At the same time, the setup absorbs most road imperfections and typical undulations reasonably well, altogether making for a vehicle that offers impressive agility and suitable levels of comfort for pleasurable daily driving. The steering feedback and road feel are clearly communicated through to the driver, and the Sonic exhibits no significant levels of body roll when flung around corners.
The old manual gearbox was certainly the better of the two options not only did it provide a better sense of control, but surprisingly added efficiency as well.Įquipped with a standard suspension and with its fairly taut chassis, the base Sonic LT strikes an impressive balance between handling poise and ride quality. It also feels disinclined to downshift when needed. The now-standard automatic delivers early shifts for optimized efficiency, which doesn't help the weak off-the-line power delivery, but it does at least negate heavy clutch wear. That means initiating incline-starts will feel strenuous and lethargic, but overtaking at top speeds - though measured - will be relatively easy. Though there's not much lag from the motor, initial take-off can be rather gradual, as most of the engine's impulsion is found in the middle of the rev-range. With the Sonic's tight dimensions and lightweight body, the engine is able to pull the hatch around without exerting much effort. Powering the Sonic is the same 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that's done duty for the last few years, dishing out 138 hp and 148 lb-ft to the front wheels via a six-speed auto gearbox.