Used 2020 Chevrolet Sonic Premier for sale 

The 2020 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback is offered in two exclusive trims which differ in features and aesthetics only. It has the same power plant, a 1.4L turbo pot which chunks out a humble 138 horses and 148 lb-ft of torque. Chevrolet has discontinued the noisy 6-speed manual transmission. It now has a much smoother 6-Speed Shiftable automatic powertrain. The LT trim is priced at $20295 and the Premier is dearer by $2100.

Trims	LT	Premier
MSRP (FWD)	$20,295	$22,395
Key Features	Automatic on/off Headlamps	All the features in LT includes or replaces:
	Body Color Heated Power Outside Mirrors	Keyless Start
	LED Daytime Running Lamps	17-inch Wheels
	StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System	6-Way power driver and passenger seats
	16-inch Wheels	Compass Display
	Rear Vision Camera	Heated Driver and front passenger seats
	Tire Pressure Monitoring System(TPMS)	Leatherette Seat trims
	Panic Brake Assist

Chevrolet also provides a set of optional packages focused on performance and driver-oriented features. The performance package helps the engine help breathe freely and lower the ride by a good 10mm, improving handling and performance. The Convenience and Driver confidence packages are focused on creature comfort and safety.

Package	Performance Package	Convenience Package	Driver Confidence Package
MSRP	$1580	$650	$495
Features	Performance Exhaust	2 Spare Keys	Lane Departure Warning
	RS Lowering Suspension Kit	6-way Power Driver and Front Passenger Seats	Forward Collision Alert
		Compass Display	RearPark Assist
		Keyless Open and Start
		Heated Driver and Passenger Seats
		Enhanced Driver Information System

Which trim should you go for?

We recommend the well-stuffed LT trim. It is rare to have a feature-laden trim in this segment of cars. But Chevrolet has been generous to fill it with all the necessary comfort and safety features. It would be valued to add the Convenience and Driver Confidence Packages to this trim which added a host of well to do features. This keeps the overall price lower than the Premier trim but at par with it on features. This car is not designed to be pushed to its limits, so the performance package makes no sense.

As both the trims offer the same powertrains, the power figures remain unchanged throughout the spectrum. The performance can at best be defined as decent. The turbocharged 1.4L setup helps it keep it in the game.

The Chevrolet Sonic is powered by a 1.4L turbocharged inline four-cylinder which is small in size but high on power. The power is transmitted to the wheels via a 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission which helps it move without any hiccups.

Chevy has been vigilant and has done a great job in swapping out the snappy manual transmission with the automatic unit.

Models	Chevrolet Sonic LT	Kia Rio S*	Toyota Corolla SE*	Hyundai Veloster 2.0*
MSRP	$20,295	$16,490	$20,140	$19,430
Engine	1.4L Turbo Inline-4	1.6L Regular Inline-4	2.0L Regular Inline-4	2.0L Regular Inline-4
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD	FWD	FWD
Transmission	6-Speed Shiftable Automatic	6-Speed Shiftable Automatic	6-Speed Manual	6-Speed Manual
Power	138hp@4,900rpm	130hp@6,300rpm	168hp@6,600rpm	147hp@6,200rpm
Torque	148lb-ft@1,850rpm	119lb-ft@4,850rpm	155lb-ft@4,800rpm	132lb-ft@4,500rpm

*2019 figures used for reference purpose

Sonic has the smallest engine of the lot but that doesn’t make it at the end of the powerband. It produces more power and torque than the 1.6L powered Kia Rio. But it isn’t enough to catch up to the Toyota Corolla and the Hyundai Veloster which produces way more. It is mostly due to the bigger engines. Hyundai has done a phenomenal job at pricing it very aggressively.

How quick is it off the line?

This is where the automatic transmission of the Chevy does wonders. In spite of being handicapped on power, the precise timings on the gear shifts help it propel to 60 mph in an impressive 8.2 seconds.

It crosses the quarter-mile mark in 16.4 seconds.

Models	Chevrolet Sonic LT	Kia Rio S*	Toyota Corolla SE*	Hyundai Veloster 2.0*
0-60 MPH	8.2 sec	8.3 sec	7.5 sec	8.6 sec
Quarter Mile	16.4 sec	16.5 sec	16.0 sec	16.5 sec
Top Speed	108 MPH	110 MPH(est)	112 MPH(est)	N/A
Engine	1.4L Turbo Inline-4	1.6L Regular Inline-4	2.0L Regular Inline-4	2.0L Regular Inline-4

Toyota Corolla is the quickest to 60 with 7.5 seconds. The extra power helps in shaving time. In spite of being the lightest car of the lot, The Hyundai Veloster disappoints us with a 0-60 time of 8.6 seconds. This proves that being quick depends on a lot more than just power.

