Used 2013 Chevrolet Sonic Consumer Reviews
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Sonic Hatch LT with 1.4L
jaar819, 12/25/2013
updated 06/27/2017
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
76 of 78 people found this review helpful
I thought the overall design of both the interior and exterior of the Sonic was very tastefully done. I liked it better than other cars in its class but this is obviously a matter of taste. The 1.4L turbo engine is smooth and fun, 6 speaker sound system which seemed better to me than other cars in class, MyLink system, body of car seemed extremely stiff, much better than Mini Clubman, the last car i owned. I know this because my driveway has a bump which puts torsional stress on the car. the mini creaked. the sonic does not. very smooth ride on highway. very low rpm of engine at highway speeds. very quiet car for subcompact. the suspension system makes car feel more like a luxury car. After owning sonic for2 2/3 years and 68,000 miles, my opinion of car has only increase. It never needed any repairs. It handles and performs as well as when new. During that time it didn't develop a creak or have anything loosen up. Would definitely buy another. Also heard that they increased performance of 1.4l engine, upping hp from 138 to 160 or something and putting in new cruze. Hoping they put in new sonic as well. - Just a review update. Now have 80k on 3 year old sonic. Car never in shop. Brakes still have wear left. Car still handles like new and never had to add oil. Officially best car I've ever owned. - second review update. I now have 100k on the car and never had a stitch of a problem - same spark plugs, brakes, wipers, even. only changed tires and oil. no rust. car doesn't burn oil. perfect. to rattles. no deterioration of the interior. no visible fading of paint. gm got the sonic so right that the same design has been used for 5 years now and it is still competitive.
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Pleased and anticipating good things...
kmanderson, 02/22/2013
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
23 of 23 people found this review helpful
Have about 600 miles now on my new Sonic LS Hatch 5speed manual. Overall I am very pleased. Steering is light & crisp, ride is poised and quiet and the car feels solid. I have been impressed. Entry to/from the rear seats is no problem and my kids all are wanting me to take them to their events in this little car. I bought this car as my 3rd car for a runabout and for my kids to drive. I traded in a Hyundai Elantra and have found the clutch, shifter and steering to be superior to what I had in the Hyundai. ---One thing I really dislike: There is a terrible reflection in the windshield of the dash and its shiny materials...especially on sunny days. So annoying. Chevy---plz help !
Little Tank
toklatpa, 10/05/2014
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
47 of 49 people found this review helpful
I'm 6'6" tall and I cannot get over the amount of room in this car nor can my passengers. Generous Leg and headroom and I can drive for hours with no fatigue. (I'm talking front seat, but I could really not care less about rear seat room, but few complaints there from passengers) Recently I hit a deer head on at 45 mph and the damage was minimal you have to look up close to see the damage, my insurance adjuster was amazed & stated that a Focus or other car in the same class would have needed towing. On this alone I will extol the virtues of this car. If you live in an area like Pennsylvania you are all too aware of Deer damage. The room and comfort of this car keeps me engaged with the road.
Very good small car
brian228, 06/11/2013
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
37 of 39 people found this review helpful
We have had our Sonic LTZ with 1.4L and automatic for just over 3 months now and have close to 8000 miles on it. So far no problems whatsoever. We are a retired couple (67 years old) and feel comfortable in this car. Gas mileage has been very good with 38.7 mpg reading on the car display and we also check it the old fashioned way and get similar results. It is a fairly quiet car depending on the road surfaces- some coarse pavement causing noticeable road noise but wind noise is low even on the interstate highway. Handling is good but as one or two reviewers mentioned potholes or certain road irregularities can cause some darting.
