2020 Chevrolet Sonic review
Chevrolet Sonic highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Impressive cargo capacity for a subcompact car
- Zippy turbocharged engine
- Numerous tech features available from standard
Cons
- Interior is a little low-quality
- A little thirsty compared to other cars of this type
- Driver-assist features only available with the Driver Confidence package
Mileage (EPA estimate)
26 city, 34 highway, 29 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
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A supersonic city car
The 2020 Chevrolet Sonic delivers lots of great features in an easy-to-handle package. A sporty subcompact, the Sonic is great in congested urban environments—it easily zips through traffic and makes parking a breeze. The turbo engine provides plenty of acceleration for city traffic or powering up to speed at highway on-ramps. The Sonic even offers a choice of body styles, with traditional sedan or spacious hatchback options for hauling all your luggage. The 2020 Chevrolet Sonic RS package features stylish upgrades inside and out. Inside, the high-tech dash and controls look great, and your rear passengers will appreciate the headroom. If tech is your thing, the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic Premier has you covered there too, from sound systems to driver-assistance features.
All Chevrolet Sonic years
What is new for the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic?
- Sonic trims have been upgraded with Leatherette & Cloth as standard equipment this year.
- Sunroof(s) features are now available as options on select trims.
2020 Chevrolet Sonic trims
LS:
Includes 15-inch steel wheels, projector headlights and LED running lights, four-way manual driver's seat, seven-inch infotainment screen, four-speaker audio system, and more. Sedan only.
LT:
Adds 15-inch alloy wheels, six-speaker audio, heated exterior mirrors, cruise control, metallic interior accents, SiriusXM® satellite radio, and more.
Premier:
Unlocks 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome exterior trim, six-way power front seats, heated front seats and steering wheel, keyless entry, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and more.
Chevrolet Sonic photos
5 reasons to buy the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic
1. Supremely stylish
The RS package is standard on the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic hatchback and available on the sedan. This package adds exclusive alloy wheels, a sporty body kit and rear spoiler, black emblems, piano black interior trim, and RS-logo floor mats. There are additional small touches that vary by trim level, such as red-stitched leatherette seats on the Premier trim.
2. Bigger on the inside
The 2020 Chevrolet Sonic is a subcompact, but don't underestimate what you can fit inside. The rear hatch holds 19 cu-ft of luggage, but you can put those seats down for an impressive 47.7 cu-ft total. That space can help a friend move or hold a massive cooler for a weekend camping trip. If gardening is your passion, the Sonic hatchback can carry 20 bags of mulch or a full-size wheelbarrow.
3. Peace and quiet
A strong chassis and lots of sound deadening material combine to make the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic a quiet way to travel. Listen to audiobooks or music with perfect clarity, as the Sonic soaks up the bumps and muffles everything from wind and tire noise to road construction. Interior sound testing shows the Sonic equaling some luxury cars for quietness, even at highway speeds.
4. Connectivity time
Forget working from home. With the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic's technology, your WFH can be WFA (work from anywhere). The available 4G LTE Wi-Fi offers high-speed connectivity.
5. Driver aids
Small doesn't mean skimping on driver-assistance features. Taking some of the stress out of your daily grind are the available lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, and rear parking sensors. If your attention is lagging, the 2020 Sonic has your back.
Similar vehicles
If you're interested in the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.
The 2017-2019 Kia Rio is a charming subcompact sedan. With upscale looks, polished driving manners, and stylish interior design, everyone will think this is a near-luxury car. The modern grille covers a 1.6L four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. If you want to listen to your own tunes, the 2018-2021 Rio has standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Rio received a subtle exterior restyle for 2021, along with infotainment upgrades.
The 2017-2019 Kia Rio EX offers:
15-inch alloy wheels
Projector fog lights
Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
Exterior and interior chrome trim
What will fit? Everything. The 2017-2020 Fit features Honda's Magic Seat® that folds down entirely flat, creating 52.7 cu-ft of cargo space. All that space is for more than your cargo—front passengers get 39.5 inches of headroom, while rear passengers get 37.5 inches. The 2017-2020 Fit has a 1.5L four-cylinder engine with a six-speed manual transmission as standard or an optional CVT that achieves an impressive EPA-estimated 36 mpg combined.
