Anyone compare the Sonic and Cruze?

[draco_m]

I rented a Sonic last summer and really liked it. So last month I started looking around at Sonics and test drove one. I was pretty sure I wanted the Sonic because I liked everything about it. For comparison, I also test drove a Cruze. I think the Sonic and Cruze have pretty similar handling and comfort and performance. But there was a huge difference in road/wind/engine noise. At freeway speed, the Cruze was much, much quieter than the Sonic. So all else being equal and the Cruze only a little more expensive I purchased the Cruze.

I’m just curious if other people cross-shopped the Cruze with the Sonic. What did you decide and why? (Side note – I think both the Sonic and Cruze are very nice.)

 

[ChrisJ]

I own both a 2012 Cruze LT and a 2012 Sonic LT hatch, both with 6 spd manuals and 1.4 turbos.

Both are nice and yes the Cruze is quieter. However hands down I prefer the Sonic, by a lot. The Cruze is much larger outside, not so much inside. The interior is no where near as useful as the Sonic as well. For example, I have no where to put my phone in the Cruze where in the Sonic I have multiple places.

 

[hammrdwn510]

Cruze = no hatchback = no care

 

[ChrisJ]

Cruze = no hatchback = no care

Glad you could compare the two for him so well.

 

[hammrdwn510]

i think it was pretty clear

 

[draco_m]

I own both a 2012 Cruze LT and a 2012 Sonic LT hatch, both with 6 spd manuals and 1.4 turbos.

Both are nice and yes the Cruze is quieter. However hands down I prefer the Sonic, by a lot. The Cruze is much larger outside, not so much inside. The interior is no where near as useful as the Sonic as well. For example, I have no where to put my phone in the Cruze where in the Sonic I have multiple places.

Thanks Chris! I have the 6MT in my Cruze as well. It's a nice transmission. I actually have the Cruze LS which has the 1.8 engine without turbo. It's the same horsepower as the 1.4 turbo but it has less torque. So I need to keep the revs high for spirited driving. Under 3,000 rpm my Cruze has very little power.

Question for you. I understand you find the interior better designed on the Sonic. Which car is more fun to drive? The Sonic? Or about the same? I'm curious to get your thoughts.

 

[ChrisJ]

Thanks Chris! I have the 6MT in my Cruze as well. It's a nice transmission. I actually have the Cruze LS which has the 1.8 engine without turbo. It's the same horsepower as the 1.4 turbo but it has less torque. So I need to keep the revs high for spirited driving. Under 3,000 rpm my Cruze has very little power.

Question for you. I understand you find the interior better designed on the Sonic. Which car is more fun to drive? The Sonic? Or about the same? I'm curious to get your thoughts.

More fun to drive, that depends.
The Cruze handles well, perhaps as well as the Sonic. In some ways the Cruze feels stronger because of it's lower gearing but it also revs much higher cruising. So, it's kinda hard to say.

I never had a 1.8 with a manual, only an automatic but the 1.4T has plenty of muscle at 2K. In fact it has a little below it, but you need to get the turbo going. I find if I'm 1800-2200 rpm I have all the power I need for most things.

 

[sonic_braaappp]

Cruze = no hatchback = no care

As blunt as this statement is, I agree lol when I was shopping for a car, I wanted to get as close as possible to the 2003 GTI 1.8t I used to have, without going VW or Ford, and the sonic RS hatch met all my requirements plus some

 

[RMinNJ]

Idid not drive compare them.. I would think the Cruze seats more comfortable having sat in one at the dealer.

Did anyone find the Cruze 1.4 slower because of the extra weight? I was looking for a lighter car and higher gas mileage so the Sonic won there. For used car pricing though I
found there was not a lot of advantage to the Sonic with the Cruzes being more plentiful.

 

[SuperFudd]

I have read that the Sonic seats are more comfortable and some thought the Sonic felt more "roomy". The extra weight in the Cruze has to affect the performance and/or the mpg negatively.

 

[ChrisJ]

I have read that the Sonic seats are more comfortable and some thought the Sonic felt more "roomy". The extra weight in the Cruze has to affect the performance and/or the mpg negatively.

