Performance
Engines & Transmission
The Sonic will be powered by an Ecotec 1.4-liter turbo engine that produces an estimated 138 horsepower and 148 lb/ft of torque between 1,850 rpm and 4,900 rpm mated to a six-speed manual transmission system. The new Sonic’s engine is pretty much the same as the one found under the hood of the Chevrolet Cruze, albeit in a smaller and lighter vehicle
The other engine variant of the Sonic is an Ecotec 1.8-liter engine where it can be paired with either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission system. It shares many of the same features as its 1.4-liter brother with an estimated 135 horsepower to go with 123 lb/ft of torque at 3,800 rpm. With an EPA-rated 40 mpg on the highway, Chevrolet is calling its 2012 Sonic one of the most fuel-efficient small cars on the market. Chevy says that 40-mpg rating puts the Sonic right on par with the 2012 Ford Fiesta and the Hyundai Accent in terms of eco-friendliness. In city driving, the 1.4-liter turbocharged Ecotec engine gets 29 mpg. Paired with a six-speed manual transmission, the Sonic reaches 60 mph in 8.2 seconds, which isn't too shabby.
Handling
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.
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.
Fuel Efficiency
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.
Safety
Structural resistance
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.
The backbone of Sonic’s safety design is its exceptionally strong body structure consisting of a single welded unit of full-length, high-strength frame rails and a safety cage. Welded tubular-section members are used to frame door openings and to support the roof while steel members reinforce the doors. Nearly 60 percent of the body structure, as well as the four-mount hydro-formed engine cradle, uses high-strength steel. Ultra-high-strength steel is strategically integrated in the forward portion of the rockers and the center cross bar. The Sonic’s engine cradle distributes energy in frontal and side impacts. Together with the front bumper system and the engine compartment rails, the engine cradle bars absorb the brunt of a frontal crash.
Always Protected
Sensors that control the deployment of 10 standard airbags is mounted into Sonic’s structure. The sensing and diagnostic module receives data from the car's sensors and establishes the severity of the impact and whether to deploy the airbags.
Dual-stage airbags for the driver and the front passenger Roof-rail mounted head curtain airbags with rollover protection. The bags stay inflated longer than air bags developed only for side impacts, since rollover incidents can last longer. They also help keep occupants from being ejected. Seat mounted side-impact airbags for front and outboard rear seat passengers are activated by sensors in the B-pillar and front door impact beams A driver knee air bag and a segment-exclusive front passenger knee air bag can help reduce injury to lower extremities. If the Sonic’s onboard sensors register that the vehicle "tips up" on a flat road surface, the brakes are activated to reduce lateral force.
Saving Lives
All five seating positions have three-point safety belts. Front safety belts include pretensioners and load limiters. The outboard rear seating positions are equipped with a LATCH system to help make attaching child seats easier.
Safety Award
The all-new 2012 Chevy Sonic, which has two more air bags than its subcompact competitors, is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick. The Sonic achieved "good" scores in all four types of tests performed, including frontal offset and side impact. It also has standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control, which the institute requires of all vehicles receiving a Top Safety Pick designation. The IIHS tests vehicles to determine how well they protect occupants in front and side crash tests, in rollovers via a roof strength test, and in simulated rear impacts to evaluate seat and head restraints for protection against neck injuries. "Only vehicles that perform with the highest level of safety in their class earn the Institute's top accolade," said IIHS President Adrian Lund. In addition to 10 air bags, the Sonic offers a body structure incorporating a single welded side ring unit. More than 60 percent of the vehicle safety cage consists of high-strength steel.
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