How's the driving dynamics of Chevrolet Sonic?

A small footprint and a suspension tuned for comfort makes the Sonic a balanced ride. It is nimble with ample feedback from the steering. The linear and progressive automatic gearbox makes the ride smooth and comfortable. The soft suspension setup doesn't sacrifice on the driving dynamics. The performance pack is available for a more aggressive and dedicated driving experience.

Is the Chevrolet Sonic stern with the braking?

The Sonic is equipped with a disc setup at the front and drums at the rear. Most of the cars in this segment have this setup to cut on cost and make the cars more affordable.

This doesn’t compromise on the stopping power as the power figures favor it. 

Model	Chevrolet Sonic LT	Kia Rio S*	Toyota Corolla SE*	Hyundai Veloster 2.0*
Brake Rotors Front	10.8"	11"	11.5"	11"
Brake Rotors Rear	9.0"	8"	10.5"	10.3"
Curb Weight	2896 lbs	2714 lbs	3060 lbs	2701 lbs
60-0 MPH	124 ft	115 ft	120 ft	119 ft

All of the small hatches in this category have similar specced brake setup and so braking performance is more or less the same. But the Chevy manages to stop faster due to its less curb weight.

Chevrolet Sonic gives a combined 29 miles to a gallon which is satisfactory. The turbocharged engine makes the Sonic a bit thirstier than its competitors. It gives 26 miles to the gallon in the city and 34 miles on highways.

Model	Chevrolet Sonic LT	Kia Rio S*	Toyota Corolla SE*	Hyundai Veloster 2.0*
MPG (City)	26	28	28	25
MPG (Highway)	34	37	36	33
MPG (Combined)	29	32	31	28
Fuel Capacity	12.2 gallons	11.9 gallons	13.2 gallons	13.2 gallons
Range (City/Hwy/Combined)	317/415/353 miles	333/440/380 miles	370/488/409 miles	356/449/369 miles
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/yr)	6.1	5.5	5.7	6.3

Kia Rio is the fuel-efficient of the lot with a combined 32 miles to the gallon. It is closely followed by the Toyota Corolla at 31 MPG. Hyundai Veloster comes at the bottom with 28 miles to the gallon.

The interior of Sonic is high on features and storage space. It is decently trimmed with textured elements and a comfortable cabin. It has bottle holders on the front doors and also a hidden storage compartment beneath the floor.

The cabin is surprisingly quiet in the Sonic. It is comfortable for the price range. The rear seats are placed comfortably but have restricted legroom for large adults. The comfort is subpar but it copes up for it in utilities and storage space in the cabin.

The ride is less jerky now due to the deletion of the manual gearbox.

Model	Chevrolet Sonic LT	Kia Rio S*	Toyota Corolla SE*	Hyundai Veloster 2.0*
Seating Capacity	5	5	5	4
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	38.7/53.4/41.8	38.9/54.1/42.1	38.4/53.9/42.0	38.1/56.0/42.6
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	38.1/53.0/34.6	38.0/53.3/33.5	37.6/54.5/29.9	35.9/54.3/34.1

The Chevy has decent cabin space when compared to its competitors. It provides better legroom than the rest in spite of having the least wheelbase. The space management is impressive. Rear row space is not a strong point of any of these cars but they still manage to have a decent distribution with The Sonic having the most room.

What are the infotainment features?

2020 Chevrolet Sonic has been updated with a 7-inch infotainment system with a 6 speaker setup as standard. It comes with Android Auto and Apple Carplay as standard. Bluetooth connectivity is an added boon.

The Convenience Package adds a Driver Information System which shows all the important safety and vehicular features on the infotainment screen.

How good is the Cargo carrying capacity?

The Sonic continues to surprise us with its space management. With 19 cubic feet of cargo space, it has one of the best volumes in the segment.

This is achieved without sacrificing the cabin space.

Models	Chevrolet Sonic LT	Kia Rio S*	Toyota Corolla SE*	Hyundai Veloster 2.0*
Cargo Capacity	19 cu.ft.	17.4 cu.ft.	17.8 cu.ft.	19.9 cu.ft.

The larger Hyundai Veloster cuts the Sonic in cargo space by a marginal 0.9 cubic feet. The Toyota and Kia come in at last with 17.4 and 17.8 cubic feet of storage space.

