Test Drive: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ hatchback

2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ hatchback. Click image to enlarge

The 1.4-litre turbo is a very torquey motor and it provides all of its torque and horsepower at a relatively low rpm.  But due to the transmission’s high gearing, any sort of passing manoeuvre at highway speeds mandates a downshift to fourth or even third gear.  When dialled into the sweet spot of the engine’s power band, the car will pull moderately hard, but as you surpass 5,000 rpm and approach the Sonic’s redline, the power starts to noticeably tail off.  I found myself short shifting the car quite often to keep it in the power zone.  Think of the Sonic LTZ as the closest a gasoline engine will get to mimicking a diesel. 

The transmission is not all bad news, however.  The shifter is very smooth and direct, it engages flawlessly and requires little effort.  The clutch was light and easy to modulate, which perfectly suits this segment and a lot of owners potentially new to manual transmissions. The throws may be a bit long for some, but this is a subcompact car, not a sports car.  The point of the tall gearing is to maximize fuel efficiency.  The Sonic LTZ is officially rated at 7.3 L/100 km highway and 5.1 L/100 km city.  During my time with the vehicle I averaged 8.2 L/100 km and I was driving it like the sports car that it is not.  I was intent on getting maximum power out of the turbo engine then maximum efficiency, so better numbers could easily be obtained.

Overall the Sonic is a solid contender in a subcompact segment that is undergoing a complete overhaul.  Long gone are the days of an entry-level vehicle only requiring four seats, four wheels, a shifter and a roof to keep you dry.  The Sonic LS and LT are guaranteed to be big sellers.  The issue will come with the manual-only Sonic LTZ.  It isn’t ‘sporty’ enough to be a legitimate hot hatch, yet it isn’t cheap or efficient enough to be an economical run-about.  One niche the Sonic LTZ may carve out for itself is the next tuner car of choice. A standard turbo, six-speed manual and solid chassis could be a great platform for the budget enthusiast.  Plus, it is already geared for a lot more power.