Used 2012 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback Consumer Reviews
Used Sonic for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Great Buy
stompthegas, 07/12/2012
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
32 of 33 people found this review helpful
I have owned a string of Japanese cars for the past 20 years including 2 Camrys, Corolla, Sequioa, Maxima, Infinti, Sentra, Frontier plus a few domestics, Cavalier, Corsica, Dakota RT, Durango, Contour V6, Corvette, and a Taurus. I grew up up on Pintos, Dusters, and other rust buckets. Plus I have rented 100's of car of all various makes and models. This is by far the biggest bang for the buck I have ever owned or drove. I have the base model purchased at a steep discount but the car still far exceeds my expectations. The 1.8 engine combined with the manual 5 speed is a hoot to drive. It feels quick, handles great, and is reasonably comfortable and quiet.
Sonic LTZ Turbo 1.4 Hatchback
daveh14, 03/05/2012
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
50 of 54 people found this review helpful
Just purchased a week ago. Car rides and handles great. Had a hard time finding the turbo model - bought it sight unseen as it was in-transit to the dealer. Makes driving enjoyable again (my previous car was a mini-van). Getting great fuel mileage, so far, averaging about 36 with a high of 41 (and that's doing about 70 on the highway). Comfortable seating and looking forwards to a cross-country trip this summer.
2012 Chevrolet Sonic for sale near you
Showing 3 of 202 listings
- LS 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $4,995100 mi away
- LTZ 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $5,495106 mi away
- LTZ SedanMSRP: $7,980111 mi away
See all 202 listings
Great value, fun to drive
davejet, 08/07/2012
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
My primary criteria for a new car were that it be small and four-wheel down towable behind my motor home. I narrowed my choice to the Honda Fit and Chevrolet Sonic. It looked at and drove both cars in the top trim levels. I purchased the Sonic because I got much more car for less money. I couldnt be happier with my decision. The Sonic is fun to drive, has plenty of power and has all the bells and whistles including Bluetooth for the phone, automatic headlights, cruise control, etc. There is no wind noise on the freeway and the ride is extremely smooth. I dont realize Im doing 75 until I look at the digital speedometer. After several weeks with most new cars, I usually have a list of fixit items for the dealer. There is no list for the Sonic. I paid 18, 372 for the car.
brand new sonic
igelbuki, 02/12/2012
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
22 of 25 people found this review helpful
Picked up a new 1.4 liter, turbo today. The drive home was minimal hiway, mainly a 170 mile route on state back roads and through small villages. The car handles very nicely, and is very comfortable front seat for over 3 hrs. first drive. I've read a number of online reviews and the pickup was as advertised with the turbo. With a real mix of driving I averaged just over 37 mpg, and it was in cold weather. The controls are pretty intuitive, and the simple drivers side arm rest a small but nice feature ( plenty of smaller cars lack this ). Plenty of storage places all around. I'm hoping to add to this review after it is broken in.
Hits the mark
knobbytire, 12/02/2012
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I replaced a very troublesome Mazda 5 with a Sonic LTZ hatchback. I'm averaging right around 40 MPG, and once was getting 52 MPG and my worst fuel economy on a tank was 33 MPG. It handles nicely, is efficient on interior space and fits really well into a small garage. it's comfy enough that we packed the entire family in the car and made a 13 hour road trip. With 5000 miles on it, I've had no problems, and it doesn't even have any rattles. The Bluetooth and hands free is great, though I wish you could control an iPhone from the steering wheel.
1.4 turbo 6 speed manual
Mark Sicafuse, 02/19/2016
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
This car is fun to drive. No mechanical issues other than sway bar links covered under warranty. Sport package with 17" wheels not super great in northeast Ohio winters but the other 10 months a joy to drive and own .
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2012 Sonic LTZ AC bad
CC, 08/29/2018
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
The AC unit will go out, mine went out at 140,000 miles have to disconnect the battery anytime you mess with the AC controls to reset the AC. I have taken it in to two different service mechanics and they cant find the problem. When looking up the problem on the web I came across a website with people that have had the same problems and it can not be fixed. Being from AZ this is a huge problem....
