Inspired Interior
Sonic's cabin complements the
motorcycle-inspired exterior with a detailed instrument cluster featuring a
large, round analog tachometer set within an asymmetrical LCD readout, with a
large digital speedometer display.
Additional interior highlights
include:
- The mid-instrument panel surface is available in two colors (dark
titanium and brick) and flows seamlessly into the upper doors, with premium
low-glass finishes
- The automatic shift knob has a "cobra head" design," while the manual
shifter has a chrome-finished knob
- Tubular outboard climate outlets protrude from the instrument panel
surface.
The interior includes storage compartments in the center stack and doors. The
rear seats fold flat for carrying larger items. Front bucket seats are standard
and heated front seats are available.
Chevrolet Cruze-Based
Powertrains
Chevrolet Sonic models are powered by efficient,
power-dense, small-displacement engines, including the Ecotec 1.4L turbo and the
Ecotec 1.8L - the same engines used in the new Chevrolet Cruze. Three
transmissions are available: a five-speed manual and six-speed automatic with
the 1.8L and a six-speed manual with the 1.4L turbo.
The Ecotec 1.4L
turbo's power ratings are estimated at 138 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb-ft of
torque (200 Nm) between 1,850 rpm and 4,900 rpm. The wide rpm range for the
maximum torque - a specific trait of turbocharged engines - helps the engine
deliver a better driving experience and performance. Premium design elements
give the engine world-class smoothness and durability.
The 1.4L's
turbocharger is integrated within the exhaust manifold, for reduced weight and
greater packaging flexibility in small vehicles. A reinforced crankshaft and
stronger connecting rods deliver additional strength to support the engine's
pressurized power and torque over a wide rpm band.
The naturally
aspirated Ecotec 1.8L engine has many of the same features of the Ecotec 1.4L
turbo. It is a compact and durable four-cylinder engine designed for low
maintenance, low emissions and fuel efficiency. Its two-stage variable intake
manifold allows approximately 90 percent of peak torque to be available from
2,400 rpm to 6,500 rpm. It is estimated at 135 horsepower (101 kW), along with
123 lb-ft of torque (167 Nm) at 3,800 rpm.
Engineered for Agile,
Athletic Ride and Handling
The Sonic brings agility and a
fun-to-drive feel that is rare in the segment. Engineers who also work on the
Corvette tuned the Sonic's confident ride and handling, giving it a more direct
and athletic feel, while balancing the vehicle for the broad range of driving
conditions in North America.
All models feature a MacPherson strut front
suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar, and a semi-independent, torsion
beam axle-mount compound link-type rear suspension - featuring a robust, tubular
V-shape beam - with gas-charged shocks. The front and rear tracks are identical
at 59.4 inches (1,509 mm), for well-planted stability and excellent balance.
Electronic power steering is standard and features a wear compensator that
continually adjusts the system interaction with the steering gear to ensure
precise steering action over the life of the system.
Sonic's body
structure is designed to be one of the stiffest in the segment. Its rigidity
enabled engineers to tune the ride and handling more precisely. Sonic's unique
"flat top frame" cradle, for example, assures optimal stiffness in the front
chassis portion of the vehicle. The rear axle is essentially a straight axle
without contour for packaging restraints and reduced noise, vibration and
harshness.
A range of wheel sizes is available, including 17-inch wheels
and sport tires. Power-assisted front disc and rear drum brakes are standard,
along with a four-channel antilock braking system. The four-sensor system - one
at each wheel - incorporates electronic brake force distribution, which balances
braking performance based on such factors as road conditions and the weight of
passengers and/or cargo.
Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications