Pictures of LT Hatch and Sedan, LTZ Sedan at Michigan Dealership

[robert4380]

It looks like the Sonic is finally starting to arrive at mid Michigan Chevy dealerships! I spotted these 3 in a back lot waiting to be prepped while I was out cruising around today. This first group of pictures is of a Victory Red LT Hatchback with a manual transmission.

 

[robert4380]

Red LT Hatchback, continued...









Some final thoughts...

With a manual transmission, the base 1.8 engine manages 26 city, 35 highway. The larger, heavier Cruze with the same engine and a manual gets 36 mpg highway. What gives? I think it has to either be a gearing issue or an aerodynamic one. Those exposed projectors in the headlights are full of all sorts of nooks and crevices, and they'll be a pain to clean squashed bugs out of too.

 

[robert4380]

LT Sedan, Automatic Transmission

I also spotted a black LT Sedan with an automatic transmission. The auto loses 1 mpg in the city to the manual transmission. Highway stays the same.

 

[robert4380]

Black LT Sedan continued...

 

[robert4380]

Black LTZ Sedan... 1.8 engine.











In addition to the features on the LT, the LTZ ads the larger alloy wheels, fog lamps, and the heated leatherette seats. This one also has an automatic transmission.

I'm still a little bummed that the 1.8 only gets 35 mpg with a manual, considering that for 2012 the Fiesta gets bumped up to 38, the Accent is at 40, and the Versa is at 38. I'm still digging the Sonic though!

 

[Memphis]

Think you could go back and look at the weight? That is what everyone on here is moat curious about.

 

[LorbeerTLC]

Awesome Pics Robert!

Hey, Thanks for the pics!

Yeah… MPG is a disappointment. Now I'm really holding my breath on the Turbo's MPG. If it doesn't at least do 40 on the highway… hmm…

 

[masapan]

4dr blk LTZ.......Sweet!

 

[Sonic-Mike]

Thanks for the pictures!

 

[WolfByu]

I thought the autos were DCT? They are supposed to get better gas mileage then a manual?

 

[buddy97]

With a manual transmission, the base 1.8 engine manages 26 city, 35 highway. The larger, heavier Cruze with the same engine and a manual gets 36 mpg highway. What gives? I think it has to either be a gearing issue or an aerodynamic one. Those exposed projectors in the headlights are full of all sorts of nooks and crevices, and they'll be a pain to clean squashed bugs out of too.

aerodynamics are much better on the cruze (less than .30 cd) than the sonic, which has a cd of .33, which is mediocre for this class.

 

[RichieRocket]

aerodynamics are much better on the cruze (less than .30 cd) than the sonic, which has a cd of .33, which is mediocre for this class.

Hey buddy97, the "less than .30 cd" only applies to the Cruze ECO. I found an article about the Cruze: "aerodynamic drag was reduced by 10 percent over a non-Eco model, with a coefficient of drag of 0.298". This 0.298 is supposed to be lowest Cd in it's class.

So the regular Cruze is 0.33

Do you have the actual values for the other cars? I'm curious to compare.

We should try to find a list of actual Cd values for the varous cars for comparison. I'll search tonight.

 

[robert4380]

My excitement may have been premature...

Well, it looks like my excitement about the Sonic finally starting to arrive may have been a bit premature. Today I called the dealership where I found those 3 Sonics in my pictures and inquired about stopping in to take a look at one. The sales person regretfully informed me that those 3 Sonics were test cars for local GM reps to drive around and that they are not for sale and cannot even be opened up for anyone. He also said that they won't have units for sale for the public until "sometime" in October. That truly blows.

Why are new car launches always so close to winter? I like the Sonic and all, but I'm not about to buy a new car when the snow starts flying. If they're not going to start showing up until October, that means it'll at least be a couple more months before a reasonable inventory builds up to pick from. That just... stinks.

 

[buddy97]

Hey buddy97, the "less than .30 cd" only applies to the Cruze ECO. I found an article about the Cruze: "aerodynamic drag was reduced by 10 percent over a non-Eco model, with a coefficient of drag of 0.298". This 0.298 is supposed to be lowest Cd in it's class.
.

.298 wouldnt be the lowest cd in the class...the current corolla has a coefficient of drag of .29...probably one reason the real world numbers for corolla driviers are so good.

so, the regular cruze would be right around .33 cd and be heavier than the sonic and still get a 36 mpg rating.

it is almost as though someone asked gm to make a subcompact car that gets crappy mileage for the class and gm said sure, here's the new sonic that gets 1 mpg more than the aveo did.