Very Fun to Drive
B2653, 02/28/2018
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
When the vehicle is fully up and running, it is a very good car. It is very comfortable for long road trips. It does not feel like a sub-compact. The fuel efficiency is very good. I am able to get 44-45mpg on the highway (clear day with a temperature of 60F, E87 gas, 65-70mph, oil level at halfway mark on dipstick), 23-25mph in heavy stop and go traffic, and 27-31mpg in the city. The acceleration is very good and very responsive. The suspension and the handling are very good on this vehicle. I am able to stick to the road on very hard turns. The steering is very responsive. The stock tires were not very good in the snow. The car has a lot of useful features. This car is very fun to drive if there are a lot of turns. The repairs that I had to do was replace a hose in the ac line (hole), air cleaner intake outlet duct (ripped in two locations), thermostat (stuck open), valve cover gasket (engine was overfilled and blew it), blower motor (squeaking), spark plugs (misfire), purge valve (very loud), and the map sensor (some error code). This is one car that it would be better to change the oil yourself. The person who changed the oil on my sonic overfilled it by 2L and I blew the valve cover because of it. If I did not replace the air cleaner intake outlet duct right away, then I would be having performance issues in the winter and also wear the catalytic converter faster. This car would have minimal repairs if it is maintained properly (unless very unlucky).
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RS Manual - fun drive, great value! Built in U.S.A!
jlearn, 02/03/2013
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
28 of 30 people found this review helpful
As a college student and an avid auto industry enthusiast, It was time for me to sell my old beast of an SUV and purchase my first NEW car. I was sorting through competitors such as the Mini Cooper S, Volkswagen GTI, Volkswagen Beetle, Fiat 500C, Hyundai Veloster Turbo. After adding up all the features I wanted in my next car purchase, and compared the competition, the answer was clear! For what I would be spending on a GTI or Mini I got a whole lot cheaper with the Sonic RS. Granted those vehicles are better performing, yes, but I'm a college guy on a limited budget, that wanted character, performance, and value! I love my Sonic RS. The 6-speed is a blast and sharp corners are my favorite!
Love my Sonic!
kellyanne67, 08/15/2014
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful
The only thing that I do not like on this car would be the crappy tires that come from the factory. Even with traction control and just a tiny bit of snow there is no traction. I truly feel that better tires would make this car unstoppable. I have had a few issues with the bluetooth system and my phone. Some phones work better than others but I have not had my dealer check these issues yet. The car is easy to drive, gets around in traffic like a dream, and with the turbo, it can certainly keep up. Gas mileage is great. I'm getting around 35mpg on the highway consistently. I'll say so far so good. I've had the car almost a year and have around 15,500 miles on it.
110,000 miles and going strong
Joe, 01/23/2018
updated 01/26/2021
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
We bought the sonic LTZ in early 2014. Since then the only thing it went in the shop for was a minor coolant leak at the thermostat housing.(covered under warranty of course) We have had one other problem and that was with the OEM battery. All new car batteries are of low quality. This one was no different, it developed a bad cell at around 32,000 miles. It was rated a 3 year battery and became problematic at the middle of the second year. But that's it! No problems since, not even a flat tire. The ride is surprisingly comfortable. All our compact cars were always a compromise in ride vs MPG. The Sonic is the only exception so far. The mpg is not as good as I would like. However the power delivered is great, and there is the trade off I guess. Overall one of the best car purchases we have made in a long while and are happy to have an American brand finally deliver what we expect. Update: After passing 125,000 I have only one issue that really shouldn't have been. The aluminum oil pan drain plug threads came apart. There was only one time that the oil was changed by a shop. I have done all the other changes using a torque meter set to 14nm. Even if the shop over torqued those threads it should have never came apart that easily. Replacement is rather costly and made much harder by lack of a gasket system rather than silicone bead. This problem is eliminated by aftermarket replacement pans as they add a steel insert into the pan and eliminate the stainless thread insert. Should have been done this way in the first place. Other than a battery replacement and now a timing belt maintenance replacement I haven't had any problems. I will be doing these repairs myself saving hundreds of dollars. This car has been a very good purchase. Still getting 35 on the highway and 27 or so mixed driving. 135000...the biggest thing is the oil pan ..the plug and the pans threads in the pan ..strips when mech use air tools to tighten the plug...14nm to tightening only!
