2018 Chevrolet Sonic
Pros
- Optional turbocharged engine makes good power and fuel economy
- Spacious cabin for the class
- Standard infotainment system supports full smartphone integration
- Excellent crash test scores
Cons
- Base engine offers lackluster fuel economy
- Cabin materials look and feel low-rent
2018 Chevrolet Sonic pricing
in Ashburn, VA
Which Sonic does Edmunds recommend?
Edmunds' Expert Review
Overall rating
Last year's update helped keep the aging Sonic competitive, adding technology and optional active safety features to an already fun-to-drive small car. It has some flaws, but most subcompacts are compromised in one way or another.
The 2018 Chevrolet Sonic sets itself apart from most subcompacts with its standard infotainment system. For most subcompacts, you'd pay extra for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. On the Sonic, it's standard. And with standard OnStar, even the lowest trim of the Sonic can have an onboard 4G LTE data connection and a Wi-Fi hotspot. As a bonus, the Sonic is a fun little car to drive, and it comes with a spacious interior and plenty of cargo room.
Of course, the lowest-cost Sonic does give up quite a few other conveniences, such as power windows and mirrors. Getting your hands on the eminently practical hatchback also requires stepping up to the midlevel trim. And the base engine is not only a bit anemic, but it also returns subpar fuel economy when compared to the rest of the class.
Additionally, the cabin can get noisy, and opting for the suspension that adds the most to the Sonic's driving experience makes the ride borderline harsh. There's also a lot of hard plastic on display in the cabin, even in the Sonic's top trim, and some competitors offer more in the way of active safety features and driver aids.
There are some solid alternatives in the segment, depending on your needs. The Honda Fit is a monster of practicality thanks to its large cargo area and versatile folding seats, but its handling does feel a bit floaty and it's pricey for the class. There's also the all-new Kia Rio, which is easy to recommend thanks to its upscale interior and sporty driving dynamics. Still, if you're willing to pay a little more than the base price, you can get a well-equipped and relatively spacious Chevy Sonic with both good fuel economy and performance.
Trim levels & features
The 2018 Chevrolet Sonic's trim levels actually have a few surprises, though on the surface they seem straightforward enough. There are three trim levels: the LS, LT and Premier.The Sonic is also available in sedan and hatchback body styles. Chevy offers two engine choices along with a plethora of options.
The two powerplants for the Sonic are a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine (138 horsepower, 125 pound-feet of torque) and a turbocharged 1.4-liter four cylinder (138 hp, 148 lb-ft of torque), which offers dramatically improved fuel economy. The 1.8-liter engine comes with either a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic, while the 1.4-liter receives either a six-speed manual or the six-speed automatic
The base Sonic LS sedan is, in many ways, a bare-bones commuter, although it doesn't skimp when it comes to infotainment. Standard equipment includes 15-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, LED daytime running lights, manual side mirrors and manual windows, a rearview camera and remote locking and unlocking. Inside, you'll find a four-way manually adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a 60/40-split folding rear bench.
Infotainment duties are handled by a 7-inch touchscreen running Chevy's MyLink system. This includes Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, two USB ports and a four-speaker sound system. GM's OnStar is also included, which adds a 4G LTE data connection and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
The base LS trim is only available with the sedan bodystyle and the 1.8-liter engine. It does not have access to any major options packages.
Moving up to the LT sedan adds 15-inch alloy wheels, power windows, heated power mirrors, upgraded cloth upholstery, a six-speaker stereo system and satellite radio. Oddly, the cheaper LT manual sedan comes standard with the 1.4-liter engine and the six-speed manual, while the automatic comes with the 1.8-liter engine and its six-speed automatic. The 1.4-liter engine is available as a stand-alone option, or with some upgrade packages, for the LT automatic sedan.
Quite a few packages are available for the LT sedan. The Convenience package adds heated front seats, a six-way power-adjustable driver seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with heating, an upgraded trip computer with more functionality, and proximity entry with push-button start. The Driver Confidence package adds forward collision alert, lane departure warning and rear parking sensors.
The optional RS package adds sporty styling cues to the exterior and interior, and a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel. The Fun and Sun package includes a sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels and the 1.4-liter engine (with the LT automatic). This package can be had with or without the RS package. Opting for Sun and Fun with RS gets you the RS appearance package and a sport-tuned suspension.
The Sonic LT can also be had in the hatchback bodystyle. Both the automatic and manual LT hatchback come with the 1.8-liter engine and the RS package. Otherwise, similar upgrade packages are available.
The Sonic Premier sedan comes with 17-inch wheels, the 1.4-liter engine, simulated leather upholstery, proximity entry and push-button start, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver seat and a heated steering wheel (automatic transmission only). Opting for the manual transmission gets you the RS package as standard. The Driver Confidence package is available for the Premier sedan, and the sunroof is a stand-alone option. The Premier hatchback with either the automatic or manual transmission comes with the RS package.
