Topic: Preview: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic

[Autos_Editor]

Replacing the Aveo, the new Chevrolet Sonic subcompact sedan and hatchback will feature class-leading rear seat legroom and cargo capacity, reports Grant Yoxon. Built in Michigan, GM's new small cars will go on sale toward the end of 2011.

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[Jack]

The name "Sonic" seems a little pretentious to me.  Perhaps "Subsonic" might be more fitting. 

[kicker]

I understand you guys can't do the same testing as the other guys , You make up for it though
But one thing I would like you to do is always list weight .
It's important . (power/ weight )

[sailor723]

I'll apologize in advance if this has already been discussed elsewhere but what is the point of offering two engines with basicly the same HP rating?

[Seafoam]

I'll apologize in advance if this has already been discussed elsewhere but what is the point of offering two engines with basicly the same HP rating?
[
/quote]

The turbo has more torque like the cruze so should feel more powerful.

[CanuckG35]

Cool looking little car, had a nice aggressive front to it.  Interior looks great as well. 

[sailor723]

I think it looks decent as well (especially the hatch). I'm not really up to date on this segment of the market. Will a "mid teens" price for the base model be competitive? What about the 9995 Accent ?

 I wonder if GM isn't where Hyundai was 10 years ago....starting to build cars that are decent but needing to price them below the competition in order to overcome people's past bad experiences ?

[Mike]

I like the look of the exterior.  Will be interesting to see it in person next month.  I gaurantee it is better then the car it replaces.....but then again.....what isn't?

[hemusbull]

I am disappointed from GM's policy to change the model name again. In customer's eyes it just means forget it, it WAS not good product! In this regard I have a sole question to GM: what is Sonic's predicted initial quality and first three years reliability?

[northsparrow]

An Aveo by any other name is still an Aveo.

Around 2016 we will know if the Daewoo DNA in this vehicle still results in typically low levels of  Daewooish quality.

[dasiuyan]

I'll apologize in advance if this has already been discussed elsewhere but what is the point of offering two engines with basicly the same HP rating?

The turbo has more torque like the cruze so should feel more powerful.

and the torque come much earlier...

[sailor723]

I get that but I still think it would be a lot easier sell for the guy on the sales floor if he could say "and the optional turbo has xx more HP". Most people only look at the HP numbers.

[Sival]

I'll apologize in advance if this has already been discussed elsewhere but what is the point of offering two engines with basicly the same HP rating?

Ugh, like others said, the torque is much stronger much sooner, and since the power of the engine is always equal to torque times RPM divided by 5252 (so an engine generating 100 lb-ft at 2600 RPM generates roughly 50 hp), this means that the engine is much stronger in everyday driving than the mere peak power indicates.

I'll add a comparison of the 1.4T to the 1.8L here, by putting up their respective torque curves.


See how the darker lines (the 1.4T) are significantly higher than the paler ones over most of the RPM range, especially in the crucial 2000 to 5000 RPM range?

So what it means is that the 1.4T is just as strong as the 2.2L engine in the Cobalt over most of the RPM range, don't believe me? Look at this graph comparing the torque curves of the two.



Oh, and also, the 1.4T gets significantly better fuel economy than the 1.8L engine, so there's that too.

[CanuckG35]

I wonder if GM isn't where Hyundai was 10 years ago....starting to build cars that are decent but needing to price them below the competition in order to overcome people's past bad experiences ?

I'd say that's very possible.

[libraman]

Up to 17 inch wheels? Wow, pretty large for a small car. I remember having a Jetta with 13 inch wheels. Is this a consumer driven trend? Makes replacing tires quite a costly venture.

[PJungnitsch]

Nice looking car. Like the motorcycle-type gauge cluster. Keeping the Cruze engines and just bolting them into a much lighter body is interesting, wonder how the mileage and accelleration will compare.

[SJP]

Looks better than the Aveo, but then again, that's not a very high mark to aim for. GM is looking good overall, and I agree, that if they can offer good vehicles at the right price, they will do well. With their past issues though, they have to offer good value to win customers.

[aaronk]

Up to 17 inch wheels? Wow, pretty large for a small car. I remember having a Jetta with 13 inch wheels. Is this a consumer driven trend? Makes replacing tires quite a costly venture.

You raise an excellent point - is the trend to larger wheels really customer driven? I would say many people's buying decision is weighed heavily on style, and one way that  manufacturers boost the style is with bigger wheels. In this case I would guess the 17's in question are on the highest level trim, those who don't want the big tires won't be forced into them. Basic models will likely feature 15" steelies with wheel covers and 16" alloys on the mid-level trim, which is normal.

This trend to high-level trims coming with illogically big wheels and tires is just silly to me though. It used to be that if you wanted to stand out and wanted big wheels you would actually go to a wheel shop and buy them aftermarket, not right from the manufacturer. I find it hard to believe that you can get 20's on a Toyota Venza, or better yet the new Ford Fusion 'Sport' (ha ha) with 22's. Just for kicks I looked up a Canadian Tire replacement cost for those massive 22's on the Edge - a basic General Tire Grabber UHP was $312/tire, the Pirelli was $526! So if you want a proper set of new tires for your Ford Edge Sport it could easily set you back $2,500 just for rubber! And because neither of those tires is suited to winter driving, you're also going to need a set of winters for another $1,500-$2,000. Near-$5K for a proper 8-tire setup? I'm sure there is a target audience out there that loves this stuff but the concept is lost on me.

[SJP]

AS to the tire debate, I agree with most comments. i am a fan of a "+!" fitment, as it can usually enhance the look of a vehicle. However, IMO it can get a bit cartoonish when it gets carried away.  The cost for replacement is a very valid concern, and I suspect it would be even more of an issue on a sub $20 000 compact than on a 30 000+ vehicle, simply because the value of the tires in relation to the value of the vehicle, especially 5 years down the road.

[sailor723]

Wheels over 18" are a reason not to consider a car as far as I'm concerned. A huge waste of money when it comes to to replace tires or shop for winters. One reason I've never even considered a Venza is the 20" standard wheel size.