Segment: Small
Production years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Also known as the Aveo Sedan in Europe, the Sonic was the car that aimed to put more people behind a wheel that sported a Chevy badge and was not a hatchback.
Since the car was built on top of an old Daewoo platform, it was cheap to produce and, as a consequence, lower priced. Thus, apart from fleet owners, the Sonic was an excellent commuter vehicle, at least in terms of running costs. And that mattered for many people, especially during the recovering hard years that followed the financial crisis that drained GM's bank accounts.
GM's design department created the sedan version for those looking for a small-sized family sedan. While the front fascia was shared with its hatchback sibling, featuring four round headlights and a horizontally-split grille between, the profile was different. Its ascending side lines offered a dynamic view for the small sedan, but due to its short overall length, it looked shrunk and too tall. Depending on the trim level, the Sonic sedan was available with 17" light alloy wheels. At the back, the short trunk lid was adorned with a chromed bar above the license plate and was flanked by corner-mounted taillights.
Inside, there were not too many surprises regarding the budget-friendly materials used. Still, it featured standard AC, central locking, and stereo. In addition, the trunk was huge for its class, with a total volume of 502 liters (17.7 cu-ft).
The Sonic was available for the North American market with either a 1.8-liter naturally-aspirated engine or a 1.4-liter turbocharged powerplant. The former version was paired with a five-speed manual fitted as standard or a six-speed automatic as an option, while the latter was an exclusively five-speed manual affair.
ENGINE SPECS - 1.6L 6AT FWD (115 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1598 cm3 |
Power: | 86 KW @ 6300 RPM 117 HP @ 6300 RPM 115 BHP @ 6300 RPM |
Torque: | 114 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 155 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 116 mph (187 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 12.1 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 6-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 195/65R15 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 173.1 in (4397 mm) |
Width: | 68.3 in (1735 mm) |
Height: | 59.7 in (1516 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59.4/59.4 in (1,509/1,509 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 99.4 in (2525 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.2 in (132 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 14 cuFT (396 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.315 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2608 lbs (1183 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3569 lbs (1619 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 28.3 mpg US (8.3 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 42.8 mpg US (5.5 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 33.1 mpg US (7.1 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 155 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 1.4L 5MT FWD (100 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1398 cm3 |
Power: | 75 KW @ 4900 RPM 101 HP @ 4900 RPM 101 BHP @ 4900 RPM |
Torque: | 96 lb-ft @ 1850 RPM 130 Nm @ 1850 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Diesel |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 110 mph (177 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 12.6 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 195/65R15 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 173.1 in (4397 mm) |
Width: | 68.3 in (1735 mm) |
Height: | 59.7 in (1516 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59.4/59.4 in (1,509/1,509 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 99.4 in (2525 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.2 in (132 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 14 cuFT (396 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.315 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2421 lbs (1098 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3468 lbs (1573 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 30.5 mpg US (7.7 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 48 mpg US (4.9 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 39.9 mpg US (5.9 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 155 g/km |