The 2014 Chevrolet Sonic offers more size than its smaller sibling the Spark and is still small enough to be classified as a subcompact. This car comes in with quickness, great handling, an excellent fuel efficiency and truly fun experience behind the wheel. Carrying the badge as the quietest in its class the Sonic brings a lot to the table to entice anyone shopping in this class.
Offering nimble handling and a reasonable amount of road absorption, the steering and suspension of the Sonic are built to please any driver. This car can be set up with a load of great technology to make all the techies smile and improve the overall fun of the drive ahead. Any owner of the Sonic will seek out the curviest canyon-style road they can find in order to have the most fun possible behind the wheel if this great car. Offering a couple different engines and transmissions, this vehicle can be set up to save fuel or add power to the agile handling, either way this is a vehicle anyone could fall in love with.
At the baseline, the Sonic is powered by a 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine offered on the LS, LT, and LTZ models which has 138 horsepower and 125 lb.-ft. of torque. Even though the numbers are small, Ft Lauderdale Chevrolet tells us to remember this is a subcompact car, which means a whole lot less weight than full size cars. When paired with the five-speed manual transmission the fuel economy is 26 city/35 hwy mpg and when partnered with the six-speed automatic the fuel efficiency is 25 city/35 hwy mpg. Seeing these numbers means whatever transmission the owner choses will offer basically the same fuel efficiency, so this is completely up to personal preference.
The second engine offered, although a bit smaller, is a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with is optional for the LT and LTZ models and standard on the RS model. This engine brings 138 horsepower and 148 lb.-ft. of torque giving it more power than the larger engine. The fuel economy for this engine is a fantastic 29 city/40 hwy mpg for the six-speed manual transmission and 27 city/37 hwy mpg for the six-speed automatic. In this case the choice does make some difference in fuel efficiency.
Inside the Sonic is a nice array of materials in a two-toned look that feels like quickness and speed from the inside out. The gauges are motorcycle inspired and rear seating is actually roomy and fairly comfortable. The storage offered isn’t a lot to brag about, but can be configured different ways to add more using the 40/60 split bench rear seat. The controls are easy to find and understand, anyone who has owned a Chevrolet product in the past will find all of them easily. Overall, the inside of the Sonic makes it feel like a more expensive car than it really is; a very nice touch in the subcompact class.
Whether it’s the hatchback or the sedan that is chosen, the Sonic offers a fairly nice and unique look to it. Even though it doesn’t scream speed at anyone, it does shout fun from the highest point of the curviest road. With its snub nosed front face and four circular headlights and two fog lights, the wide-eyed look offers a desire to go for a spin. Shaped like a bullet in the hatchback model, the Sonic asks to be shot down the street. All versions of this easy to drive car offer aluminum alloy wheels except the very base model; another nice upgraded touch by Chevrolet.
Standard equipment for the Sonic is not extensive, but does offer some very nice features. Included in this list for the base model is air conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, audio controls on the steering wheel, a four-speaker audio system, OnStar with a six-month subscription included in the price, and ten airbags to keep everyone safe in case of a collision. Unfortunately anyone needing power mirrors, locks, and cruise control will have to add them as options or move up from the base model.
At the fully loaded model the features that are included are leatherette seats, heated front seats, a moon roof, cruise control, 17-inch wheels, MyLink infotainment system, a six-speaker audio system, remote start, four-wheel disc brakes, automatic transmission, a performance suspension kit, a sport steering wheel, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, and fog lights. Having all this in one car can really turn it from basic and boring to a really well equipped fun machine to cruise down the road in. Many of these features are based on trim model selections, but all can be had at the very top of the line to make this a car to party in.
At a very affordable price, the Chevy Sonic starts at a base price of $15,000 for the LS model. Moving up to the LT model will fetch a starting price point of $17,000 and even fully loaded the car only just reaches over $20,000, an amazing deal for such a great car.
Price, fun, and features abound, the Sonic can’t be beat in the subcompact class and offers a bevy of great features to please anyone shopping in this car category. Adding the ten airbags for all models, this is also a very safe car to drive and can add even more safety if the added driver assistance packages are added to the vehicle. Overall, the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic is a great small car to drive and a lot of fun out on the road either in the city or on the open road.
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