Used 2016 Chevrolet Sonic Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2016 Sonic, so we've included reviews for other years of the Sonic since its last redesign.
Better than expected.
Theburgh, 05/23/2016
updated 06/06/2018
2015 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
32 of 35 people found this review helpful
Pros: spacious yet compact, good mpg (especially for where I live), responsive and nimble, 1.4 turbo, value for dollar. The cons to the vehicle include: Harder than usual plastics (they do fit well and look nice). No full armrest (seriously, Chevy? Not even on the LTZ model?) Hushed, but still louder than preferred road noise. No padding where your elbows rest (again, Chevy, seriously? The car was $23,000 new...you can pad the door panel where elbows rest!!!) Base engine: awful! Sounds like a lawnmower. Buy the 1.4 Turbo! It beats the 1.8 engine in every way. Overall, if you want something easy to park, that is fun to drive, delivers excellent MPG, and has lots of room for the size, you won't be disappointed with the Sonic! **Update 2017: I'm still quite happy with the car. MPG is holding at 27.9 combined since purchase. Replaced junk OEM tires with premium Continental's which quieted the car down significantly.* **Update 2018**. The car is still running well but I have some unresolved issues. A squealing serpentine belt & pulley assembly that was replaced under warranty and is still squealing (taking it to Chevy once again). Rattling rear window shelf replaced under warranty - still rattling. Plastic surrounds around the door locks pop up, cigarette outlet pulls right out of the housing. Not exactly confidence inspiring for future reliability.
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Deceptive car
CRYSTAL, 12/15/2017
2015 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
Cannot lower the front of the driver seat nor tilt the headrest after 3 years I've replaced half of everything that makes the car run water pumps $200 fan assemblies hoses belts air intakes metal lines after 3 years a car should not have to have this much work done where I live the speed limit does not get over 55 miles per hour my car still looks brand spanking new but is falling apart
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Low cost fun!
Ted T from Hollywood, MD, 08/06/2016
2015 Chevrolet Sonic LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
30 of 34 people found this review helpful
I bought this car out of necessity in October 2015 to replace my 2005 Ford Escape, which was in need of major repairs. My criteria was to find the least expensive Chevrolet I could by that was actually built in the United States. I have the base LS Sedan 5 speed, and my only factory option is a cargo net. Let me begin by saying I had no idea how much I would enjoy driving this car! It is by far my favorite of our family drivers, which include a 2015 Jeep Cherokee Latitude, and my daughter's 2011 Chevy Cruise. My Sonic Sedan sits family high, it has great sight lines, it is very easy to get into and out of, even for occasional front seat passengers well over 6' tall. The trunk is cavernous, and with both back seats folded down, you can carry a ridiculous amount of stuff in this car. The Sears are comfortable, and with four average size passengers, there is more than adequate room in the car. The real pleasure of this little car is in how nicely it drives. I have the base 1.8 liter engine, with a 5 speed. The transmission is very good, and goes easily and almost crisply into gear. The gear spacing (ratios) are perfect, with just the right amount of performance overlap from one gear to the next, and this car will go 75-80 mph all day, without you the driver feeling like you have been beat up in a small car. The suspension is interesting. The car has a nice compliant ride over any road surface, and the ride quality is surprisingly good. You'd be tempted think it was sprung too softly, and then you hit a curve, and you take that curve in complete control. Amazing for a car with a beam rear axle; but then again, I read that Chevrolet had the suspension team for the Corvette set the spring rates and shock damping for the rear suspension. My combined mpg is 34.5 mpg. All day long. If I reset the mpg display before a hwy trip I can get 40 mpg. That's the truth, and may be due to manual transmission. So, that's all the stuff I like. - - What I don't like is the quirky LED instrument panel. The only analog gage is the tach; everything else is digital. My biggest complaint with it is that there is no temperature display, which is a pain in the winter time. I'm not a fan of the instrument panel, and I think that Chevy has fixed that, and gone more analog in 2017. Also, the base "infotainment" system is pretty lame; front door and A pillar speakers only, nothing in back, and am-fm only. I have to use an aux cord with my iPhone. There is no USB port in the base car (LS). I use a 12 Vdc adapter to charge my phone in the car. The Bluetooth, however, does work great, and I use that feature all the time. The car is also a WiFi hot spot, which is pretty cool. I should also say that I have had absolutely ZERO problems with this car, from a maintenance or build quality perspective. I is very tight, and very quiet. -Surprisingly so. In summary, I like this car A LOT! I bought it as "BT" - basic transportation, but it has turned out to be way more than that. Finally, on a recent business trip, I had the chance to rent a 2014 Sonic LT sedan with 42,000 miles. That car had all the stuff I like about my car, but with power windows, an automatic transmission, and a decent factory sound system, and with 42K on the click it was still tight and quiet. These are great little cars, that live a lot bigger than they actually are.
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2016 Sonic LTZ 2 Cracked Cylinders, bad turbo
Cheap New Sonic, 07/15/2020
2016 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2016 Chevy Sonic LTZ Turbo Hatchback Brand New so I wouldn't have to deal with all the issues of owning a used car: $17.000 ( I was looking at Used Honda Fits) I really Liked the "Appearance" and design of the Sonic. It ran good for the first 30,000 miles, Then it had a cracked cylinder, They replaced all the cylinders the first time around because it was still under the warranty, Then it had another cracked cylinder again JUST OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY at around 63.000 miles. Even though they repaired the first one, they made me pay the 2nd time around. I was extremely disappointed with the way GM handled this. After paying to get this fixed my Turbo had zero power. Ive had other mechanical issues I won't go into but after this experience, The Sonic is a great "Looking" Design but don't be fooled... Its a POS GM Product. I will not buy another GM product unless it was given to me or too cheap to pass up. I mean REALLY CHEAP. Do your research and buy something better.
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Disappointing for sure.
Kasey Jo Coller, 07/12/2020
2015 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I owned this 2015 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ, Turbo, since it was new. The last 3 summers in continuously ran hot. First, the hoses and pumps for the cooling system needed replacement. Then the thermostat went bad and was replaced. It then, would remain losing coolant over time and I constantly had to stay on top of the water level to prevent the car from running hot. Even though I had all my work done at the Chevrolet dealership, you would think they would naturally find the cause of the constant loss of coolant. But no. Last summer, the coolant got so hot, it cracked the reservoir and I had that replaced. There is.no temperature gage to monitor on the dash. Why?? Because it's all digital. So you don't know its running hot, until an alarm sounds and you have to shut it down ... obviously to prevent further damage. In the end, my now worth 4800 in rough condition with 100k miles on the dash, has a cracked head from blowing a head gasket. The quote to fix? Chevrolet dealership said 7500 for motor replacement and installation. I sold it with a bad motor for 1700 and just paid it off in November. Incredibly disappointing. Although I loved the interior .... The touch screen screws up and gets stuck on seek. If you have a good Bluetooth connection at all. Handles well and fun to drive. When gas is cheap, I could fill her up for $16.00 and get from Shreveport to Dallas on half a tank of gas. But if it was summer in the south and your A.C. was blowing, you were on the side of the road within a couple minutes with no water to cool your engine, because it was spitting it out of the tail pipe. I don't recommend anyone to ever buy this car. It's a money pit and because of this car, I will never own another GM vehicle again.
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