- 61,074
- 695 below average
- 7,988 good
- Monroe, NC
-
- autoshopper.com
- 695 below average 61,074 red automatic
2013 chevrolet sonic review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Sporty rs joins fresh lineup. introductionamong the best of its class, the chevrolet sonic is a newly designed subcompact built in the u. Unique gear ratios for the 6-speed manual and a unique final drive ratio for the automatic give the sonic rs more responsive acceleration at the price of fuel economy. Sonic rs is only available as a hatch. the chevrolet sonic comes standard with a 1. 8-liter engine rated at 26/35 miles per gallon city/highway. The 1. 8-liter delivers 138 horsepower at 6300 rpm and 125 pound-feet of torque at 3800 rpm. Those numbers are worth noting in comparisons with the optional turbocharged engine. The 1. 4-liter turbo delivers 138 horsepower at 4900 rpm and puts out 148 pound-feet of torque that starts at way down at 1850 rpm and extends through 4900 rpm. Fuel economy is 29/40 mpg city/highway with the standard 6-speed manual gearbox. Note that the turbocharged engine develops its horsepower at lower revs than does the 1. 8-liter engine. Drivers find the sonic zippier and more fun to drive with the 1. 4-liter turbo, and they spend less money on gas. So we think the turbo is worth the extra money. the 1. 8-liter engine is available with a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic; the 1. 4-liter turbo is available with a 6-speed manual or the 6-speed automatic. Sonic comes standard with a hill-hold feature on both transmissions, especially welcome on the manual gearbox on hilly terrain. When the driver is stopped and releases the brake pedal, the brakes electronically hold the car in place for two seconds, thanks to a sensor that detects the tilt of the body. newly designed, the sonic looks fresh and new. The sonic has an urban vibe, particularly the five-door hatch. Sharp creases, exposed headlamps and motorcycle-inspired design cues set it apart from other compacts, while good fit and finish and available forged alloy wheels keep it from looking cheap. sonic comes standard with 10 airbags, including seat-mounted thorax side-impact, head curtain and knee airbags. Other nice touches not often found standard on a sub-$15,000 car include a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and 60/40 folding rear seats. we found the sonic's handling to be good in general, not just for a low-priced subcompact. The body structure is quite stiff, which aids both handling and ride comfort. Corvette engineers helped tune the macpherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension for the u. Market to strike a balance between fun and comfort. All but the rs model use front disc brakes and rear drums, the latter the norm for the class because they are less expensive than rear discs. the interior is comparable for the class. While most of the interior materials are hard plastic, that's expected at these prices. Fit and finish in the sonic is better than most, but some materials such as the headliner appear low grade. Chevrolet includes a new mylink infotainment system with the 2013 sonic ltz and rs. Chevrolet mylink features a seven-inch color screen with bluetooth streaming audio. Access to apps is available. A 1. 8-liter engine comes standard on all models except sonic rs. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard, a 6-speed automatic is optional with the 1. 8-liter engine. The 1. 4-liter turbocharged engine is available for lt and ltz models and standard on the rs. All hatchback models come standard with a rear washer/wiper and a rear spoiler. Chevrolet's new mylink infotainment system is optional 595), as is a 6-speed automatic transmission 1095). sonic lt sedan 15,635) and sonic lt hatchback 16,235) get upgraded cloth upholstery, cruise control, usb port, heated outside power mirrors, power windows, rear floor mats, a six-speaker premium sound system with cd player and satellite radio capability, and alloy wheels. Lts with the automatic transmission also get remote starting and the hatchback adds a rear cargo cover. A sunroof is offered for the ltz 850), as well as the new rs. sonic rs 20,200) is offered only as a hatchback. It comes standard with the 1. 4-liter turbocharged engine, more aggressive gearing, leatherette/synthetic-suede upholstery, a flat-bottom steering wheel, aluminum pedals, sports suspension, and unique 17-inch wheels. safety features on all models include antilock brakes (abs), electronic brake force distribution (ebd) and panic brake assist; electronic stability control with rollover sensor, traction control, tire-pressure monitor, hill-hold feature, and 10 airbags: front driver and passenger, seat mounted thorax side-impact, head curtain, rear side-impact and front knee airbags. walkaroundalthough it's made in america, the 2013 chevrolet sonic was sketched and modeled in korea by designers who are avid motorcycle enthusiasts. Steel wheels with wheel covers are new this year on the base model, and they result in a cheaper look. Alloy wheels are available in 15, 16 or 17-inch diameters, and they look far more sophisticated. large gaps between body panels were one tell-tale sign of cheap cars of the past. But the chevrolet sonic manages to pare down body gaps to 3. 5 millimeters or less. Also, a special welding technique was used to make for a cleaner, more flush fit. the sonic rs model gets several tell-tale exterior cues. The ride height that has been lowered 10 millimeters and satin-finish aluminum wheels give it a sportier stance. The lower front fascia is also more aggressive and the lower portion of the grille appears to be more open. In addition, the lower rocker moldings and rear fascia are more aggressive, the exhaust outlets are bright, and the rear spoiler features a center dip that suggests a dual-cockpit design. interiorthe cabin of the chevrolet sonic carries over the motorcycle-inspired design with a large, round tachometer front and center. A large lcd speedometer to the right of the tach glows a pleasant blue color and is easy to read, though the red dial glows too brightly at night. audio and climate controls are simple, logical and easy to read and reach. The tall, narrow slots on either side of the center stack add extra storage, but they look out of place. the cloth seats are comfortable and easily adjustable. We especially like the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, which is often tough to get as standard equipment on more luxurious cars. Dash and trim materials are mostly plastics, but that's expected in this class, and the plastics are substantial, fit together well, and feature well-executed colors and textures. the sonic rs has some sporty touches. The aluminum pedals are cool, as so is the red contrast stitching in the seats and shifter.
7,988 Monroe, NCMonroe, NC at autoshopper.com