Designed to be a car of firsts by its makers, the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic is the only subcompact in its class to have an available turbo-charged engine that still boasts amazing fuel economy. This subcompact also gets high marks from critics for its stylish, roomy, and comfortable interior design. The outside of the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic also received a makeover, with a more muscle-bound fascia up front and unique additions to the exterior. It is the only vehicle in its class to receive a five-star rating from the NHTSA, making this one of the safest vehicles on the road today. Taken as a whole, this vehicle is a winning compilation of fuel economy, power, safety, and comfort.
New For 2013
The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS five-door hatchback is new for 2013. It’s powered by the same 1.4-liter turbo offered on other Sonic models, and it gets disc brakes all around, more aggressive gear ratios for the manual, a 10-mm lower ride height, a more aggressively-tuned chassis, unique seventeen-inch wheels, and numerous cosmetic upgrades. Inside, you’ll find leather on the seats, shifter, and steering wheel; aluminum pedals; and RS-specific red accents.
Exterior
The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic comes in a number of trim packages, including a hatchback model. The base model LS is rather bare in appearance, offering little flair to its exterior design. The other models are slightly more stylish.
The base model LS rolls on 15-inch steel wheels, while higher trim packages such as the LTZ feature 17-inch painted alloy wheels. All trim packages sport all-season tires for safe driving in any conditions. A sporty rear spoiler is standard on the top trim packages. Other premium trim package standards are a power sunroof and front and rear splashguards. An oil pan heater is also standard across the board, a great feature to have in cold and icy driving conditions when starting the vehicle. Dusk-sensing halogen headlamps and running lights add to the look and the safety of the vehicle.
Interior & Cargo
The interior of the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic is loaded with the latest in high-tech and luxury comfort features. Front sport bucket seats are standard and the top trim packages feature a center console and dash with simulated alloy trim and a steering wheel with leather and simulated alloy trim that is mounted with controls for the audio and cruise control. All models have an air conditioner with an air filtration system and all are pre-wired for a phone for hands-free calling. All trim packages are Bluetooth-ready and feature an AM/FM stereo with a USB connection and auxiliary MP3 audio input. A turn-by-turn GPS navigation system comes in handy for road trips.
The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic can seat five adults comfortably and has 14.9 cubic feet of storage room.
Safety
The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic was designed with safety first in mind. It is the only car in its class to come standard with ten airbags that are designed to protect each and every passenger in the vehicle. Sensors located throughout the vehicle determine how many airbags will deploy at the time of a collision. The entire cabin of the vehicle is reinforced with steel for an extra layer of protection in case of an accident. Other excellent standard safety features include front and rear crush zones that are engineered to collapse in a controlled manner in order to take the brunt of the force and keep it away from the cabin of the vehicle.
Stability and traction controls are also standard across the board on all trim packages, as are four-wheel anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution for longer brake life and safe stopping in almost any driving condition. Other premium standard safety features include a tire pressure monitoring system that will alert the driver if any of the four tires is reaching a critical air pressure level and needs immediate attention.
An available OnStar vehicle tracking system can help in quickly recovering the car if it is stolen. This system can also sense when the vehicle has been involved in an accident and will alert an agent, who will check on the wellbeing of the occupants and call authorities if needed.
Driving Experience
The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic gets excellent fuel economy at 26/35 mpg city/highway and can generate up to 138 horsepower (hp) and 125 lb-ft of torque with the standard 1.8-liter engine. It's hard to find a vehicle in this class with better driving dynamics, with its aerodynamic build and energetic acceleration pedal that gets it up to highway speeds in a hurry. It has excellent handling capabilities thanks to the MacPherson strut front suspension, torsion beam rear suspension, a stabilizer bar, and front independent suspension. It takes tight corners with ease and has the feel of a nimble car that shines in big city driving conditions, but is equally at home on winding country roads.
The Sonic can offer a quiet and peaceful ride, at least until the driver decides to crank up the powerful audio system. All in all, the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic is a fun, front-wheel-drive subcompact that has a surprising amount of power and comfort.
Key Competitors For The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic
- Ford Fiesta
- Hyundai Accent
- Kia Rio