   2012 Chevrolet Sonic. Click image to enlarge |
The LT starts at $16,495 for the sedan and $17,495 for the hatch and adds air conditioning, cruise control, body coloured door handles with a chrome strip, six-speaker premium sound with CD player and MP3, power windows with driver side express up and down, power heated side mirrors and a chrome shift knob. Optional equipment includes a six-speed automatic transmission with remote start ($1,500); heated cloth seats ($405); appearance package (17-inch wheels, sunroof and fog lamps – $2,095 on sedan, $1,550 on hatch); sound package (XM satellite radio and USB with audio streaming – $510), and; Peace of Mind package.
The LTZ gets the Cruze’s 1.4-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine which is coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission. Everything that is optional on the LT is standard equipment on the LTZ with the exception of the sunroof which can be ordered separately ($1,100). As well, LTZ standard equipment includes perforated leather seating surfaces, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and telephone controls and a six-speaker sound system that has XM satellite radio, USB port, CD player, MP3 playback, auxiliary input jack and Bluetooth audio streaming. LTZ pricing starts at $20,495 for the sedan and $20,995 for the hatchback.
$21K plus freight, taxes and other charges sounds like a lot of money for a sub-compact, and it is. But General Motors, as well as many of its key competitors, are taking the subcompact upmarket, way upmarket. Subcompact and economy car are no longer synonymous; and General Motors is betting that the smaller footprint of the Sonic (both its size and its environmental impact) will appeal to young singles and couples as well as empty nesters and retirees.
While the Sonic is smaller than the Chevrolet Cruze, it uses the same engines as the larger compact model: a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated 4-cylinder in LS and LT trims and a 1.4-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder for the LTZ. Both engines produce exactly the same 138 horsepower, but the 1.4-litre has 18 per cent more torque (148 lb.-ft. vs.125). As well, maximum horsepower and torque in the 1.4-litre is reached at a much lower r.p.m. As a result, the 1.4-litre feels stronger and delivers power more readily when needed.
 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. Click image to enlarge |
Available transmissions include a 5-speed manual and an optional 6-speed automatic with the 1.8-litre engine, while the 1.4-litre turbo engine is mated to a 6-speed manual only.
Fuel consumption for the 1.8-litre is rated by Energuide at 7.7 L/100 km city and 5.6 L/100 km highway for cars equipped with the manual transmission and 8.3 L/100 km city, 5.5 L/100 km highway for the automatic.
The 1.4-litre turbo engine delivers 7.3 L/100 km in the city and 5.1 L/100 km on the highway, while giving the Sonic a noticeable boost in power at the lower end of the power band. LTZ owners really do get to have their cake and eat it too. While the improved fuel economy won’t pay back the cost of moving up to the LTZ, it will pay you back a little bit every time you get behind the wheel or pull up to a gas pump. Fuel grade for the turbo engine is regular unleaded.