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Great, great choice for a small car
mcland, 05/29/2014
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Have LTZ with the 1.4 Turbo. Great engine, feels strong and pulls well. Combined gas mileage so far is above 30 MPG in mostly city driving. Composed ride, car sticks to the road in turns. The car feels very solid, a pleasure to drive. Visibility is great. The media system works well, the phone operation, the media applications and the radio itself. Large screen provides a lot of information in a friendly and clear manner. Remote Link with OnStar allows you to start the engine from far, far away, all done via satellite. Tried to use the turn by turn directions via OnStar and it did work very well too, you can download your route via smartphone. Overall happy with the car.
1st chevy, never again
Jane , 05/23/2019
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
17 of 19 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2013 chevy sonic,paid it off in 5 years ending last January. It has 40,000 miles. After I paid it off, roughly around 33,000 35,000 miles, costly repairs and problems started kicking in. Actually I had problems before I paid it off but after the meager 36,000 mile mark. Problems are: battery died, power window drivers side stopped working, various electrical issues causing lights to go off that mechanics can't figure out, ac went out, gear shift button sticks to the point I can't put it into gear. The gear shift has many complaints and this should be a recall but chevy is too cheap to make it such. Given I'll be plunking out $600 for that because allegedly chevy mechanics can't order the button they need the whole gear shift. So... Chevy sells a product that starts falling apart after a 36,000 3 year warranty. They don't have the skill or scruples to create a car that lasts. Then they have dealerships filled with people who charge godless prices to repair things about their vehicle that other mechanics can't diagnose. They don't perform recalls in a timely manner, if much at all. Since the warranty has expired I've spent 2500+ in non standard maintenance repairs for fickle stuff that shouldn't go bad on a vehicle at the 35000 to 40000 mileage mark. I will absolutely never buy another chevy and will tell as many as I can about this. I will report with the BBB and any other relevant places. I wish to God I had gone to Kia that day. But you live and learn. Too bad chevy doesn't learn form customer reviews to improve they whole dysfunctional business they run.
My 2013 sonic
J Brandow, 07/08/2018
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
12 of 13 people found this review helpful
It’s not a BMW, people, it’s an economy car! For an economy car i couldn’t be happier. My daughter and I drove ours 2000 miles in 5 days. I was amazed at how it handled at 80 mph, got 32highway mpg (it’s a ‘13). I’m 6’2 and had plenty of leg and cabin room. Turbo excellerates very well, lots of power, never felt cramped or restless at all. Love the fact that it fits anywhwere, moves around everything with ease, and a great “zipping around town” car. We have harsh winters, so a couple of sandbags hidden in the spare tire compartment helped a ton. Overall damn good car.
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Avoid or pay the price
Patty, 10/28/2019
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
12 of 13 people found this review helpful
I bought my Sonic new with a whopping 32 miles on it. Before I hit 40k I had already had to do a CV joint, sway bar, radiator fan, and a shock came loose. Then the coolant system leaks started, and my AC compressor and condenser died before 60k miles. I hit 85k miles, and my Sonic is once again in the shop for another coolant issue. The radiator hose burst. The transmission system is finicky as all get out. If you let your foot off the gas the car immediately acts like it saw a cop. It shifts between gears hard. I bought this car because it was cheaper on gas, but it's been a pain in repairs. It's not worth it. Not unless your end goal is to have your mechanics love you.
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LTZ Turbo review
jchagtdi, 01/22/2013
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I own a 2013 Sonic LTZ turbo with manual transmission. This is the quietest, most solid feeling, most fun to drive, and best equipped car you can buy at this price point. Turbo motor provides great acceleration with excellent fuel economy. Cabin is extremely comfortable and spacious for a subcompact, even with the sunroof, and cabin materials look richer than they actually are. MyLInk stereo offers a LOT, but there are no knobs, You must take your eyes off the road to adjust volume or FM tuner.
