In a world where everyone says that “bigger is always better,” it’s good to sometimes remember to think small.
Take, for example, the new 2016 Chevy Sonic – obviously, and understandably, a little outshone by its flashier cousins, the new 2016 Camaro and the 2016 Malibu, among several other great models available at your local Chevy dealers. This sporty little turbo, however, is highly underrated and offers the power and performance to match its proud Chevy bowtie badge.
If you’ll come along on a closer look at this new Sonic you may find yourself pleasantly surprised at how efficient, yet versatile this sporty mini can really be – and fair warning: you may end up wanting one.
This Little Guy Can Roar
Don’t let its squat size and low profile fool you – the 2016 Sonic is a serious driving machine meant to offer superior Chevy-level performance to anyone who sits behind its wheel.
The base model Sonic features one of Chevy’s famed EcoTec engines – the 1.8L I-4 engine with 5-speed manual transmission, which can deliver a satisfying 138 horsepower and 125 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s already impressive for its size, and it only goes up from there.
Amazingly, the 2016 Sonic also offers an available 1.4L turbocharged engine and 6-speed manual transmission that can pound out 138 horsepower and 148 lb.-ft of torque at an impressive EPA-estimated 40 MPG highway without sacrificing power or athleticism even one bit. Amazingly, this sporty engine can rev the Sonic up from 0 to 60 mph in less than 8 seconds. That’s some serious power for a small turbo, but it also means this engine can certainly overcome just about any performance test you might throw at it.
Supremely Safe
With an all-around safety design and an intense focus on keeping passenger injury to a minimum in the event of a crash, this new Sonic offers surprisingly durable protection for a car its size.
This is thanks in part to superior safety technology and a push for the Sonic to offer more comprehensive protection than its competitors. The Sonic leads its class by being the first small car model to offer 10 standard air bags around the cabin. These also come with sensors to detect wich need to be deployed and which don’t in a crash, saving money and preventing unnecessary injuries.
The 2016 Sonic also comes with Chevy’s available Driver Confidence package, which includes a Foreward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning to help keep you and your passengers on your toes and fully safe while on the road. Meanwhile, available OnStar Automatic Crash Response can contact help immediately in the case of an emergency.
The 2016 Sonic also improves on safety with its high-strength, durable steel construction, which offers better rigidity and strength for easier handling. That, plus StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System with Traction Control help your Sonic keep its footing in even the harshest, iciest road conditions.
Thanks to all of these improvements, the Sonic offers nearly unparalleled safety for any car in its class, and as a result, it has been able to take home a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety in 2015 as well as a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score for safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A Fun, Spacious Compact
Just because this sporty little model can fit easily into most parallel parking spaces doesn’t mean its drivers give up their comfort to do so. In fact, the impressively roomy hatchback model of the Sonic offers a whopping 47.7 cubic feet of interior space, enough to make one wonder how so much can fit in such a compact vehicle. It does, however, and drivers seem to be plenty satisfied.
Even the smaller Sonic sedan still offers more trunk space than its competitors, the Honda Accord and Toyota Corolla, with 14.9 cubic feet of trunk space available. And, since both models feature 60/40 folding back seats, hauling cargo should be no problem for most drivers – whether it’s to the sports game or the grocery store, the compact Sonic can hold more than it appears, and will get you and your stuff there and back again with no trouble.
Don’t Forget the Tech
Apart from its innovative and comprehensive safety technology, the Sonic also offer supreme cabin technology to provide ultimate comfort and enjoyment from all passengers. This might be through the available Chevrolet MyLink 7-inch diagonal touch-screen infotainment system, which can stream music and make hands-free calls from the convenience of the driver’s seat. With integrated Bluetooth and GPS systems as well, this high-tech amenity is enough to provide everything the modern passenger could want in a new vehicle.
The available rear vision camera offered on all trim levels can make backing out a breeze, a critical tool for urban driving and parking. With the security of knowing what’s going on behind you, your Sonic can keeo you safe from life’s unforeseen little accidents.
Drivers will also have access to Chevy’s RemoteLink app, included for five years on the OnStar basic plan. This smartphone app can act as a remote starter, key fob, and on-the-go diagnostics tool for the Chevy owner who wants prime connectivity to his or her vehicle. Plus, with available 4G LTE Wi-Fi in the cabin from OnStar, you and your passengers never have to miss a moment – even during long, tedious car trips.
This Sonic is Customizable
For those sold on the Sonic, great news: you can pretty much build your own.
Not exactly from scratch, but the Chevy Sonic offers several customizable options for the driver looking to put that distinct style on his or her new turbo.
At its most basic options, the Sonic offers two premium trim levels above the standard Sonic body: the Sonic Duck edition and the Sonic RS.
Sonic Dusk
The sleek Sonic Dusk edition offers a subtle Nightfall Gray Metallic exterior finish with matte-finish upper and lower grille bezels, door handle inserts and decklid trim for that stealthy, nighttime look. Unlike other Sonics, this model offers a rear spoiler and 18-inch aluminum wheels with Midnight Silver finish and, in the interior, Jet Black leather-appointed seats with sueded microfiber accents and Mojave inserts. These combine with the Sonic’s standard features to present a trim level that is sleek and stealthy beyond compare.
Sonic RS
This power-centric option focuses on the standard 1.4L turbocharged engine and 6-speed manual transmission that typically is optional on the standard trim level, utilizing sporty gear ratios with racing-inspired aluminum sport pedals to give the driver on-the-racetrack feeling. The driver really feels in control with these racing features, combined with the Sonic RS’s lowered and stiffened suspension for more race-like handling and driveability.
These represent only some of the available customizations to even the regular Sonic trim, including rear racing stripes and all-weather floormats, that have made Chevy vehicles some of the most supremely customizable vehicles on the market today.
Keep this sporty little Sonic in mind next time you’re considering a small, sporty model for urban driving or simply for the convenience of having a smaller car. While short and compact in stature, the 2016 Sonic offer nearly unparalleled performance and comfort for a car of its size and definitely puts its Chevy cousins in good company for this year’s model run. Head on over to a local Chevy dealer and see what kind of Sonic models they have in stock today – before they all go zipping out the door under your nose.