Driving
Comfort
Interior
Utility
Technology
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Features & Specs
Safety
Our experts’ favorite Sonic safety features:
- Forward Collision Alert
- Detects potential obstacles and warns the driver to take action to avoid a collision.
- Lane Departure Warning
- Alerts the driver if the car drifts out of its lane without the turn signal engaged.
- Rear Park Assist
- Sounds an audible tone when reversing to alert the driver to obstacles behind the car that may not be visible.
2018 Chevrolet Sonic for Sale
Get more for your trade-in
Edmunds shoppers get on average $235 more for their trade-in.
Receive offers from our dealer partners fast.
See your car's valueThe 2018 Chevrolet Sonic is a subcompact car with some great standard technology and enough options to satisfy buyers of all sorts. The Sonic offers buyers quite a few choices: It's available as a hatchback or sedan, with two engine choices and a manual or automatic transmission, plus an assortment of performance options.
For 2018, even the base Sonic LS comes standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. The LS also comes with a rearview camera, automatic headlights, LED daytime running lights, remote locking and unlocking, cloth upholstery, a four-way manually adjustable driver seat, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a 60/40-split folding rear bench. You won't forget it's a budget commuter, though, with the 15-inch steel wheels and manual side mirrors and windows.
Of course, this being a Chevrolet, OnStar is included as a standard feature. This adds functionality including turn-by-turn directions, emergency roadside assistance and Wi-Fi connectivity.
The LS is only available in the sedan body style, with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 138 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. It comes with either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Moving up to the Sonic LT gives you access to both the sedan and hatchback body styles, as well as the option of Chevy's turbocharged 1.4-liter engine (138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque) that returns an EPA-estimated 30 mpg combined with the automatic transmission.
The LT also gets power windows and mirrors, alloy wheels, a six-speaker stereo and access to options packages that add everything from a lowered suspension to drive safety features such as forward collision alert. Stepping up to the range-topping Premier gets you the 1.4-liter engine along with a power driver seat, simulated leather upholstery, and proximity entry with push-button start.
All Chevy Sonic hatchbacks come with the RS package, which adds a sportier suspension as well as sporty exterior styling cues and a flat-bottomed sport steering wheel.
We appreciate the Chevy Sonic's interior for its comfortable seats and the head- and legroom afforded both front and rear passengers. Likewise, both the sedan and hatchback offer excellent cargo capacity for the class. When equipped with the turbocharged engine, and especially with the sportier suspension upgrades, the Sonic RS can be downright fun to drive.
There's a lot of stiff competition in the subcompact segment, so it's worth examining your options carefully. Make sure to read our full review to find out more about the Sonic, and take advantage of our shopping tools to find the best deal on a 2018 Chevrolet Sonic in your area.
2018 Chevrolet Sonic Overview
The 2018 Chevrolet Sonic is offered in the following submodels: Sonic Hatchback, Sonic Sedan. Available styles include LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A), LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A), LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A), Premier 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M), LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 5M), LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M), Premier 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A), LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L Turbo 4cyl 6M), Premier 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M), Premier 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A), and LT Fleet 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A).
What do people think of the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic?
Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2018 Sonic 5 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2018 Sonic.
Edmunds Expert Reviews
Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2018 Sonic featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
Our Review Process
This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.
We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.
What's a good price for a New 2018 Chevrolet Sonic?
2018 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
The 2018 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A) can be purchased for less than the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (aka MSRP) of $19,310. The average price paid for a new 2018 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A) is trending $4,301 below the manufacturer’s MSRP.
Edmunds members save an average of $4,301 by getting upfront special offers. The estimated special offer price in your area is$15,009.
The average savings for the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A) is22.3% below the MSRP.
Available Inventory:We are showing 9 2018 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6A) vehicle(s) available in the in the Ashburnarea.
Which 2018 Chevrolet Sonics are available in my area?
Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2018 Chevrolet Sonic for sale near. There are currently 48 new 2018 Sonics listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as $17,395 and mileage as low as 0 miles. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a car from our massive database to find cheap vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic. Then select Edmunds special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to $5,268 on a used or CPO 2018 Sonic available from a dealership near you.
Can't find a new 2018 Chevrolet Sonics you want in your area? Consider a broader search.
Find a new Chevrolet Sonic for sale - 12 great deals out of 17 listings starting at $21,684.
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Why trust Edmunds?
Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including rich, trim-level features and specs information like: MSRP, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, heated seating, cooled seating, cruise control, parking assistance, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats ,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, wheel tire, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, engine torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy (city, highway, combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (length, width, seating capacity, cargo space), car safety, true cost to own. Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, fuel economy, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds rating, and color.
Should I lease or buy a 2018 Chevrolet Sonic?
Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.
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Related vehicle information
2018 Chevrolet Sonic Information
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- 2018 Chevrolet Sonic Ownership Costs