If you like to spend money to repair a car
Mike, 05/05/2020
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
If you like to spend money to repair a car, this is the car for you. First, the speedometer goes out. Chevy wants $600+ to replace it. Should be a safety issue. Next the cable that controls the heater goes out while in the coldest storm in Idaho. Dealer-$325 to replace it. Had us by the balls! Next, the passenger side front window will not go up. In the shop, waiting for the bill. Estimated to repair, $250. Yep. If you like to spend money on repairing an automobile, this is the car for you.I was actually considering replacing a 16 yr. old Toyota Tacoma with a Chevy Colorado. That ain't going to happen now!! NEVER will I buy a Chevy product again. NEVER!
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Just bought an LT manual
gino985, 10/26/2013
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Since it's so late in the year, I could only find a couple near me, and ended up with Crystal Red tintcoat, not my first choice, but I actually really like it. Shifting is incredibly easy, like butter, and the engine really does have some pep. Its also true that the car feels much bigger, it's hard to feel the speed, I've been afraid I will get a ticket because I've been speeding everywhere! Mileage is right on as reported, the first tank was exactly 30 mpg, mixed city and highway, and included a lot of idling at the dealership, so I'm hoping that number will go up. With all the great cash back offers right now, I highly recommend this car, great value for the cost.
Great car
chall1011, 11/19/2012
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
The best part is I can fit my convertible car seat, a infant car seat and still fit an adult in the back seat (traveled 150 miles like that today) The fuel seems good but i'm not sure, i went on a 2 hour drive today an back, an used almost 7 gallons of gas, i was pretty upset with that. Backing out of my drive way, whenever my tires go down the front of the car hits into the drive way, it does that on alot of people's out where I live... not much i can do about it, but they are really low to the ground. It's a great car , but we will see as the time goes on. Oh and the throttle is horrible!
Very poorly made car
Nick, 06/11/2018
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
Just buy a foreign made car. This thing is garbage. Nothing but issues. Bought at 26000 miles, put $3000+ into it....and that with me fixing the issues! Needed new alternator, belt, 2 thermostats and sensors as well as new coil pack and spark plugs. All within 1 year and 15000 miles?!?! I had a Honda prior to this car and it rarely needed any repairs and was very reliable. This thing has very poor acceleration, shifts very hard, and breaks down every month.
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Fun little car but not good in snow
vernmuffin, 07/17/2013
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
25 of 33 people found this review helpful
I had been researching the Sonic extensively since its release and, after hearing my husband complain a lot about the lack of fuel economy of his Silverado 1500 pick-up (and receiving a $1000 private offer from Chevy) we decided to buy a 2013 RS this past February. We were planning to use the car for business travels that didn't require the truck, and short, run-about trips that didn't require a ton of cargo room or space for our 3 dogs. We thought by purchasing this vehicle, we could save mileage on our aging mini-van, as well as my husband's work truck (Silverado).
Chevy mistake
Cece Tinney, 08/24/2018
updated 09/04/2019
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
I have had my Chevy now for 3 years going on 4 because unfortunately, I haven’t had the extra money to get rid of the piece of junk. The ONLY good thing about the car is the fuel efficacy other than that it is a cheaply made car, buyer beware. Also, Chevy’s warranty on their products is ridiculous. The entire car is made of cheap dollar store plastic and does not stand the test of time which cars should.
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Warranty Issues
riverview3, 06/06/2014
updated 06/06/2018
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
11 of 14 people found this review helpful
Excessive warranty issues. No heat issues couldn't be diagnosed until 3rd visit to dealer. Seating quality poor. Leather re stitched at dealer and seam reseated twice on rear seat. Mylink Bringo heated up Iphone enough via USB to cause phone damage. Number of Engine Alarms due to failed sensors, turbo under performance. Had engine electronic module melt and leave me stranded, covered under warranty.
