Used 2013 Chevrolet Sonic Sedan Consumer Reviews
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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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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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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!
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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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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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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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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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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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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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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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.
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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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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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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2013 Sonic LT 1.4 Turbo
n1rvna29, 09/07/2013
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 26 people found this review helpful
After deciding to keep my money local and also buy American.I decided on the Chevy Sonic after reading reviews and seeing TV commercials for the car advertising 40 mpg.Boy was this the biggest mistake I ever made in my life.The car has no take off power the transmission clunks and bangs into gear the radio comes on when ever it feels like it and when the brakes are applied the car shakes so bad you have to pull over to stop it from shaking. And that's the short list.The 40 mpg is BS mine struggles to get 32.No wonder GM had to take a bailout they couldn't build a decent car and they lie to the general public about MPG.Keep up the good work Japan you have no worries here.
So far so good
Shadow the Hedgegog, 11/25/2021
2013 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is my first car and so far it’s very useful! I got this with around 69,000 miles. Came with tinted windows. Pros: Very smooth driving. Has some pep when driving long distances. You feel secure in the interior of your car. Also the Bluetooth is pretty cool when it comes to connecting to today’s age I don’t have the digital dash board but it’s very useful. Gas Mileage: You are saving gas and is very economical with a Chevy Sonic. I do wish the 2013 can reach 30mpg to drive around more. Cons: So far there has been repairs especially since my car had a lot of miles on it. I had an electrical problem with the car that causes my car to turn off. However, it was repaired at least by $600. Never occurred again and my car still runs like new. I also had to buy some refreshing new parts like the spark plugs and other parts like the timing belt to keep my car running but I’ve been driving a lot of miles and everything has not been falling apart except the interior of course. So far I think I made a good choice when it came to getting my first used car I do highly recommend preferring a Nissan if you want to save gas only but I would also suggest this car if you’re on a budget
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