![2015 chevy sonic engine diagram 2015 chevy sonic engine diagram](https://platform.cstatic-images.com/xlarge/in/v2/stock_photos/835c790a-7865-415f-bdfe-7e3fc9d24c97/097ae631-5791-4830-ba89-ba3075b5a9c8.png)
The fun-to-drive factor is highest with the manual and turbo 1.4-liter, though the six-speed automatic paired with the base engine is surprisingly proficient at holding lower gears, keeping the revs up during spirited driving.īack where I normally drive - the grid street layout of suburban Chicago - the 1.4-liter’s strengths would scarcely be used. Just the six-speed manual comes with the turbo engine. Transmission choices include a standard five-speed manual and an optional six-speed automatic for the base engine. The base engine takes more time to wind out at low speeds, while the 1.4 is ready to go at the press of the accelerator. Though the two engines’ horsepower ratings are the same, the turbo engine’s advantage is most evident on winding roads, where its greater torque at lower rpm hastily pulls the car out of corners. Differentiating the 1.4-liter from the base engine, besides the additional $700 it will cost you, is an additional 23 pounds-feet of torque. The lighter Sonic is peppier and more responsive than its larger sibling. A 1.8-liter four-cylinder is standard on all trim levels, while a turbocharged 1.4-liter can be had on LT and LTZ trims. The Chevrolet Sonic’s engines are taken directly from the Chevy Cruze. There’s a feeling of sturdiness and heft over bumps and uneven pavement. Back on city streets and highways, the Sonic’s solid, composed ride is impressive for a small car. The Chevrolet Sonic showed off its sporty aptitude on the twisty California roads where I drove it, exhibiting good composure and minimal body roll. The expense seems worth the cost, as the Sonic is quiet on the inside, with few rattles and unwanted noises. Chevrolet says the increased rigidity of an alloy wheel gives the desired low levels of noise, vibration and harshness. The Sonic is fitted with standard alloy wheels of 15, 16 or 17 inches, a rarity in a segment where steel wheels and plastic covers are the norm. It took me a few embarrassing attempts grasping at sheet metal to find the real handle, but owners will quickly adjust to the non-traditional location. The redeeming quality there is that at first glance the hidden rear door handle - it’s behind the window instead of on the door - makes the hatchback look like a coupe. The hatchback’s outline resembles the old Aveo. Still, it’s a stylish contrast on the Sonic. That color combo conjures images of a 1957 Chevrolet Corvette or the Adam West-era Batmobile, both of which undoubtedly wore it better than the Sonic does. The most attractive color combination I spotted was a black sedan with an optional dark-red “brick” dashboard, available on LT and Chevrolet Sonic LTZ models. The Sonic’s sharp lines and aggressive styling stand out among the many uninteresting-looking cheap cars on the market (hello, Nissan Versa). I test-drove the sedan and hatchback versions of the Chevrolet Sonic LT and LTZ. The Sonic is available as a sedan or hatchback in LS, LT and LTZ trims. A six-speed automatic, now optional with the base engine, will be available with the turbo engine in spring 2012. The Sonic’s optional turbocharged 1.4-liter engine boosts mileage to 40 mpg on the highway, though for now it’s only available with a six-speed manual transmission. The base 1.8-liter engine’s 35 mpg highway rating is merely average in a segment where high gas mileage and low prices flourish. The all-new Chevrolet Sonic’s style, ride quality and fun-to-drive nature land the new car well past the Chevrolet Aveo it replaces and establish it as a competitive player in the exploding subcompact field.Ĭhevrolet accomplished its goal of creating a sport-oriented Sonic, but buyers on a budget will have to decide if fun is more important than fuel economy.