Posted Jun 2nd 2011 11:57AM
Comments114
Vital Stats
- Engine:
- 1.4L four-cylinder turbo
- Power:
- 138 HP / 148 LB-FT
- Transmission:
- 6-speed manual
- Drivetrain:
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Curb Weight:
- 2,500-2,700 LBS *Est.
- Seating:
- Five Passenger
- MPG:
- 40 HWY *Est.
When the Ford Fiesta first touched down in 2010, the model seemed doomed to follow in the footsteps of the American compact cars that had gone before it. Through December of that year, sales of the smallest member of the Blue Oval family failed to crest more than 4,000 units per month. Despite a pandemic marketing campaign and healthy buzz ahead of the vehicle's launch, production delays and tolerable gas prices did little to help usher the models off of dealer lots. But as fuel prices inch ever skyward, the littlest Blue Oval has begun gaining traction. In May alone, 7,120 Fiesta units leapt off of lots. Even more importantly, the tiny cars carried a higher average transaction price than the outgoingFord Focus, Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla - all substantially larger vehicles.
With the little Ford poised for some big numbers this year, it's clear that U.S. buyers are embracing domestic small cars like they haven't done in ages. General Motors is understandably keen to prove that it, too, can build a B-segment contender. The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is the company's latest effort in the category. As the successor to the egregiously disappointing Aveo, the Sonic needs to prove that GM can do more than unload Korean hatches at the dock. We took to the wheel of a few pre-production models in Indianapolis, Indiana to see how the effort is coming along.
Despite retaining a profile that's remarkably similar to its predecessor, the Sonic is an aggressively styled vehicle in either hatchback or sedan guise. Much of the compact's personality comes from its angular visage and massive, scowling quad headlamps, which give the impression that the Sonic is either deep in furious thought or on the verge of eating your cat. It's kind of like a less cuddly version of ALF. Those headlights are built with four smaller lenses instead of a single, larger polycarbonate cover. While the design makes for a striking looker in the flesh, we'd hate to have to scrub bug bits from the details.
Large fender arches dominate the side of the Sonic hatch along with two forward-leaning lines. The upper half of that parallel wraps up into the cabin's window opening while the lower detail slides over the rear wheel well. Move toward the rear of the vehicle and you'll notice a standard spoiler and blacked-out tail lamps.
Unfortunately, our pre-pro tester hatchbacks didn't come wearing an interior that was indicative of final models. The good news is that GM allowed us to photograph a sedan with interior bits that were closer to what buyers can expect to see when the Sonic arrives in dealerships at the end of this year.
Chevrolet treats the driver to a small steering wheel with simulated perforation and all the appropriate contours. The piece stands ahead of the new compact's motorcycle-inspired gauge cluster. When we first laid eyes on the massive tachometer and blue LCD screen back at the Detroit Auto Show, we weren't entirely taken with the design, but we've grown to appreciate its simplicity. The large tachometer is easy to read and the massive miles-per-hour reading keeps the driver constantly informed of vehicle speed. Given the substantial adjustability built into the seats and steering wheel, we do wish that the pod was maneuverable as well.
We won't spend too much time picking apart the cockpit until we get some more time with a final production Sonic, but we will say that that the cabin felt cheaper than models like the Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit.
The Sonic will arrive with two engine options - a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter four with an estimated 138 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 125 pound-feet of torque at 3,800 rpm and a turbocharged 1.4-liter four with 138 hp at 4,900 rpm and a heady 148 lb-ft of torque at just 1,850 rpm. Those powertrain options should sound plenty familiar, as they're the same beating hearts employed in the larger, heavier Chevrolet Cruze.
The minds at GM expect most buyers to saddle up with the larger displacement four-cylinder and an optional six-speed automatic gear box, though a five-speed manual is also available. Those who opt up to the turbo 1.4-liter turbo will be able to choose between a six-speed automatic and a six-speed manual cogswapper.
Our first chance to drive the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic was limited to a handful of autocross runs designed to demonstrate just how much work that the company's engineers have poured into the vehicle's chassis and suspension development. In total, 60 percent of the Sonic's body structure is comprised of high-strength steel, which not only aids in crash protection, but also creates greater chassis stiffness for a sharper driving feel. Those familiar with the mashed potato dynamics of the compact's predecessor will be relieved to hear that GM has crafted an incredibly sharp machine - at least for dodging cones. Check out the Short Cut below to see how the Sonic performed. (Special thanks to Craig Cole from AutolineDaily.com for letting us ride shotgun during his run.)