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toomanyleaks
Chris, 11/03/2015
updated 05/15/2017
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
11 of 14 people found this review helpful
I brought this car new with 3843 miles on it. I left the dealership only to discover that there was no heat. Returned to dealership and found coolant low. It then took 8 times in shop and from Nov 14 2014 till Jan 12 2015 to find a factory defect. And now it leaking again with the dealership having no idea where. Make sure you have the Sonic checked before buying. I traded this car in November 2015 after having it back to the dealership numerous other times. Tried to deal with our local Chevrolet dealership and even tried getting help from GM, both very uncooperative. After that traded it in on a new Honda Civic. I have had this car a year and have had absolutely no problems. In another words will never own another GM product.
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Great mileage, poor electronics
Nate, 03/20/2018
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
In my 3 plus years of owning this vehicle, I have had issues with the electronics. First of all, the odometer quit working, so now I have no idea how many miles my car has on it. Then, my radio decided it would start turning on and off by itself. The gas mileage is good, and the interior is somewhat comfortable. Just poor electronics.
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WORSE CAR PURCHASE EVER
Lawanna, 12/09/2019
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
It has problem after problem.been spending money for 7 months straight on repairs and its still not running correctly.And the manufacturer and dealerships tell lies about your warranty being up before its actually up whenever you call to complain about somthn breaking or breaking down.it has little things breaking as well like back windshield wiper, buttons falling off the gear changer.its just a poorly made car and they should be ashamed of themselves,it makes me never want to buy American cars ever again
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Was excited at first, not so much now
jkrug26, 06/02/2013
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
10 of 14 people found this review helpful
This vehicle was my first new car. Being a single mom and having to drive two young children around I wanted something reliable. I didn't try and have my children attempt to get into the vehicle before purchasing but the rear door handles are up too far for my kids to reach. Secondly, and more concerning there is an issue with the ignition. My keys don't seem to want to go into the ignition. And IF they manage to make it in they get stuck in the ignition. I was stuck at the grocery store for ten minutes while I tried to get the car started because it seemed the tumbler was not engaging correctly with the key. Chevy needs to make this right!!!!!!
A Certified P.O.S.
Pissed Off Sonic Owner, 12/01/2017
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
Bought the car new as a commuter back in 2014. Over the last 3 years, the quality of the vehicle has definitely shown. I've had issues with the ABS system, the Traction control (which are both known issues with newer GM models due to speed sensor placement). I've had a replaced o2 sensor at roughly 30k miles, the passenger door lock plastic fell off at roughly 25k miles...and the gas mileage doesn't get anywhere near the sticker (unless I guess if you never get it above 2k rpm). The car only has 49k on it now, and at this rate I don't anticipate it lasting to 100k or beyond. My experience to date is that the RS model was an overpriced piece of plastic with leather bucket heated seats (and the value pretty much verifies that, KBB has gone from the sticker 22k, to roughly 5-6k on a trade in, in 3 years). Will definitely be the first and last chevy that I ever own, for the same price you could get a used Infiniti Q series (comparing to buying this new) that has more power and better lasting quality than this P.O.S.
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Ok little car but has issues
Bryan, 12/20/2018
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
I purchased my 2013 Sonic new in ‘13 and it has been an ok car...Nothing to write home about.My a.c compressor went out at approximately 17,000 miles(The little oil seal in the center blew out and it leaked out all of the Freon).GM covered the cost of the compressor and I was stuck paying the labor.The transmission gives me a bump or shudder at stops first thing in the morning.Honestly I’m never buying another GM product again.
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2013 Chevy Sonic RS review
viperaider, 09/09/2013
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
7 of 10 people found this review helpful
I spent several months looking into my next gas saver. Keep in mind; GAS SAVER. This car won me over with features versus SAVING money. I settled with a brand new RS out the door for $18,900 after negotiating.
