Can anyone confirm the 6-spd manual in the sonic is/feels the same as the Cruze?
- Thread starter leaky
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laborsmith
New member
Slight difference in gearing (first thru third) and final drive ratio and the Eco weighs about 150lbs more than the Sonic.
Both use the same engine and trans but there may be (unconfirmed) a different clutch.
Never test drove the Cruze so can not speak from personal experience but the differences appear to me of gradation so I would bet the dollar to a donut that their drive will be quite similar.
Laborsmith
Both use the same engine and trans but there may be (unconfirmed) a different clutch.
Never test drove the Cruze so can not speak from personal experience but the differences appear to me of gradation so I would bet the dollar to a donut that their drive will be quite similar.
Laborsmith
I've test-driven a Cruze 1LT and a Sonic LT, both with 6-speeds, and I didn't feel the linkage on the Sonic was quite as precise as the Cruze's. I would have no problem living with the Sonic's, but the Cruze's was just so nice.
The thing about the Sonic that bugged me the most was the driver's armrest was mounted too high to comfortably shift, and I don't see any way to adjust it.
As others have said, the Sonic's top gears are the same as the Cruze Eco's, but the Sonic has an even taller final drive. But tire diameter seems to equalize things though because the mph/1000 rpms is pretty much the same. The Cruze LT's 6th gear is the same as the Eco's 5th, with a more even spread below that.
The thing about the Sonic that bugged me the most was the driver's armrest was mounted too high to comfortably shift, and I don't see any way to adjust it.
As others have said, the Sonic's top gears are the same as the Cruze Eco's, but the Sonic has an even taller final drive. But tire diameter seems to equalize things though because the mph/1000 rpms is pretty much the same. The Cruze LT's 6th gear is the same as the Eco's 5th, with a more even spread below that.
Gimpster
New member
Melvin,
Unless I'm going down the interstate I don't use my armrest at all. In any traffic where I have to shift much its just ALWAYS in the way. Basically my elbow hits the tip of the arm rest, or I have to contort my arm around it.
I drove a Cruze 6spd when I was shopping for my Sonic, and they felt about the same to me. Perhaps the Cruze did feel a bit better, but it wasn't enough to deter me from buying the Sonic. We know they use the same shifter assembly for sure, ... so it must be a difference in the cables?
In general I wish to firm up the shifts on my Sonic, and I'm kinda looking around for solid bushings.
Unless I'm going down the interstate I don't use my armrest at all. In any traffic where I have to shift much its just ALWAYS in the way. Basically my elbow hits the tip of the arm rest, or I have to contort my arm around it.
I drove a Cruze 6spd when I was shopping for my Sonic, and they felt about the same to me. Perhaps the Cruze did feel a bit better, but it wasn't enough to deter me from buying the Sonic. We know they use the same shifter assembly for sure, ... so it must be a difference in the cables?
In general I wish to firm up the shifts on my Sonic, and I'm kinda looking around for solid bushings.
Gimpster,
That pretty much sums it up for me - I think most of the test drive I had the armrest up. I wonder why it was placed so high? I think it would be ideal if it was pretty much level with the top of the shifter.
And the difference between the two shifters was so small it could possibly be written off as production variances. I would gladly own the Sonic 6-speed and enjoy shifting it.
I also recently drove an '08 Cobalt SS with 70K miles and it didn't shift nearly as well as either of the new cars. We'll have to see how the Sonic/Cruze shift when they have that many miles on the clock. Of course, I'm sure the SS has a much heavier gearbox than the other two.
That pretty much sums it up for me - I think most of the test drive I had the armrest up. I wonder why it was placed so high? I think it would be ideal if it was pretty much level with the top of the shifter.
And the difference between the two shifters was so small it could possibly be written off as production variances. I would gladly own the Sonic 6-speed and enjoy shifting it.
I also recently drove an '08 Cobalt SS with 70K miles and it didn't shift nearly as well as either of the new cars. We'll have to see how the Sonic/Cruze shift when they have that many miles on the clock. Of course, I'm sure the SS has a much heavier gearbox than the other two.
Thanks guys, sounds like I can expect something similar.. Cruze transmission was nothing short of amazing, like you'd expect from a Euro import.
Reading reviews one said the Sonic's transmission was "clunky", sounded really off to me if it's at all similar to an Eco. Actually drove a 2012 Focus 5-speed and my first thought was how the tranny felt like a 90's escort
..
Really close to ordering a Sonic LTZ w/ the 1.4T & 6-spd. Never gonna get to drive one equipped like that before I really need to buy a vehicle. Have to judge by putting the pieces together based on a Cruze Eco and Sonic 1.8 automatic.
Jon
Reading reviews one said the Sonic's transmission was "clunky", sounded really off to me if it's at all similar to an Eco. Actually drove a 2012 Focus 5-speed and my first thought was how the tranny felt like a 90's escort
.. Really close to ordering a Sonic LTZ w/ the 1.4T & 6-spd. Never gonna get to drive one equipped like that before I really need to buy a vehicle. Have to judge by putting the pieces together based on a Cruze Eco and Sonic 1.8 automatic.
Jon
dumpsterj
New member
I test drove the cruze eco before i bought my sonic , they both felt very similar , you can feel the extra size of the cruze but it didnt seem slower or anything. TBO I havent really beat on the sonic yet. I decided to go ltz sonic instead of eco cruze as it was cheaper and i hate cloth seats