 

[RichieRocket]

.298 wouldnt be the lowest cd in the class...the current corolla has a coefficient of drag of .29...probably one reason the real world numbers for corolla driviers are so good.

so, the regular cruze would be right around .33 cd and be heavier than the sonic and still get a 36 mpg rating.

it is almost as though someone asked gm to make a subcompact car that gets crappy mileage for the class and gm said sure, here's the new sonic that gets 1 mpg more than the aveo did.

buddy97, wow I didn't realize the corolla's Cd was so low. I'm confused as to why the corolla rated mpg isn't that great, per Edmunds.com for 2011 Corolla:
28/35 5-spd manual
26/34 4-spd auto

For a super sleek car, I would have expected more...as you said, the Cruze gets 36 with Cd = 0.33

 

[buddy97]

buddy97, wow I didn't realize the corolla's Cd was so low. I'm confused as to why the corolla rated mpg isn't that great, per Edmunds.com for 2011 Corolla:
28/35 5-spd manual
26/34 4-spd auto

For a super sleek car, I would have expected more...as you said, the Cruze gets 36 with Cd = 0.33

dont know. all i can say is the corolla is notorious for beating epa estimates by alot. i traded in an 09 corolla stick for my accent. i and a vast number of corolla owners got 40+ on mostly highway tanks consistently.

if you research fuelly or fueleconomy.gov, there is confirmation of this. most consumer tests have the corolla as having one of the highest combined real world mpg numbers in its class.

as far as the sonic, the 1.4t better come in with some good numbers.

i dont understand why we dont have anything by now.

 

[mjspiess]

Highway RPM or in other words, final drive ratio, has a lot to do with highway fuel economy too. I installed a 3.79 XFi tranny in my '95 Geo Metro which originally had a 4.39 final drive & I gained 7 mpg on the highway because my RPM dropped by ~500 RPM. Transmissions have a LOT to do with hwy fuel economy. Notice all the 6 speed automatics lately?

 

[Rand0m0sityxX]

Well, it looks like my excitement about the Sonic finally starting to arrive may have been a bit premature. Today I called the dealership where I found those 3 Sonics in my pictures and inquired about stopping in to take a look at one. The sales person regretfully informed me that those 3 Sonics were test cars for local GM reps to drive around and that they are not for sale and cannot even be opened up for anyone. He also said that they won't have units for sale for the public until "sometime" in October. That truly blows.

Why are new car launches always so close to winter? I like the Sonic and all, but I'm not about to buy a new car when the snow starts flying. If they're not going to start showing up until October, that means it'll at least be a couple more months before a reasonable inventory builds up to pick from. That just... stinks.

Thats dumb =[ When my Dodge dealership got a Fiat back in March, the Service Manager took me to it and opened it for me, I couldn't drive it, but he let me explore it.



I just posted on my Chevy dealerships facebook.

Seeing these make me more excited for it to hit the lots here!

 

[RichieRocket]

dont know. all i can say is the corolla is notorious for beating epa estimates by alot. i traded in an 09 corolla stick for my accent. i and a vast number of corolla owners got 40+ on mostly highway tanks consistently.

if you research fuelly or fueleconomy.gov, there is confirmation of this. most consumer tests have the corolla as having one of the highest combined real world mpg numbers in its class.

as far as the sonic, the 1.4t better come in with some good numbers.

i dont understand why we dont have anything by now.

buddy97, I agree with you about beating the rated mileage. My '98 civic LX 4-dr is rated on fueleconomy.gov at 34 mpg hwy. I have gotten as high as 39-40 on long highway trips, setting the cruise at 75 mph and A/C on. This is actual data, not 'guestimates'. I have been tracking my fuel mileage for the last 5 years, 90,000 miles. I can send you my spread sheet.

So if I apply roughly that same improvement over the ratings to the Sonic 1.8L 5-spd manual, it should get 40+ mpg real-world.

I am anticipating the 1.4T 6-spd manual getting mid-40's real-world mileage.

 

[Hurf]

the 1.4l will get better gas mileage...

and as far as beating the estimates my 2011 malibu gets 38 and thats 5 over what the stated average was on the window sticker.