Worst chevy ever!
Kaleigh, 02/23/2017
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
Was lookING for affordable but reliable new car. Biggest mistake. 2013 have replaced thermostate 4 times in 1 year, no low oil, antifreeze light. Paint bubbling. All parts are cheap on the car. Nothing bUT problems and to avoid issues like this I purchased a brand new car.... mistake. Cheaply made not worth the trouble or the money.
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Just got 2013 Sonic LTZ Hatchback Turbo Automatic
key1cc, 09/30/2012
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
44 of 87 people found this review helpful
I only had it for one day but if yesterday is any indication, life just got waaaayyyy better. I went across state to by it to get the exact features I wanted so I had a nice 55 minute ride home to test her out. Driving at 67mph I hit the mpg reset key and it showed 40-42 mpg!! For me that is nice but the reason I purchased this car was not for the mpg or even for the looks because I like the look of the Kia Rio SX a little better. The reason I went with the sonic was that big fat grin that comes on my face when I get behind the wheel and press the gas pedal. This is the first turbo I have ever owned and boy is it fun to drive. I even woke up in the night just to take her out for a spin!
If you want a horrible car, he is the one!!!!
Alexis, 04/22/2016
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 13 people found this review helpful
I bought this car 1 yr ago with 29,000 miles on it, and have had nothing but issues! I have been to dealer literally 18 times! Constant shaking and rough idle that they say is "normal". They have replaced an A/C hose of some kind, water pump, thermostat, camshaft position sensor, head gasket, and 2 motor mounts, stitching on rear seat and that's just what i can think of off the top of my head. It doesn't have a good throttle at all, but once you get going its fine. Really loud engine for such a small car, and gas mileage is crap! Cheap car in price, cheap car in quality. I guess you get what you pay for, but don't waste your money. Once the warranty is out your out of luck!!!!!
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Worst car we have ever bought!!#!#
S Warman, 02/12/2016
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 11 people found this review helpful
It's constantly in shop. Once warranty runs out your doomed. I can't even make car payments cause I'm constantly making very costly repairs. Don't do it..
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Soft, warm, and comfortable.
Ron Wichern, 12/15/2017
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
TURBO ENGINE IS GOOD FOR BOTH POWER AND MPG. CAR IS VERY SMOOTH,
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Leaking water into interior
chowjones, 10/27/2013
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
I have mixed feelings writing this review. Overall, I really like my 2013 Sonic LT hatchback. The interior is very roomy for a car in this class and I like the design. However, my car has developed a water leak on the passenger side. As of 10/27/13, my car has been at the dealer trying to correct the problem for two of the past three weeks. Postings on a Sonic forum have confirmed that this is happening to many people. There is a serious design flaw with this model. Equipped with the 1.4L turbo and no water leaks, this car would be nothing short of excellent.
disappointed
indyguy13, 06/10/2013
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 19 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2013 Sonic LS sedan in late Feb., 2013. 3,400 miles on it. The steering feels loose, especially at highway speeds. Wanders in the lane and you constantly have to correct. Took it back to Chev. dealers 3 times and they said nothing was wrong. I've owned/driven many small cars and never had this issue before. The heater takes a long time to warm up. No engine temperature gauge. Poor visibility. Rough ride. Idles rough. Must use synthetic oil (Dexos). Transmission not smooth. Very cheap, ugly upholstery. MyLink sound system but no CD player. Want to buy American? This has a Hungarian engine, Korean tires, and Chinese spare tire. Buy something else, not a Sonic.
