What is it:A new Chevrolet subcompact in sedan or hatchback guise, replacing the late, largely unmissed Aveo
THE SONIC: A competitive edge in the subcompact car market
Design: Chevrolet has attempted to distill the sporty styling of some of its bigger vehicles into the smaller frame of the Sonic-and largely succeeds. The proportions are spot-on, from the pronounced lip around the wheel wells to the pronounced character line on the doors. The headlamps look different from the typical small car’s, in that the black-framed units are exposed rather than hidden behind another lens cover. Gaps in the body panels, where the doors, fenders and hood meet other parts, are tight. Aside from making the car look better, they are designed to cut wind noise. The hatchback has hidden rear handles, to give the car the appearance of a 3-door.
The interior features nicely textured plastic and fabrics to exude a more upscale feel. The instrument panel, as on the Sonic’s little brother, the Spark, is inspired by a motorcycle cluster. Its rotary tachometer and digital speedometer lend a sporty touch. The Sonic contains convenience features like steering wheel audio controls and 60:40 split-folding rear seats. The head unit provides iPod and Bluetooth connectivity.
Engine and transmission: Sonic is powered by a 1.4-liter 16-valve gasoline engine good for an even 98.63 hp and 130 Nm. Both sedan and hatchback are available in manual and automatic versions. The manual gets five gears, while the auto is even better, with six forward ratios.
Chassis: The car rides on MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam at the rear. Sonic comes with sharp-looking 16-inch alloys as standard. The sedan has a compact footprint of just under 4400 mm long and 1735 mm wide.
Positioning: The Sonic puts Chevrolet on a competitive edge in the subcompact car market, with a level of content and specifications that put some of the best-selling Japanese nameplates to shame. The sedan starts at P778,888 for the manual and P828,888 for the automatic. The hatchback is just P10,000 more expensive, at P788,888 for the manual and P838,888 for the automatic.