2019 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback Review: The Little All-Rounder
Seven years since its release, and two since its last refresh, the 2019 Chevrolet Sonic hatchback makes its appearance on the showroom floor in the hopes of taking on the likes of the Kia Rio and Honda Fit for top subcompact honors. RS badges hint at the now-standard 1.4-liter turbocharged Ecotec four-cylinder engine under the hood, while its sporty exterior styling does well to separate it from the rest of the herd. 138 horsepower is derived from its turbo engine with a joyful six-speed manual transmission as standard, and the more subdued six-speed automatic, optional. Stepping inside the Sonic brings forth a love/hate relationship that you'd either appreciate for its simplicity or dislike for the same reason. Truth be told, the Sonic doesn't really excel in any particular area or trump its rivals by being the best at anything; but it does serve well as the all-rounder companion with a bowtie, instead.
What's the Price of the 2019 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback?
2019's Chevrolet Sonic hatchback is available in two flavors, namely the LT and Premier. The base-model LT in manual configuration has an MSRP of $18,020, excluding tax, licensing, registration, and $875 in destination charges. $1,400 more gets your a six-speed automatic transmission instead of the manual. The Premier model in manual configuration will set you back $20,020, with $1,500 more getting you the auto. There are plenty of specials to be had on the Sonic, with dealerships offering cash allowances and incentives quite often, so shopping around might net you a better deal.
2019 Sonic Hatchback Exterior
Dimensions
| Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Front Width | Rear Width | Curb Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 159.8 in | 99.4 in | 59.7 in | 68.3 in | 59.4 in | 59.4 in | 2,819.0 lbs |
2019 Sonic Hatchback Performance
Handling and Driving Impressions
The black bowtie emblem on the grille, rear spoiler, and RS badges give a glimpse towards a more agile and assertive demeanor concealed in an otherwise compact body, with the Sonic performing as it looks. The chassis is rather taut in standard trim, delivering a good balance between road feedback and comfort, without significant body roll when you fling it in and out of side streets. And fling it you surely will, with an impressive degree of steering feedback letting you know where the front wheels are and what they have planned next. The optional sports suspension offers a lot more stability and control over the standard setup, though it takes it a step too far, robbing the Sonic of a great degree of comfort and affording it a rather harsh ride quality.
For everyday travels in and around town, the Sonic is a perfectly capable driving companion. Potholes and bumps are skimmed over with expected levels of jostling, while rough road surfaces reverberate through to the cabin. While a lot of effort has gone into noise insulation in the Sonic, it's not a luxury sedan by any manner of means to offer superior levels of silence. There aren't any fancy driving modes available to play with, but with its responsive and nippy driving dynamics, we don't think it needs it. The Sonic earns its place on the road, regardless of driving style or gearbox preference - it's a generally fun, and easy-going, hatchback to drive.
2019 Sonic Hatchback Interior
2019 Sonic Hatchback Trunk and Cargo Space
Warranty
| Basic | Drivetrain | Drivetrain Note | Rust-Through | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance | Roadside Assistance Note | Maintenance Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Years / 36,000 Miles | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles | Qualified Fleet Purchases: 5 Years/100,000 Miles | 6 Years / 100,000 Miles | 3 Years / 36,000 Miles | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles | Qualified Fleet Purchases: 5 Years/100,000 Miles | 1 Year/1 Visit |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
| Overall Rating | Frontal Barrier Crash Rating | Side Crash Rating | Rollover Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Verdict: Is the 2019 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback A Good car?
Chevrolet's dedication to the Sonic seems like a give-and-take scenario, with a long-anticipated redesign probably not going to see the light of day. Despite the company's shift in focus towards its more profitable crossover vehicles, the Sonic is still a well-equipped and driver-friendly car to note. Unlike the Honda Fit's practicality or the Kia Rio's exceptional warranty, the Sonic's styling is perhaps its only trait worth mentioning, with no other defining features setting it apart from the competition. Even that is only skin-deep though and leaves the Sonic fending for itself elsewhere. It's by no measure a bad car, and we'd even go as far as calling it a good car, but it's certainly not a great car. We find ourselves searching for the sense of excitement and fun present in other subcompact hatchbacks. For Chevrolet fans looking for the next hatchback to do urban drives, school runs, or face traffic, the Sonic will have you feeling right at home. New buyers might be better off looking at the likes of Honda and Kia instead.
What Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback Model Should I Buy?
Our top pick for the Sonic is the Premier trim in its six-speed manual guise with a starting price of $20,020. At only $2,000 more than the entry-level LT variant, the leatherette seats with microfiber inlays, enhanced driver information center, push-button start, and 17-inch black-painted aluminum wheels are well worth the price jump, especially considering the choice of build materials for the rest of the cabin. The Convenience Package is already equipped on this trim level, leaving you with the $495, highly recommended Driver Confidence Package, for extra peace of mind.
2019 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback Comparisons
2019 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback vs Honda Fit
The Honda Fit is a champion in this segment - and for good reason. Despite being sold exclusively as a hatchback, the Fit remains one of the most popular subcompact cars in the United States. While the Sonic in its hatchback form has superior base cargo capacity and slightly better rear headroom, both cars knew what they were going to be growing up and Honda did it better with the Fit. Versatility favors the Fit over the Sonic for its well-executed folding rear seats and boasts 52.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity with all seats down - five cubic feet more than the Sonic. Similarly, the Fit offers nearly five more inches of legroom at the rear, affording a much more comfortable experience for passengers. The Sonic's 1.4-liter turbocharged motor nets it ten horses and 35 lb-ft of torque over the Honda's output figures, but economy ultimately favors the Fit, and overall, so do we.
2019 Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback vs Kia Rio5
The Kia Rio outshines all competitors based on its exceptional warranty alone: offering five years and 40,000 miles longer than the Sonic's five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty off the showroom floor. The Rio also boasts a $16,490 price tag, about $1,500 less than its Sonic rival. The Sonic's sporty styling is definitely easier on the eyes than the Rio, sporting either 16- or 17-inch aluminum wheels over the Rio's 15-inch steel wheels with full covers. Interior build quality sets these two apart the most, however, with the Rio's cabin feeling much more premium than what is the norm at its price point, while the Sonic offers a cheaper cabin at a higher cost. We give credit to Chevy for retaining a manual transmission option which brings the turbo motor to life and gives the Sonic some character, but overall we feel the Rio is the more sensible choice when it comes right down to it.