Used 2014 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback Consumer Reviews
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Limited Drive Time But Very Impressed
ihanson, 09/04/2014
updated 09/18/2020
2014 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
52 of 52 people found this review helpful
I purchased a '14 LT Turbo Hatch 6-spd manual (option not shown) 7" MyLink, fog lights, 16" upgraded rims and rearview camera with the upgraded red crystal color for $16.4k before taxes. While waiting for that vehicle to be delivered, I drove an LT sedan with the 1.8 auto and was impressed. I'm getting 40.4MPG according to the computer on my 46 mile round trip commute in warm temps. I even got to test out the airbags when a woman made an illegal turn in front of me and I hit her going 35 mph. Car performed great in the crash and the headlights were still even intact. I think it's going to be a safe car - very strong steel frame. I'm glad it was just a loaner! UPDATE - 3/16/2017 So I've owned the vehicle for almost three years now, I think I have like 40,000 miles on it. No issues so far. My wife bought a LEAF, so we use that as our primary car now, but mine still gets snow duty (I bought winter tires) and road trips. UPDATE - 4/2/2019 Vehicle is still going strong, have since put on a trailer hitch receiver for a bike rack, tinted the windows slightly, and had some body panel repairs done after I scraped on a wall near a driveway. After repairing those scratches, I feel like it's like a brand new car again. The manual transmission continues to function well, no engine issues, just replacing the oil, wipers, tires, etc. Still getting 38-40MPG average life time. My plan is to keep it for another five years as it is quite pleasant to drive in. I do about 9,000 miles each year - I could see keeping this car around for road trips if I get a second EV for around town. I plan on putting on a roof rack and roof box for summer road trips as well. UPDATE - 9/17/2020 Still have the vehicle and drive it as needed (much less in the pandemic). I keep telling myself that I will get a new car, specifically an electric one, but to be honest my paid for Sonic does everything I need still and is so economical. I have one child now, and the back seat works just fine for a child seat. Will replace the tires soon (still on the original set after 6 years, although 1/3 of the 70k miles were on separate winter tires). My mother drove it for one minute and managed to mess up the manual transmission so it now makes a noise going into third. Last time I let her near a manual car - she had not driven one since the 70's and thought she was up for it. That aside, it's been great and just will not go away or have issues. Still enjoying it!
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LT Hatchback (1.8L auto): All-around Solid
Mr. Geb, 10/18/2015
updated 10/22/2018
2014 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful
Value is always going to be determined by the price you can get any given car at, but this is a solid vehicle I'm happy to have ended up in. I bought used, one year old with low mileage. ----- Pro reviews overstate the Sonic's cons. Notably, it has lower fuel economy than other subcompacts but it's also the heaviest subcompact out there at a sturdy 2700+ pounds curb weight. It's still lighter and more fuel efficient than any compact, so it fits right where it belongs. For me, it was the right balance of fuel economy and "doesn't blow off the road from a stiff gust of wind" peace of mind. ----- The cargo space is a bit horizontally-challenged but enough to hold a regular 6-8 sack load of groceries for one or a couple. There's a surplus of vertical space for tall/stacking objects, if you remove the cargo cover, and the back seats flatten for more room. Acceleration is fine at lower speeds, at higher speeds it's a bit sluggish but not really a big deal. Interior is adequate for an economy vehicle without feeling too cheap: Comfortable cloth seating; lots of hard plastics but really thick and sturdy; the so-called "egg carton" economy headliner has a soft dimpled cloth surface, and perhaps a layer of foam beneath it, that masks any cheap feeling to it. ----- There's but a few other minor gripes I have which are mostly just not in line with my preference, or non-issues that take some getting used to, as would be the case when starting to drive any new vehicle. The only legitimate complaints for me are the low-beam headlights feel angled a bit too low, might be an issue if you're navigating unknown territory, and the rear view is fairly narrow which is just a product of the small vehicle size and hatchback. Power-folding side mirrors would be nice, though. The "passenger" door lock is situated on the driver's side of the center console, making it a pain to access when simply reaching in from the passenger side to grab something before re-exiting the vehicle. ----- No major problems, though. The stock tires are supposedly horrible in snow too, so budgeting to replace them might be a good idea up north. (I wasn't about to personally put them to the test.) It accelerates smoothly, handling is responsive, seating is comfortable and decently spacious, general interior construction feels solid. The instrument cluster is compact and all digital, save the analog tachyometer (RPMs), but gives you all necessary information and then some. Safety ratings are top-notch. ----- After driving it for the past three years at this point, and putting roughly another 25k miles on it, the only repairs I've needed was body damage from a minor accident. Everything has held up well so far with regular maintenance.
