Used 2020 Chevrolet Sonic

Though reports abound that the Chevrolet Sonic’s days are numbered, it is hanging on for at least another year. The Sonic is Chevrolet’s subcompact sedan and hatchback, an economy car that competes with the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa and Kia Rio.

The Sonic comes with a peppy turbocharged engine and still looks fresh — especially in hatchback form — but it lags rivals in most other aspects. It doesn’t offer the kind of active safety features found on competitors, and it costs more than they do, too. Both of those are black marks against a car meant to attract younger buyers and those on a budget.

Moreover, base-model Sonics are still stuck in yesteryear, making you pay extra for the most basic of amenities: power windows. Meanwhile, one feature that some drivers might like — a manual transmission — is no longer available. Unless you are absolutely set on buying a made-in-America car from the bow-tie brand or are smitten by the Sonic’s looks, we think you can do better with one of its competitors.

Although it was introduced way back in 2012 and is old by automotive standards, the Sonic’s powertrain and driving manners remain competitive. As Chevy dropped the base 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine last year, that means all come with a small but peppy 1.4-liter turbo-4. Its 138 horsepower is enough to make the small Sonic feel spry. You won’t exactly be winning street races, but it’s more than adequate to hustle the Sonic up freeway onramps without fear of becoming a splat in a semi’s grille.

Where the Sonic most excels is around town and on shorter commutes. Its diminutive size and tight, 34.5-foot turning radius enable it to snake through traffic and squeeze into tight parking spots. The Sonic’s suspension and steering are on the more athletic side, more so if you opt for the sport suspension. Conversely, the Sonic isn’t as comfortable or refined as the all-new Nissan Versa.

Sadly, one aspect we really liked about past Sonics — an easy and engaging manual transmission — has been dropped for 2020. That leaves the Sonic’s formerly optional 6-speed automatic as standard. If you are among the “save the manuals” crowd and are looking for a small and economical car, check out the Honda Fit or Toyota Yaris sedan. The base Versa also still offers three pedals.

Whether you opt for a sedan or hatchback, the Sonic’s 5-passenger interior is somewhat roomy for its size and has at least an air of modernity with the standard 7-inch touch screen. Still, before buying we’d urge you to at least contrast the Sonic’s interior with what you could get in a Toyota Yaris, which looks downright luxurious compared to the Chevy. The Sonic’s rear seat is adequately roomy, but still trails the Honda Fit.

The versatile and recommendable hatchback models offer 47.7 cubic feet of cargo room with rear seats folded. That’s also less than a Honda Fit hatchback, but the Chevy has more space than the Honda with the rear seats up — 19 cubic feet vs. the Fit’s 16.6. We also like the handy dual-glove-box arrangement. Be aware that if you skimp and settle for a base 2020 Chevy Sonic sedan, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time with old-fashioned crank windows.

All Chevy Sonic models have small footprints and tidy proportions, with the hatchback the smaller of the two. We favor the design of the 5-door hatchback, which reminds us of classy-yet-practical European models featuring hidden rear-door handles in the black areas of the C-pillars that make the Sonic hatchback appear more like a 2-door. At just under 160 inches in length, the Sonic hatch will also fit easily in small garages and parking spaces.

For traditionalists, the sedan offers a large trunk. Both body styles benefit from an attractive face that makes the Sonic appear wider and better integrates the headlight housings. The RS package, standard on hatchbacks and available on sedans, features a unique body kit and rocker moldings, rear spoiler, fog lights and other sporty bits.

STANDARD INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM
Even the least expensive 2020 Sonic comes with an impressive infotainment system that bundles a 7-inch touch screen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration.

HATCHBACK STYLE
The Sonic hatchback looks better to our eyes, and pragmatically offers more versatility thanks to its rear hatch area. Another reason to opt for the 5-door Sonic is it comes with the RS Package that adds sportier aesthetics.

The 2020 Sonic sedan is available as LS, LT and Premier, while the pricier Sonic hatchback is offered in LT and Premier form. The lowest priced LS Sedan includes some nice features but lacks others. For example, it includes a 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system with CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity and remote keyless entry, but lacks cruise control, power windows or power-adjustable mirrors. It rolls on basic 15-inch steel wheels. We recommend the hatchback or stepping up to the LT sedan, which offers better-quality cloth seating, 6-speaker audio and those features lacking in base models.

Top-line Sonic Premier models have the most robust set of features, including faux-leather upholstery with heated and power-adjustable front seats, heated steering wheel, and 17-inch wheels. Premier hatch models add sport suspension, fog lights, and the RS package that bundles unique interior and exterior aesthetics.

Options include a lowering-suspension kit to improve handling on LT and Premier models. The option we most recommend — and a great value at $495 — is the Driver Confidence Package that includes forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning and rear-park assist. It is available on all but base LS sedans.

Note that more modern active safety features such as automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist that are easily available on rivals like the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa are not even optional on the aging Chevy Sonic.

For the 2020 model year, all Sonic models use a 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, as the previous base 1.8-liter non-turbo was dropped last year. Also no longer available is the 6-speed manual transmission, meaning all Sonics now come with a 6-speed automatic. As with other rivals in this class, the Sonic is front-wheel drive. At up to 34 mpg, the Sonic is adequately efficient, but here again trails its fresher competitors. The Yaris, Fit and Versa, for example, earn up to 40 mpg, while the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio get 41 mpg.

1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4
138 horsepower @ 4,900 rpm
148 lb-ft of torque @ 1,850 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/34 mpg