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Love my Sonic!
krystalhoffman, 12/10/2012
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I absolutely love my Chevy Sonic Hatchback. It's extremely fun to drive, has great MPG (35-40 for me), has great handling, and is comfortable. It's an inexpensive car that has some great features like Bluetooth and such. The main problems I've had with this car are the tires. I have had 11 flat tires in 10 months. They seem to go flat for no reason, so I'm hoping it's just the stock tires on it. I've also had a few other problems with parts breaking. I drive my car pretty hard though (being a teenager in Wyoming), so it's not surprising. Luckily, my warranty covered nearly everything.
Best value subcompact
Jay, 11/14/2018
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
This car is by far the best value of any subcompact. I have a 2012 sonic LTZ hatchback with 1.4l turbo and 6-speed manual. It is fun, looks great, has plenty of room, is comfortable, handles well, rides well, has good power for subcompact, has needed 0 items or repairs, less tires, brakes, oil changes, and etc. I have yet to get under 39 mpg Combined on any tank since I've owned the car. I dont understand the draw to the honda fit. It's a boring car that partially resembles both a turtle shell and a cheese wedge. No fun. The sonic is a great car to run an ecm tune on- hold up very well when power is increased. If you are looking at the sonic, try out the 6- speed manual version! Great shifter and transmission and has a 'hill holder' function built in to car. The only subcompact able to be taken on frequent long road trips imo. Handles the highway much better than the Fit, Fiesta, or Rio. The cost of ownership is crazy low! I have saved a ton of money. No coolant temp gauge which I dont like, but at least has a light that comes on if it were to get hot. Other than that, it is the perfect subcompact for the money. I have snow tires on and live in NH. Has traction control that can be toggled and fog lights. Great in the snow.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2012 Chevy Sonic Hatchback
katiec3, 05/15/2015
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
I just bought this car used a few days ago, and so far I really enjoy it. My last car was a Jeep Wrangler, and while nothing compares to that, I am pleasantly surprised at how much I like this car. It gets pretty decent gas mileage, the inside is surprisingly roomy and with the folding seats and extra space from the hatchback, I'm excited to see what I can fit back there. I commute to two different jobs and to school 6 days a week, so having a fuel efficient and more reliable car was becoming a must have. I wanted something with a similar amount of room as my Jeep and in the hatchback style. I will be sure to post if my opinion changes, but so far I am very happy!
Loving it
Pat, 06/28/2017
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
I have 2012 . I dives like a new car. I love it . Quiet, feels good, rides great. I bought it with 102,000 miles for 5,000.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Horrible Car-Asking for a Refund
cheyenneh, 01/10/2012
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
29 of 41 people found this review helpful
My husband and I bought our 2012 Sonic Dec. 10th after weeks of car shopping. The car spun a bearing 15 days later (on Christmas Day) and was completely undriveable. Our local dealership, which has been very helpful throughout this whole ordeal, tried to get GM to replace the car. GM refused and told the dealership to just rebuild the defective engine. The dealership refused, and GM agreed to replace the engine-not the car, just the engine. The dealership installed the new engine, but the discovered while test driving it that the cam shaft sensor was bad in the new engine. It has been over 2 weeks, and there are still issues with the car. GM customer service is VERY unhelpful and dishonest.
LOVE my Sonic!
lagrinceri, 01/10/2013
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I bought my Sonic LT Hatch in April and I've loved every minute of it. From it's exterior design that stands out daily, to the comfortable interior with neat features (came with the bluetooth and conv package) I wouldn't change my mind for anything. I spent a year+ researching cars and I finally found a match with the Sonic. Coming from a 2005 Ford Focus manual, it was different getting used to the automatic transmission. Once you get past that hump, it's a win-win for everyone.
I Wouldn't Buy One Again
jaxjack92, 10/25/2013
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
For a small car the Sonic's fuel economy is poor. The car's computer claims I attain 5.6 mpg than I actually get. (eg the computer tells me I am averaging 30mpg when manual calculations reflect 24.4mpg. Pretty darn poor considering I drive 60% hwy. The car is comfortable for the driver & front passenger but if either is 6 feet or more only children will be comfortable in the back. Shifting gears in the automatic transmission is VERY noticeable & I only have 5,000 mi on the car.
Dirt Devil Demon!
