | $17,095 | $19,990 |