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2014 Chevrolet Sonic for sale near you
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- LT 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $5,700181 mi away
- LT 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $8,495101 mi away
- LT SedanMSRP: $4,900179 mi away
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Best bang for buck!
mbro77, 09/30/2014
2014 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
26 of 29 people found this review helpful
This car offers a lot for the $. We shopped around for months. Looked at/considered 1. Ford Fiesta-not impressed by performance, very cramped interior, nice front end, but ugly in back, price not that great. 2. VW Golf- nice car over all but felt very bland/cheap on inside and was a bit bland to drive, and more expensive than our Sonic, but with less features. 3. Toyota Corolla- great new design, very bland and not many features for the price, not spacious interior.4. Hyundai Accent 5-door- we really liked this car, but it seemed very soft and conservative in comparison to Sonic. 5. Nissan Versa- it's advertised as the "cheapest" car in America, the aren't lying. It feels/looks
Loved the first one so much I bought another one!
DeJay Bailey, 07/10/2017
updated 01/12/2018
2014 Chevrolet Sonic RS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
The only downside to this car (after putting $150,000 miles onit) is it's small fuel tank. I loved the car enough to buy another one exactly the same. The handling is superb the gas mileage is great. Not as good as they say it is, but good enough. It just has a really sporty Zippy fun-to-drive feel that it's hard to describe until you drive it. Very Euro feeling. Had to have another one. Didn't last 6 months in a Honda. Went back to my Sonic
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2014 LTZ 1.4l turbo hatchback
Garrett, 07/13/2015
2014 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
This car has been good for me in that it is sporty, roomy, and has the power you would expect. The only issue I have is that it is so full of hard plastic even for the highest trim behind the RS, that it seems like a joke. Everything rattles and it gets to be very annoying. I have had this car for about 2 months and being this new, I am considering getting a different car. Come on Chevy, enough with the [non-permissible content removed] interior of your cars and maybe we will regain your trust as something quality that is American made!
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Disappointing Quality
SharkFins77, 06/13/2020
2014 Chevrolet Sonic RS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
I bought my car new in 2014 and have been disappointed since. The car is always losing coolant. GM says it's normal and topping off coolant during oil changes is normal. On cold damp mornings there is a strange bucking sensation that happens at the first or send stop. It only happens for a few seconds. Then at 49,000 miles a water pump went bad. Now only a few months later the thermostat and water temp sensor has gone bad. It very fun to drive but the reliability has been very disappointing.
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My year with the Chevy Sonic
Lady Dea, 07/03/2018
2014 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 14 people found this review helpful
I didn’t like the car when I bought it. I guess that should have been a sign. Bought it with 63xMiles, Ive added 36x Miles. I’ve had it for almost 2 years and I’ve had to replace the air intake hose. That’s fine, $16 fix. Just recently I’ve had to replace my water pump because it would sporadically spew coolant after I finished driving; leaving puddles under the passenger tire. The engine also has started ticking loudly, I’m about to trade mine in and see what I can find for a midsize sedan. For only have the car less that two years; I’m good. Also it surges forward when you’re sitting idle as well. It shakes when your foot is on the brake peddle because it wants to move forward so bad. I have the hatchback, which somehow is bigger than the sedan. The trunk is nonexistent, it has electrical issues, which I’ve read was common. Little things, the lights on the dash will dim and brighten for no reason. I can’t tell how hot or cold my engine is. The dealership couldn’t even flip through the computerized Menu to find it. The backseat is cramped. It’s a small car. For sure. I honestly don’t recommend this car.
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The Chevrolet Sonic is the best in class subcompact family hauler
jwfink, 09/25/2013
2014 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
66 of 129 people found this review helpful
Like compact cars, subcompact cars seem to have grown in size over the last 30 years. Luckily, driving one is no longer like driving a penalty box. Also, theres plenty of choice: WRT the Honda Fit/Chevrolet Sonic it is similar to comparing an Accord and Camry. Both vehicles are winners. The Sonic is slightly smoother, roomier, more comfortable. The Fit is slightly more efficient, sprightly, and versatile.
