2018 Chevrolet Sonic: Practicality, Efficiency and Liveliness in a Small Package [Review]

Overview

The Chevrolet Sonic subcompact is essentially unchanged for 2018 because last year it refresh major refresh. The update included a new aggressive-looking front fascia, updated dash design and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Safety features include optional forward collision and lane departure warning – features once offered only for larger, costlier cars.

The 2018 front-drive Sonic is available as a four-door sedan or four-door hatchback, with list prices ranging from $16,170 to over $25,000, depending on options.

Models are the LS, LT and Premier. I tested the base LS with the 1.8-liter engine, which was lively in town but lazy above 65 m.p.h. There isn’t much high-end torque, so be careful when passing on an open two-lane roads. The car is still no fireball with the 1.4-liter turbo engine, but moves out faster.

Comfort and Convenience

Despite a tight wheelbase, the Sonic is comfortably roomy for four adults. If they’re thin, a fifth can squeeze in back because the center of the rear seat is fairly soft. However, rear door openings are rather narrow and back doors lack the storage pockets of the front doors. There aren’t many decent-sized cabin storage areas; even the glovebox is especially small.

My test sedan had a moderately large trunk with a wide but rather high opening. Also, the trunk floor is low, so some bending is needed to move certain objects in and out. Rear seat backs easily flip forward and sit flat to greatly enlarge the cargo area, and the pass-through area from the trunk to the backset area is large. But opt for the hatchback version for maximum versatility.

The red gauge pointers in my test car’s speedometer and tachometer were a small touch that nevertheless provided a bit of sporty flair. Front seats were supportive, and controls were within easy reach, although the low set cupholders were a little hard to reach at the front of the console. I especially appreciated the manual dashboard HVAC controls, and the touchscreen was easy to use. There is a good amount of plastic in the quiet (for a subcompact car) interior, but it doesn’t look cheap.

Performance

There’s either a standard 1.8-liter 138-horsepower four-cylinder engine or a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder with the same horsepower but more torque. Transmissions include a 5- or 6-speed manual and a decent-shifting 6-speed automatic, which was in my test car.

The quick steering is handy for sudden moves in heavy traffic but makes the car somewhat darty when moving fast on freeways or highways. My test car’s ride was firm on anything but smooth roads. A few unexpected speed bumps nearly put occupants through the roof at 25 m.p.h. I suspected that the tires were overinflated, making for an unusually stiff ride, but the car was loaned for a relatively brief period so there was no opportunity to check tire pressures. Potential Sonic buyers should take a test drive on even moderately rough roads when considering the car. The brakes worked well, with good pedal travel.

Fuel economy for a 99.4-inch wheelbase subcompact is nothing to text home about, although only regular grade fuel is needed. Estimated economy depends on the engine and transmission combination. It ranges from 25 to 28 mpg in the city and 34 to 37 mpg on highways. My test car averaged 30 miles per gallon, although I expected less, testing mostly in stop-and-go traffic.

TFLcar’s Take

As Ford says it will cease production of most of its traditional cars to make pickups, crossovers and SUVs, a car like the Sonic might suddenly become popular when gas prices soar again. Even until that happens, it’s a good choice for those with limited financial means or for use as a second family car.

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SPECIFICATIONS: 2018 Chevrolet Sonic Sedan

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