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2020 Chevy Sonic Review
Price Range: $10,745 - $16,998
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2020 Chevrolet Sonic Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What's new
- Two new exterior colors
- Six-speed manual transmission has been discontinued
- Part of the first Sonic generation introduced for 2012
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Iowa
$125/mo for Sonic LS
Sonic LS
vs
$156/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
3.5 out of 5 stars3.5/5Above Average
#23 out of 27 among Subcompact Cars
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
$580/yr
vs. $416/yr
for Average Subcompact Car
for Average Subcompact Car
Frequency
1.31x/yr
vs. 1.22x/yr
for Average Subcompact Car
for Average Subcompact Car
Severity
12.3%
vs. 10.1%
for Average Subcompact Car
for Average Subcompact Car
powered by RepairPal
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Great Surprise
5 out of 5 starssogo, 11/05/2019
2017 Chevrolet Sonic Premier 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
The 2017 Sonic Hatchback has more passenger & cargo room than the new Toyota Corolla Hatchback. The Sonic LT/RS comes with power drivers seat and heated seats and pushbutton start. You have to step up to Corollas XSE hatchback model to get these features. The Sonic comes with a sunroof not available in the Toyota. The Sonic has a turbo charged cast iron engine with a 6 speed … automatic. The corolla did not offer a turbo and has a cvt transmission. The sonics 7 inch screen is built in where the corollas looks slapped on. The sonic electric steering is better than the Toyotas... The ride is also surprisingly better than the corollas. Visibility is better in the chevy Sonic. The sonic cost less than the Toyota and is built in America. The sonic has a larger back window and can hold more upright luggage. The Sonic is quieter inside the a Mercedes S class. The one issue I have is the sonic lacks a temp gauge. Why?
great value
4 out of 5 starsNo name given, 03/03/2017
2017 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
Bought it and have not regretted it. It is an inexpensive car, but has great technology and drives well for a small car. I also think it is a good looking car.
An fun and safe sub compact, with a catch.
2 out of 5 starsAndrew M., 06/04/2020
2017 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
I've had my Sonic for around three years. The seats are comfortable, the dash is modern. It is equipt with an infotainment center which poweres some lacking, but alright, sounding speakers.
It has a smooth ride, as well as a very well build set of struts and shocks.
The brakes are more than adequate, even when you decide to drive it more aggressively than usual!
My specific model has … the 1.8l inline four, it isn't the largest nor the most powerful motor, but it can be fun at times!
I enjoy knowing that I, as well as my passengers, are safe. The full surround airbags truly give you an unparalleled sense of security.
Now for the bad
It treated me great, with the occasional visit to a shop for minor repairs.
First the rear brake drums locked up while driving in icy conditions.
Next, my driver side weather strip pulled away while I was on the freeway. This caused some minor body damage.
The stock speakers lack depth of sound, and the infotainment center appears to lack the power necessary to drive better aftermarket speakers.
The pump to my windshield wiper nozzles completely failed.
The fuses that controlled my radiator fan failed, causing my vehicle to overheat. As it is a smaller displacement engine, it runs quite a bit hotter than its larger counterparts. As the fan was not engaging, the engine overheated. This could have made the engine fail.
I have had several coil packs replaced, as they stopped working in rapid succession. As I am typing this, I am still waiting for an appointment to a local shop to fix yet another faulty pack.
This has all happened 40,000 miles into its life. As this car was purchased new, I know that it has been very well maintained.
My verdict? I might have purchased a lemon, these things do happen. When it runs, it runs well and drives like a dream. When it doesn't, it gets towed to a shop.
I'd recommend seeking a other vehicle.
A Amazing Sporty Battle Tank With That Luxury Feel
5 out of 5 starsChristopher Vizcarra, 04/20/2017
2017 Chevrolet Sonic LT 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
I bought the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic LT (Auto) RS Hatchback and added the Convenience & Drivers Confidence Packages to match the goodies of the Premier Trim. There is a reason why I chose the trim I chose; the Hatchback only comes in 2 trims, the LT & Premier, there is a slight difference between the two trims. The LT has an amazingly quiet cabin equal to the highest trim of a $70k+ luxury … vehicle, while the Premier has a more lowered suspension and as a result the Premier's cabin is not as quiet. The automatic can also be driven in manual mode without the annoying clutch pedal! The Performance is amazingly sporty for both engines as they both easily pounces from a stop. When applying the breaks it also comes to a smooth stop and when applied quickly It's very fast too! If you want a car that is amazingly quiet and caters to the highest safety standard's, quality and convenience of a luxury car and at the same time not only looks sporty but actually is sporty with the attitude to show inside and out, this is a car worth test driving with the optional packages I have chosen. I call it my mini Lambo because it sits and pampers you like one yet its silent but deadly. It takes Unleaded gas and I get 30-35 MPG with mixed driving, now If you drive it sporty and have fun you will get about 24- 28 mpg which is still amazing. There is a reason this car has muscled It's way into the sports car scene and has been officially recognized. It is the only car so far to get a 5 star rating, the highest across all ratings for the Institute of Highway Safety Standards for such a small car. Everything in the car from the smallest button to the engine, inside and out is amazingly built and solid. You can tell that Chevrolet takes pride in every part of the car even to the smallest stitch. Take a test drive with the optional packages I have chosen and you will see that Chevrolet has built this amazingly rare gem to prove you don't have to spend a fortune to be pampered. I sure hope that this particular model will continue for years to come. There are many mixed reviews about this car in particular often nit-picking at it It is best to go and test drive it.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic, so we've included reviews for other years of the Sonic since its last redesign.
2020 Sonic Highlights
Sedan
LS
| Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $16,720 |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | Gas |
| Combined MPG | 29 MPG |
| Cost to Drive | $125/month |
| Seating | 5 seats |
| Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 14.9 cu.ft. |
| Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
| Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the Sonic models:
- 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 that may not be visible behind the car.
NHTSA Overall Rating
5 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover12.6%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestGood
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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