Can Use Improvement
Melissa, 09/11/2016
2014 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Purchased my car new in 2014. It fit my then situation and lifestyle. I liked the layout and look of the inside and the ability to lay down seats to carry more cargo. After 3-4 months of owning it, the battery exploded and ate through the cables. I live in AZ, and yes it's hot, but no reason a battery should fail THAT fast. Covered under warranty so no biggie. I think started having cosmetic issues : rear view mirror came loose and fell off, left driver mirror became lose, exhaust rattled causing a lot of noise in the rear end, and the tires constantly needed air. I'm a careful driver so we can't blame any of that on driving habits. I also had a fuel sensor replaced about six months into the car, and recently replaced again about 2 months ago. My battery also died again 2 weeks ago, so in 2 years the car has had 3 batteries. I took a trip to the Grand Canyon recently and the car struggled terribly to climb the mountains from Phoenix to Northern AZ. It did not want to shift gears and worked very hard climbing with no acceleration. All in all, I would not purchase this car again for the maintenance issues alone. This car is more so for a teenage driver just starring out, who doesn't drive in hill/mountainous areas (flat land only). The interior is nice and it's fun to drive, but mechanically, very much so on the low end. I do not recommend for people over 6'0 or someone with taller children as I have an 11 year old who is 5'5 and can no longer fit in the backseat.
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Chevrolet made a better Golf
Paul, 01/22/2017
2014 Chevrolet Sonic RS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Love this car. Have driven this car for over a year. I am 6'2" and have plenty of leg room, it is a subcompact so it is a little narrow. In fact I do not have the driver seat all the way back or I would not be able to push the clutch all the way in. Surprisingly quiet and solid, compliant ride, handles really well. Of course the car gets good fuel mileage, I get 30 smiles per gallon with a mix of city driving around 40 mph. I usually take a long way home because I love driving it so much. I have the RS, version with the manual transmission. First gear is geared so low that it is almost useless and second gear is too high to start from a stop. The car will not win any races but has plenty of pep for me to have fun driving. I bought the car as a Certified Pre Owned, so I suave the remainder of the new car warranty and the rest of the CPO, warranty as well. My local dealer is great, they take care of my concerns with out me feeling like I have to argue. So the RS, version is a little lower, has a sport tuned suspension and exhaust, four wheel disk brakes, leather seating with heated driver and passenger seats along with all the bells and whistles that can come on a Sonic.
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Amazing!!
Victoria Hudgins, 07/22/2015
2014 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 7 people found this review helpful
They are really amazing!
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Great car for the price
Charlotte, 01/24/2017
updated 07/25/2017
2014 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I've owned this car for a few weeks now. Initially, I was a little skeptical about the size but I'd driven a Cobalt a number of years prior and really liked it so I decided to give it a test drive. After the test drive, I liked the vehicle so we went ahead and purchased it. I've read from a number of reviews that it doesn't get the same gas mileage as similar cars in it's class. From what I've read that's due to the weight of the vehicle. But to me, that says that more durable materials and equipment are used. When you're getting over 30 mpg city driving I'm okay with sacrificing a few mpg for safety. I was driving a minivan prior to purchasing this vehicle so it's still a great savings in fuel economy. Tonight the car really proved it's worth as I drove home in sleet and freezing rain on roads that had barely been touched by the salt trucks. The Traction Control System and StabiliTrak kicked in a few steps along the way but overall we stayed on track and had very little problem. As a mom travelling with my 5-year old precious cargo safely buckled into a booster seat in the back seat I can't say enough about peace of mind I now have after driving this car on poor roads. The front and back seat are both comfortable and roomy. I love the features of the heated front seats, the remote start, and the infotainment system. We added a portable dvd player to the back seat for my son. I have to say so far I am absolutely loving this car and would recommend it to anyone. Update: six months in and still loving this car.
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Sonic the Hedgehog
Sherry Raimey, 10/29/2016
2014 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
If you prefer the "extras" - camera, navigation, entertainment system - purchase one with it included. Car rides well, has great sound system, great gas mileage, handles well, and the safety features are outstanding! Great first-car for new drivers; adorable for more-seasoned drivers. Very reliable-just keep up basic maintenance. I <3 this car!!!
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Super Sonic Turbo
Bill Dozer, 09/28/2023
2014 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Nothing to dislike!
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Super Sonic
James Cory, 11/18/2024
2014 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The process went well I think. The seller devoured a pizza during the paperwork session. Test drive was spirited. The drive home Sonic handled the rainy conditions well. Quarter of the way home we pulled over for gas when we discoved the ignition key would not come out and the left rear tire was slowly losing air. Deihl Chevrolet discovered the gear shifter was faulty and not locking into park properly, not releasing the key. New shifter inatalled. Another local garage inspected the tire, found a piece of metal lodged in tge tread. He was able to fix the tire. Some unexpected expenses straight off on ownership, now the car is a pleasure to drive around. Was it worth 2 round trips from Pittsburgh to Arlington, VA? Yes, the wife is thrilled with it which makes me happy. She loves the Dragon Green color.
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