Phonics
musicmitch, 02/01/2013
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 19 people found this review helpful
The suspension is poor. It does not soak up bumps well, or handle potholes well, producing a very uncomfortable ride. Unless you are living in an area with beautifully paved streets and you drive on them all the time - this probably won't matter. And also suspension is designed poorly - unstable. The car jolts left and right when hitting rough pavement, making me wonder what happens if you're on the expressway going fast and you run into this. I think the car is accident prone. The 1.8 engine is noisy, lacks passing power, and wind/road noise is excessive. The 1.4Turbo option quiets the engine noise somewhat and increases torque, but does nothing about the excessive road noise caused by poor insulation. This car is built a little but like the old suv's. Thin and high, rather than long and wide. The center of gravity is too high and too narrow instead of being low and wide. Test drive one yourself and see if i'm right. On the plus, it's much better than the car it replaces - The Aveo. So if you liked that car, you'll love this one. Me, i'll skip it. Now also think about this: this same 1.8 engine is being used in the much heavier chevy cruz LS also. So do you think you should avoid that trim line? If you decide on the cruz, opt for a higher model with the 1.4 turbo, but it's also much more expensive.
Great First New Car Buying Experience!
lrohlfs, 06/29/2013
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
My parents worked with Andre before on the purchase of my dad's camero and had a wonderful experience the first time, which is why my mom chose to go back and have Andre sell us my new Chevy Sonic. I love the car! For the price, the options that come with it are unavailable at other places. This deal just seemed to fit what we were looking for perfectly!
A great little "Tow'd"
Don Rasmussen, 02/24/2016
updated 08/29/2018
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
We bought this car because it can be towed behind our motorhome with all 4 tires on the road. It's simple to prep it for towing - one fuse to remove while towing. It tracks beautifully with the Blue Ox tow bar attached to the base plate on the car. There is exceptional cargo space when the back seats are down. The only negatives would be that sometimes it is difficult to remove the key from the ignition lock, and the back hatch door rattles some which I think is typical of hatch back cars. Overall - a great little car. 8/17 update Key comes out fine now . . . Paid over 1k for the Blue Ox tow bar and looking to sell both car and tow Ox as a dinghy for a RVer! 8/18 update The car races when first started each day. Although i paid over $600 extra for the platinum 7 year warranty when I purchased the new car in 2012, I was told that the "fix" for that problem was not covered. Fidelity Warranty Services! I won't do that again!!! I still own the car and will keep it as a second car for another few years. Estimated resale value - $4K. I have been amazed at the low resale estimates for the car. Much different than the Toyota's and other foreign autos I have owned. Is there something wrong with this picture?
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I LOVE MY CAR!
becktilda, 07/31/2013
updated 10/01/2013
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
Words cannot adequately express how much I love my car! I had been driving the same vehicle for over 14 years. And I decided that enough was enough. It was time to get something different. And it was the best decision that I have made in a very long time!
Economics & Sport
John Sica, 12/05/2016
updated 06/19/2017
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have put about 75,000 miles on my Sonic LTZ, and it averages greater than 39 mpg. It looks nice, sporty even, and performs much like a sports car. There is no problem fitting four adults in the vehicle, with some baggage. Overall, it is a great American made value.
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Loved the car but wish it lasted longer
Hannah, 01/13/2022
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I only had the vehicle for 6 years. It died at 108,000 miles and had to get junked. A great first car, but I expected several more years out of it
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Great Little Car
icubarb, 12/14/2013
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this car 10 months ago. I have about 10,000 miles on it. I have the 2012 LTZ hatchback in Orange and love it.
SO NICe - Love My Sonic, HATE Chevy Marketing!
Billy, 09/02/2020
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 5 people found this review helpful
I LOVE my 2013 Sonic Hatchback, The car is Awesome. I call it my lil go-cart. It is wicked fun to drive, I swear, the seats were formed for my butt. Roomier than any other car I tried, and I tried about 10 in the same class as the Sonic. It's sad and crazy Chevy would discontinue this gem and keep the Spark. I drove that and it was awful compared to the Sonic. With the Spark the dirt hitting the undercarriage was loud. It was so cheaply made. Bad Decision Chevy. Sonic FTW!!! BUT... I HATE CHEVY MARKETING!!! I've tried for 7 years to get off their mail list and they ignore EVERY Request!!! I've already stopped using their service dept. I am SO SICK of getting their "Certified Service" mailings and they won't stop. I've tried opting out by calling GMC, The Dealer and using the gmcontactpreferences dot com, but these arrogant jerks have ignored my requests for 7 YEARS!!! What a waste of paper. I am sure I scared the crap out of the last person to answer when I called AGAIN to get off the mailing list. I'm selling a car I love, and switching to Honda!
