2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ Turbo
No car in this test more surprised us than the Sonic, the replacement for the reviled, retrograde, repellent Aveo. GM has said goodbye to all that the Aveo was, and, more important, to all that it wasn’t.
Naturally, we opted for the 138-horse, 1.4-liter turbo, as deployed in the Cruze. That engine, which rarely reveals its force-fed nature, pulled the Sonic through the quarter-mile a mere 0.1 second behind our “speedy” Hyundai. It might have surpassed it, in fact, if it didn’t weigh so much—433 pounds beefier than, say, the Yaris. Notice that the Sonic’s as-tested sticker
is big-time beefy, too.
The steering—a little too eager to confess its electric motivation—is at least light and quick, and the wheel is adjustable for reach and rake. Tracking is good, and ergonomics equal the Fit’s. The driver’s seat is more comfy and supportive than any in this group and proved the most soothing for six-footers. The shifter is as satisfying as the Fit’s, although the throws are a titch too long. In addition, the Sonic posted the greatest skidpad grip, no doubt abetted by the 17-inch Hankooks. On undulating roads, the car felt planted, secure, sorted. The Sonic may not be as visceral as the Fit or the Yaris, nor as direct in its reflexes. On the other hand, its drivetrain is more refined.
Love it or hate it, the motorcycle-style instrument pod—round analog tach and digital speedo—at least mimics nothing else in this segment. And, outside, the Sonic resembles a pugnacious alley cat sitting up on its haunches, ready to draw blood.
Someone at GM is apparently determined to get back in this game.