The gearing in the Cruze helps at least make it feel as fast as the Sonic and the Cruze is known to get better MPG than the Sonic especially the Eco Cruze.

Now that said, I do find my self getting the pedal to the floor far more often in the Cruze than the Sonic.

 

[UlyssesSG]

I own both a 2012 Cruze LT and a 2012 Sonic LT hatch, both with 6 spd manuals and 1.4 turbos.

Both are nice and yes the Cruze is quieter. However hands down I prefer the Sonic, by a lot. The Cruze is much larger outside, not so much inside. The interior is no where near as useful as the Sonic as well.

ChrisJ,

I own a Cruze but will state unequivocally that the Sonic with 1.4L turbo Ecotec and 6-speed manual transmission is hands-down more fun to drive than any stock Cruze available in the USA or Canada.

The Sonic delivers pure driving satisfaction.

 

[ChrisJ]

ChrisJ,

I own a Cruze but will state unequivocally that the Sonic with 1.4L turbo Ecotec and 6-speed manual transmission is hands-down more fun to drive than any stock Cruze available in the USA or Canada.

The Sonic delivers pure driving satisfaction.

Do you own a Sonic and a Cruze? And what Cruze do you own?

 

[stever525]

I have a '12 Cruze and a '13 Sonic hatch both are 1.4t but the Cruze is an automatic. The seats in the Sonic are more comfortable. Also where your right leg rubs up on the center console is less uncomfortable in the Sonic. The Cruze has more shoulder room and the rear seat seems slightly bigger. Even before I modded the Sonic it still felt slightly faster, now, it's no comparison.

 

[ChrisJ]

One thing I do like about the Cruze more is the gauges. That's one thing I will give it.


Other than that, I'll take a Sonic hatch, every time.

 

[ahtoxa]

I have read that the Sonic seats are more comfortable and some thought the Sonic felt more "roomy". The extra weight in the Cruze has to affect the performance and/or the mpg negatively.

Sonic seats are more comfortable, indeed. They make you sit lower compared to bolster height, so you're feeling more "in" the seat rather than "on" the seat.

Same with roominess - Sonic feels more spacious from the driver's perspective. I've driven a number of Cruzes as loaners while my Sonic was in the shop.

 

[CheapFuneral]

I looked at the Cruze but felt the sonic was sportier and I've never owned a hatch. If the diesel was out when I got mine, whole different story.


**** you auto correct!

 

[Camaroboi13]

I test drove both, but nearly a year apart from eachother. I think the cruze is a much more fun car to look at, it just didn't fit into my budget I wanted to spend. When I went to the dealership I was actually there looking at an older dodge neon just as a cheap commuter car and by chance I struck a decent deal on the sonic so I took it.

 

[ahtoxa]

I looked at the Cruze but felt the sonic was sportier and I've never owned a hatch. If the diesel was out when I got mine, whole different story.


**** you auto correct!

It's too bad that the Cruze diesel flopped severely. It wasn't able to compete with Jetta TDI. The Jetta got better mileage, better range and was priced better, too, from what I recall. When the Cruze diesel came out, I recall reading an online comparo of the two, where the journalists drove both on a long road trip of 700-900 miles or so.

Not to mention that Jetta TDI has been long established and pretty much single-handedly owns the entry-level diesel family car market.

 

[CheapFuneral]

It's too bad that the Cruze diesel flopped severely. It wasn't able to compete with Jetta TDI. The Jetta got better mileage, better range and was priced better, too, from what I recall. When the Cruze diesel came out, I recall reading an online comparo of the two, where the journalists drove both on a long road trip of 700-900 miles or so.



Not to mention that Jetta TDI has been long established and pretty much single-handedly owns the entry-level diesel family car market.

Yeah gotta start somewhere. Can't expect a car to win over everyone who as been driving these diesels since the 80s.

I drove the Jetta too but they feel so cheap now. Plus I wasn't buying anything that didn't have a 1 as the first digit in the vin. Merica.


**** you auto correct!