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Chevrolet Sonic

57 messages,  Last post on May 12, 2013 at 8:23 AM

You are in the Chevrolet Sonic Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Sonic, Hatchback, Sedan

Messages Page 3 of 7

#12 of 57 got kids? by steve_ HOST

Nov 10, 2011 (12:34 pm)

A reporter is interested in talking with parents who own a 2012 Volkswagen Passat, Mazda 3, Chevy Cruze Eco, Honda Civic Hybrid, Chevy Sonic, Honda CR-V, Toyota Camry and Toyota Prius V. If you are interested in commenting on your experience, please reply to predmunds.com no later than Friday, November 30, 2011 and include your city and state of residence, the model year of your vehicle and the age of your child/ren.

#14 of 57 Sonic vs Accent vs Rio vs Yaris by windgrace

Nov 23, 2011 (8:20 am)

Hello, all!
 
To make a long convoluted story short(ish), my sister's 06 Civic hasn't been a stellar example of Honda reliability. We've had to do several costly repairs, including brakes that are wearing out very fast, tires wearing out too fast (apparently there's something with control arms but the vehicle is out of warranty so the TSB is useless), replacing window motors...you name it. My mom is thinking about trading the vehicle in and buying a new car. New because then we have warranty and the cost of a decent used vehicle is ridiculously high, we might as well buy new and not have to worry about a history report. In that case my sister would get my 2010 Corolla and my mom would pitch in the rest to buy me a new vehicle.
 
I come from a family that owns Japanese vehicles for their "reliability." We have had a Sienna and Civic that beg to differ (although our Legacy and my Corolla have been great). With some of the new competitive offerings from GM, Hyundai, Kia and Ford I'm thinking about maybe branching out with this car purchase.
 
Just in general, how do people feel about their Chevrolet, Hyundai or Kia products as of late? Ford seems to have come a long way, but I remember growing up with a Taurus that was LITERALLY Fixed Or Repaired Daily so a Fiesta is gonna be a hard sell on me. Do people think the long-term reliability we've associated with Toyota is there in the new Sonic, Accent, or Rio? Or should I stick with a Yaris? I'm just trying to figure out which would be the best place to put my $ towards when it comes to resale value and overall true-cost-to-own. The Sonic and Accent are both really compelling. The Accent has gotten very good reviews for it's ride and mpg, and I really like the design of the Sonic and they both are pretty well priced.

#15 of 57 Re: Sonic vs Accent vs Rio vs Yaris [windgrace] by backy

Nov 23, 2011 (9:26 am)

Replying to: windgrace (Nov 23, 2011 8:20 am)
My opinion, based on owning 3 Hyundais over the past 11 years and watching the auto marketplace closely, is that you don't need to worry about subpar reliability from Hyundai. So buy the car you like the best. If that's the Accent, OK. Kia has trailed Hyundai in improving reliability but they too have improved greatly in the past 10 years, and Kia shares major components including powertrains with Hyundai. Plus both include the long warranties in case there are problems.
 
As for Chevy, I haven't owned one for many years but have been impressed with their recent products including the Cruze and Equinox. Haven't driven the Sonic yet but looking it over at the dealership and reading reviews it appears to be a huge leap over the Aveo. I would have no qualms about buying a Chevy if I find one I like better than competitors. I have my eye on the Cruze to consider for my next car. For a small hatch, I prefer the Accent or, for more bucks, the Focus based on what I've seen to date. But I haven't seen the new Impreza hatch yet. Of course the Focus and Impreza are a class above the Sonic, Accent, Rio5, Yaris. In that class you should drive the Fit also--the base Fit is a very good value for the money IMO, and if you need lots of cargo space in a small package it's hard to beat. Resale value is very good, although fuel economy is not as good as some other small hatches.

#16 of 57 Will be testdriving a Sonic LTZ by intrimazz

Jan 19, 2012 (12:23 am)

My husband and I are in the market for a new car and have test driven the base Ford Fiesta Hatch and the base Honda FIT so far. We were spoiled by our 2005 Pontiac Vibe w Sun & Sound package so as a result, we have been underwhelmed by both thus far. Sat in the Yaris and didn't even bother going for a drive as I hated it instantly. We are hoping the highest trim on the Sonic will impress us. Will update when I get the call as no dealers in the NJ Bergen County area have one thus far. I was told one would be coming in by this weekend.

#17 of 57 Re: Will be testdriving a Sonic LTZ [intrimazz] by mick1

Feb 18, 2012 (2:13 pm)

Replying to: intrimazz (Jan 19, 2012 12:23 am)
Today is Feb 18. I'm going to buy/not buy a sonic based on your test drive and opinions. Could you please do it before the end of the month. Thanks!

#18 of 57 New Owner / Sedan 1 LS Stick Shift / 1st Impressions by micweb

Feb 19, 2012 (9:27 pm)

I received a "top off" on my GM Card account and the amount allowed on the Sonic made it very attractive to me.
 