Dissatisfied Customer, 12/19/2020
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
I drove this vehicle for a little over a year. The dealership I purchased it from dubbed it the demon car from day 3. Every common issue googled has happened with said car. Coolant and oil leaks. I was in the shop so often that they even asked if I was self sabotaging my car!? The oil cap mysteriously disappears while driving and is noticeable only when exiting the highway due to smoke blazing everywhere from burning. I am so happy this car is no longer mine. Definitely a demon car that I will gladly never drive again.
Don't buy a Sonic!!!
doc, 12/03/2017
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
10 of 18 people found this review helpful
Chevy should be ashamed to build/sell such a deathtrap! At 4.5 years, I have already replaced battery twice, alternator, A/C compressor, radiator, thermostat, fan switch, cooling fan, coil pack, and plugs
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
5dr Sonic Turbo Automatic
John, 08/13/2015
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 13 people found this review helpful
I did not pick this car - though I got it brand new - very grateful. But want to save potential buyers from getting duped. This turbo engine is very dangerous to drive - terrible lag. And car will not move when temperature is high. Seems to be worst at 100 degrees or above- but noticeable by 95. Do NOT buy a turbo of you live in a desert climate! Besides danger- it gets 16 mpg city and less than 30 hwy when it is hot! Dealer refuses to address issue or stand behind this car. Has been doing this since new. High temps means dangerous car with horrible gas mileage. I believe it is a design flaw. Also I have had a water pump and broken AC already . Car has 30k from commute and I've only used premium oil and taken meticulous care of it. Transmission is now going nuts and the entire car rattles like a 67 Buick. Again hwy miles and never abused. I wanted to like this car and give Chevrolet a chance...but after two years I can say I'd never buy another Chevrolet. Back to German, or Japanese:Korean if economy. Sonic is very safe and comfortable , spacious and quiet cabin, and has lots of features...but unfortunately the quality just isn't there. I doubt this vehicle will be running to 100 k miles. (Even with most all miles be freeway.) in addition trade in value is already 8 grand on this premium level car( a comparable Honda Fit would be worth much much more. Very high depreciation on sonic as they have become rental cars across the United States I guess) Bottom line is if you DO buy a sonic do not buy the turbo. Yes it's more fun to drive because of torque but is annoyingly slow off the line always - and dangerously slow when engine temp is affected by summer weather. I wouldn't recommend anyone buy a Sonic. 16 MPG in town and the dealer says car is fine? Speaks volumes of Chevrolet product.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2012 Sonic LT
D. Meeks, 01/05/2016
updated 07/08/2019
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 7 people found this review helpful
Bought it. Love it!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
not worth it!
Emily, 12/12/2015
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 8 people found this review helpful
The gas and brake pedals are super sensitive. This car also sucks on gas. Im putting $10 in every other day and im only renting the car while mine is being fixed. I would definitely not recommend this carm
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
I love this car, 100,000k review 2012 Sonic LT 1.4L Turbo
jfus, 06/29/2015
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought the 2012 Sonic LT 1.4L Turbo automatic. Bought brand new. I've been doing city driving/long distance trips (300+ miles) on freeways/rural roads. I drove in cool/warm/hot desert weather. Acceleration, steering, braking is great. Interior is comfy and roomy. Only issue I had was with cooling system. During first 5K miles, hoses started to leak. Later on at 38k miles~ water pump started to leak, and was replaced. At 75k miles~ radiator needed to be replaced (due to hole). At 98k miles engine overheated due to water pump leaking and thermostat issue; Water pump replaced again, therm. also. All repair issues were covered through 100k warranty (except for radiator, warranty ends at 60k).
6 speed manual 1.4 sonic
igelbuki, 03/29/2012
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
17 of 57 people found this review helpful
Now with 1100 miles on sonic, and hiway driving at 68 mph is 41-42 mpg. Plenty of acceleration when needed, and the ride is comfortable.
Decent little car that I recommend, but I had some issues
donovan1983, 07/09/2014
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
I got the base LT hatchback with no cruise control or bluetooth and with the 5-speed manual. It's a fun little car to drive due to handling and braking, though I came to dislike the drivetrain a bit. I took a lot of longer trips in the car and it is great for that, both in comfort and in gas mileage. I recently traded it in, however, mostly due to a need to get something with an automatic transmission so I could share the car and to get something a little larger. I feel build quality could have been a little better, though many of my issues could have been due to having a first-year model. Despite my issues I'd still recommend this car and think it's a great value.