What are the creature comforts on offer?

• 2-Way Manual Front Passenger Seat
• 12-volt auxiliary front power outlet
• 6-speaker Audio System
• 60/40 Split-folding Rear Bench Seats
• 4G LTE WiFi Capable
• Air Conditioning with Filtration System
• 7-inch diagonal touch Infotainment System
• Rear Cargo Area Shade

The design of Sonic is subtle and functional. The latest update was done two years ago after which there have not been many developments. The 2020 iteration gets two new eye-popping colors-Oasis Blue and Cayenne Metallic Orange to keep it fresh. The design evolution has been graceful over the years. The split section front grill is now sleek and RS pack is standard on both trims. It makes the humble hatch look fast! 
Design and dimension

The design is simple with few lines complementing it. The front is dominated by the split grille and the RS logo on it. It has a small footprint which makes maneuvering in tight spots a breeze. The rear end looks a bit weird with the detached tail light arrangement.

The Sonic manages to have better space management in spite of having the smallest dimensions.

Model	Chevrolet Sonic LT	Kia Rio S*	Toyota Corolla SE*	Hyundai Veloster 2.0*
Curb Weight	2896 lbs	2714 lbs	3060 lbs	2701 lbs
Length	159.8"	160.0"	169.9"	166.9"
Width	68.3"	67.9"	69.9"	70.9"
Height	59.7"	57.1"	57.1"	55.1"
Ground Clearance	N/A	5.5"	5.1"	5.6"
Wheelbase	99.4"	101.6"	103.9"	104.3"

The Chevy weighs in at 2896 pounds and has the smallest footprint of the lot. Toyota Corolla is the longest of the lot. Kia Rio and Hyundai Veloster go hand in hand with a curb weight of 2714 and 2701 pounds respectively.

What are the Exterior highlights?

The 2020 Chevrolet Sonic comes with a lot of features on the outside. Some of the most notable highlights include the following set of features

• Roof Rack Cross Rails
• 17-inch Painted Wheels
• Power Glass Sunroof
• Chrome Beltline Mouldings
• Fog Lamps
• Integrated Rear Spoiler
• LED DRLs
• Rocker Mouldings

Chevrolet has given safety importance and filled the Sonic with life-saving features from the base. With electronic wizardry taking care of stability and braking in times of emergency, it is a foolproof ride. With a host of optional features like Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Alert, it puts the cars of higher segment to shame.

What are the standard safety features on offer?

• 10 Airbags
• Panic Brake Assist
• Electronic Brake Force Distribution
• Electronic Traction Control
• Hill Start Assist
• Rear Vision Camera
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System(TPMS)
• LED Daytime Running Lamps

Chevrolet Sonic vs Kia Rio

The Kia is a fun to drive car which has a peppy engine and loaded with features. It costs less compared to the Chevy but that also makes it less powerful. Apart from the power, it is much more superior than the Chevy in terms of feature list and reliability. It has better fit and finish than the pricier Sonic. If bang for the buck is your priority then the Kia should be first on your list.

Chevrolet Sonic vs Toyota Corolla

The Corolla is cheaper and much more powerful than the Chevy. Being a Toyota reliability is not a reason to fathom at all. It rides beautifully and has more interior space as well. We see no reason whatsoever to deviate from it and choose the Sonic over it.

Chevrolet Sonic vs. Hyundai Veloster

The Hyundai Veloster is like a black sheep in this list. It is a three-door hatchback while all others are four doors. It comes in at the top end of the spectrum as well. It has a bigger engine, produces more power and is high on features as well. But it strays off as the Sonic is much more nimble and quick. In Spite of weighing less, it couldn't use it to its advantage. But apart from that, the Veloster is a very well built and loaded car. The interior fit and finish put it in a whole different league. As performance is not the deciding factor in this segment, The Veloster doesn’t leave any coins unturned to not be our choice.

 

The Chevrolet Sonic is a decent car with a well-balanced body. It has all the latest safety features as standard and even comes with Android Auto and Apple Carplay as standard. But there are much better offerings in the market like the Hyundai Veloster and Kia Rio which along with all the features provides a very well built interior.

The Chevy does light up the segment with a turbocharged engine and a fun to drive setup. The new Automatic transmission makes it a quick car as well, putting the more powerful ones to shame. With an optional suspension setup and a performance exhaust system, it can even bring in performance at a budget. 

The Chevy has overcome its shortcomings which kept it in the shadows. It is a peppy city rider with space to enjoy. If you want the most for your money then The Chevrolet Sonic is a great choice.