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little problems
aw336, 03/01/2014
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 6 people found this review helpful
Ive had my sonic for almost a year. Ive had to have the radio replaced twice. People can barely hear me through the Bluetooth system (I have a Galaxy Note 3). The car idles weird now and theres a rubbing sound in the back end. This car feels very unstable on the highway and the dealer says there is nothing wrong with it. I went on vacation and someone smashed my passenger window open and the alarm DID NOT go off and GM says it will only go off if the door is opened. So far nothing major has went wrong and I'm hoping it stays this way. I will be trading out as soon as I can. I would not recommend this car to anyone.
Great car but am worried about he future
Jag, 08/31/2016
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 6 people found this review helpful
Great little car bought it used with 39,000 miles I now have 59,000, it drives and runs great. But it's cheap. It had been running rough for a a while and I did some research and found two big holes in the air intake hose . Electrical tape fixed it up for now lol. But that worried me and also the transmission is hesitant and jerky at times. But I salt its first thing in the morning before It warms up. The thing that worrys me the most is will this car last for 10 years. It has so much electrical cool stuff that it's nice now but will it still be working 10 years from now. Idk lol. Oh and the seats are not too comfortable but they do the job lol. Besides that it's a great car. :)
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Emission problem
Sonny bumanlag, 02/16/2016
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 14 people found this review helpful
Don't buy this car the warranty is not good after 3 years the car will break down emission problem check engine on problem eat a lot of gas when you put gas car dies if you want buy this car
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From a Jaguar to a Sonic
bob yates, 10/25/2016
updated 04/29/2021
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Just thought I would try a cheaper small car for a change,, it is fun to drive,, averaging 37 miles per gallon,,,
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Nice ride, nice price for the RS package
Irena, 05/24/2017
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car when it was one year old with 15k miles. I haven't had any problems with it, but it has been recalled a few times for minor stuff, nothing that affected it's performance or was dangerous. I tend to look for affordability, style, and a small climate footprint. I prefer a small vehicle and hatchback, which makes it a versatile car. That being said, I spotted my Sonic RS right off the bat in the dealer lot. Mine is graphite gray, I love the look of the RS. The front and rear end have a sporty look for a small car. The interior is black leather with red stitching, looks nice. I'm satisfied with the storage in front. Mine is an automatic, I'd have preferred the manual. It says "turbo", but I wouldn't call this car fast. Peppy is probably a better word. Decent acceleration for a small car. Handles well during city and highway driving, it keeps up with the larger cars well. It's also a fun little car to drive, and the entertainment center is nice. The AC and heat could be better, it's slow to cool or heat the car for as small as it is. I love the moon roof, a must have in any vehicle, IMHO. All in all, I'm very happy with this purchase.
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Chevy sonic
Never sonic, 11/23/2020
updated 06/05/2023
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Don't buy this car! Spend the little extra for better. It has been in the shop for emission problems every single year. Worse car every made
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Decent Small Car but Cheaply Made
Justin Aarhus, 09/11/2020
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Used to enjoy this car. As the age went up, it became plagued with more and more issues. Sensors not working, transmission issues and finally the entire gear shift assembly get stuck in a gear in traffic.
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Am I missing somethinh
Unhappy, 09/06/2015
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 9 people found this review helpful
OK so I filled up my tank and it was fine within 4 days.just last night I got it to half a tank went to the store and post office all within 10 miles and 2 bars were gone. I am NOT pleased with the gas milage.
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