Don't waist your hard earned money on this pile
christina, 09/18/2015
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
7 of 36 people found this review helpful
the same tire is loosing air as before I got the tires rotated. I scheduled my appointment a week in advance for the recall of the stereo, oil change and rotation. I know they didn't rotate the tires. I have a monthly update for my brand new car from on star services and the same tire is loosing air as before the rotation and oil change. I have proof. and the crackle in my driver side speakers is still happening. I told them when I was there. no one said anything about it, it was just on the reciept(checked speakers and everything is fine) .. it's not fine, it crackles.. BRAND NEW CAR CRACKLES!! ever since I purchased the BRAND NEW CAR I have had nothing but trouble!! it handles HORRIBLY! ! WORST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED OUT OF 6!!! I told Matt when I had 5,000 miles on it 2 months later and the most they could exchange it for was 13,000 out of the 18,000 I spent =, ( I HATE my sonic. biggest rip off ! feel like I was stolen from! chevy should discontinue this pieve of trash!!! taking turns on the express way is scary in this pile of junk!! in my brand new car!!!!!! that I'm 15,000 in debt for! can't believe now crackle the radio is when I haven't even turned it up past half way!! OOO AND I PUT THOUGH A CAR WASH AND SOME OF THE PAINT CAME OFFFFFF MY BRAND NEWWWWW CARRRRRR!!!!!!!! BUMPS AND TURNS R PAINFUL!!! DO NOT EVER BUY A SONIC!! EVERYONE WHO HAS ONE HATES IT!!!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Don't fall for the lies!
jimmymoon, 08/06/2012
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 35 people found this review helpful
Chevrolet loves to boast the claim that their little bucket of plastic known as the Chevy Sonic LT will blast the streets gnabbing a low mileage of 25mpg City, but let me tell you now, that's a straight of fallacy. I've owned one of these P.O.S. since decemeber, when they were 17,000. This craptacular ride gets maybe a whopping 19 miles per every gallon, and all chevy claims is that there is nothing wrong! Mind you I've taken every avenue they've suggested, tried using fuel from their suggested stations, and even went so far as to try a few cleaners. Not a thing has brought me over that 19mpg threshhold. If you're thinking about buying this car, DON'T Chevy will not stand behind it.
I had hoped for more . . .
kebleil, 01/23/2013
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 24 people found this review helpful
We purchased this car - actually it's the LT Turbo 6m - in July 2012. Right away we were disappointed with the mpg and the discrepancies with the digital read-out. On average, we probably get 2-3 mpg less than what the car says we do. It seems like the mpg's are all over the place as you read the reviews. Some getting fantastic - some getting terrible mileages. We are usually in the 30-32mpg range. What is confusing is that we got better mileage at first but it seems to be declining. We are nearly 7000 miles. The disappointment was accentuated when after 7 weeks of ownership we were pelted with extensive hail damage - not gm's fault, of course, but it lowered our excitement.
My Chevrolet Sonic 2012 was a lemon
KDM, 04/17/2025
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
As soon as the warranty on my Sonic expired, all sorts of bad things started happening. After nearly 10 years of ownership and not even 50,000 miles, I began putting out more and more money, spending almost $7000 in two years. First, the ignition and shifter kept sticking, so I spent almost $5000 to fix those and a few other minor things. A few months later I brought it in for a 50,000 mile check. The check engine light was on and the mechanic said there was a vacuum leak and the valve cover had to be replaced. Another couple hundred dollars spent. And now today, 12 years later, smoke was coming out of the hood as I was driving it. The mechanic said I needed to replace a hose. More money spent. A few years later when I would try to adjust the volume on the stereo, the stereo would turn off because the same knob was used to do both things. The key fob ended up falling apart and cracking. When I tried to unlock the door one day, my finger went right through the key fob and pressed the wires underneath and the alarm started going off. Luckily I still had my spare. As soon as I was able to get it smogged, I sold it to Carvana ASAP. I know I took a big loss, but I wanted to get rid of it before something else broke down. After my experience, I will never buy another Chevy vehicle again.
Nice car but I got the black sheep
Bev W, 09/12/2017
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Have had a problem with the radio since day one. Even put another year after extended 5 year warranty had expired. After 3 new stereos and new passenger speaker still not fixed. Replaced the shift box twice. Great on gas and is a comfortable car for me.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value