I first test drove a Sonic Hatchback automatic in November or so, and was very impressed by three factors:
 
1. Feeling of solidity - didn't feel light or flimsy.
2. Good acceleration without having to rev the engine too high or use too much throttle (a responsive automatic that was gearing for a good driving experience - it would shift at appropriate rpm and throw nice downshifts without having to floor the pedal - helped a lot).
3. Very quiet - the bane of most small cars I have owned is their higher than average noise levels. I don't think I should have to drive a large car to drive at reasonably comfortable noise levels.
 
I have been looking for a good, small, high mpg 4 door since last year. Top contenders on my list were the Kia Soul Base stick shift (after the upgrade to the incredibly better 1.6 direct injection engine this year, and move to a 6 speed manual transmission with decent clutch action and surprisingly precise shifter action); the Honda Fit (which FINALLY got body colored outside mirrors this year, a stealth "roof strength" upgrade that got it IIHS "Top Pick" selection for the first time, and _reportedly_ better sound proofing); the Ford Fiesta; and the Sonic.
 
I severely "handicapped" the Sonic, despite its quality interior, excellent feature set, great engine (tops in its class in overall power - torque/hp), due to its newness and my rule of thumb of allowing at least one year for a new model to "settle in." The Fiesta got demerits for sluggish acceleration (unless you really revvd the engine up). The Honda is perenially pricey - not based on comparable MSRP's, but on the general lack of "sales" and "discounts." I've never owned a Kia but shopped them and Hyundai for years and been generally disappointed by the showrooms (but that has improved a lot over the past 3 years).
 
In terms of pure drivability the Fit is tops. The clutch action is superb, the shifter action superb, the gearing is set relatively low in top gear so there is a lot of "apparent" acceleration on the freeway (the others require a downshift or two to match it, but are not lacking in raw ability after the downshift). It is the most agile, but also the "lightest" feeling car on the freeway - almost disturbingly light feeling. Also, in past years, one of the noisiest. Despite these negatives, I was gearing up to buy a Fit until the GM Card offer came in the mail.
 
I went ahead and purchased a sedan in the very basic LS1 trim - this means manual mirrors and manual window cranks. Since the mirrors are "set and forget" items for me, and I don't roll down my windows (I open the door to pay at take-out, but I rarely go to take-out!), I was willing to compromise this one last time - a compromise that wasn't too hard to accept, since Chevy also includes a lot of "goodies" - On Star with turn-by-turn navigation; Sirius XM on my slightly upgraded stereo; a pretty full digital information center with MPG, miles to empty, compass, clock, timer; front floor mats; automatic headlamps; daytime running lights; and keyless entry, together with customization options on door locking, radio settings, beep on lock, etc.
 
Getting knee airbags for me and my front seat passenger was huge, since it's no fun to contemplate knee injuries in a crash. Also, REAR side torso airbags, very rare in any class, assure my kids a much better level of safety (it also has the head side airbags or curtain airbags which protect the head).
 
My first impressions so far? A grown up small car, very closely matching the dimensions and envelope of a Mark III and Mark IV Jetta (the Golf and Jetta have meanwhile marched up almost a full size). Very good for smaller (stature) families - I'm 5'8" and there is tons of room for the passenger behind me in the rear seat. The rear floor is fairly flat almost all the way across, unlike my slightly wider Rabbit ('09) which had a console in the middle.
 
Only noted negative so far (setting aside the lack of power windows and mirrors)? The lack of a middle rear seat position headrest. It would have been nice to see GM copy-cat the '04 Golfs and Jettas even more faithfully, with 3-across headrests (there ARE 3 shoulder belts).
 
Best positive? Regular gas in a very powerful engine!

#19 of 57 press request by kirstie_h HOST

Feb 27, 2012 (2:58 pm)

Did you recently purchase a compact or subcompact at least in part because it had very good fuel efficiency as gas prices continue to climb? A reporter is interested in speaking with you. Please send a brief description of your experience and contact information to predmunds.com by Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

#20 of 57 Another press request by KarenS HOST

Mar 06, 2012 (11:34 am)

A reporter is looking to hear from a driver of a Ford Focus, Ford Fiesta, Chevy Cruze or Chevy Sonic who previously drove a compact from a Japanese automaker, such as the Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic. If you currently drive a Focus, Fiesta, Cruze or Sonic, and are willing to share your story with a reporter, please email PRedmunds.com no later than the end of business Tuesday, March 6, 2012 with your daytime contact information.

#21 of 57 Horsepower / Torque by laserblue

Mar 16, 2012 (10:10 am)

I'm looking forward to buying a 2012 Sonic LT (not the turbo type) and I have a couple of questions regarding this car.
  Could someone explain to me the differences between hp and torque?
  Which of those are more important?
  This is the use I will do with the car...
  I work at home and will use it to do errands around town but once a year my wife and I always take a long road trip minimum mileage one way 1,400 miles, either (north-south) crossing the Appalachians Mountains or (east-west) crossing the Rockies (more challenging) the car being loaded with luggage and 1 cooler (but will never pull a trailer).
  Will this car be a good choice for us with it's hp and torque.
  Do it have enough hp or torque for my usage?

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