The 2018-2020 Honda Fit Sport features:
16-inch black painted alloy wheels
Seven-inch configurable infotainment screen
Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
180-watt audio system with six speakers
Someone speaking with an accent automatically sounds interesting, and with a Hyundai Accent, that interesting person could be you. The 2017-present Hyundai Accent is a subcompact sedan with cutting-edge styling, beautiful handling made for congested cities, and the option of attractive 17-inch wheels. Rough roads get smoothed out, but the suspension still has enough grip for swinging through curvy backroads. The 2017-2020 Accent's 130-hp 1.6L four-cylinder engine drives the front wheels with a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission on the base trim.
The 2019 Hyundai Accent Limited trim includes:
Heated front seats
Automated emergency braking
Sunroof
LED headlights
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Ratings & reliability
RepairPal gave the Chevrolet Sonic an overall reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Chevrolet Sonic 23rd out of 27 among Subcompact Cars.
RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Chevrolet Sonic is $580, compared to an average of $447 for Subcompact Cars and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
According to RepairPal, Chevrolet Sonic owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 1.3 times per year, compared to an average of 1.0 times for Subcompact Cars and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 12% for the Chevrolet Sonic, compared to an average of 11% for Subcompact Cars and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Chevrolet Sonic features and specs
LT 2WD 4D Hatchback
Standard Features
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- AM/FM Stereo
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Bluetooth Technology
- Cloth Seats
- Cruise Control
- Overhead Airbags
- Power Locks
- Rear Defroster
- Rear View Camera
- Side Airbags
- Traction Control
- Turbo Charged Engine
- Alloy Wheels
- Front Seat Heaters
- Lane Departure Warning
- Parking Sensors
- Power Seat(s)
- Power Windows
- Rear Spoiler
- Remote Start
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Smart Key
- Sunroof(s)
Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
1.4L
Horsepower
138
Torque (ft-lbs)
148
Engine type
Turbo Gas
Fuel capacity
12.2
Wheelbase
99.4"
Overall length
159.8"
Width
68.3"
Height
59.7"
Leg room
F 41.8"/R 34.6"
Head room
F 38.7"/R 38.1"
Front tires
P205/55R16
Rear tires
P205/55R16
Seating capacity
5
Transmission
Automatic
2020 Chevrolet Sonic FAQ
No, the Chevrolet Sonic does not offer all-wheel drive. All model years, trims, and body styles of the Sonic send power to the front wheels, which is an optimal configuration for a majority of driving conditions.
The Chevrolet Spark is a small city car, marketed below the Chevrolet Sonic. The Spark and Sonic share similar exterior designs, but the Spark is only a hatchback and seats four, while the Sonic offers hatchback and sedan body styles and seats five.
The Chevrolet Sonic has four doors in every model year and trim level. The sedan and hatchback body styles both have four doors, with the notable difference being a traditional trunk for the sedan and a lift-open hatch for the hatchback.
More about the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic
Color options
Exterior colors:
Kinetic Blue Metallic
Mosaic Black Metallic
Nightfall Gray Metallic
Red Hot
Silver Ice Metallic
Summit White
Interior colors:
Jet Black
Interior details
Having a seat in the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic sedan or hatchback reveals an appealing amount of passenger space, most notably the 37.8 inches of headroom and 41.8 inches of legroom.
The base LS trim has black accents on the steering wheel and center display screen, while LT and Premier models have silver trim with a brushed aluminum look. The three-spoke steering wheel is loaded with useful buttons and sits in front of a central driver information display and prominent tachometer.
While subcompact cars sometimes have a minimalist interior design, the Sonic has cool touches like industrial-looking air vents. The seats are comfortable even for long road trips, and the hatchback's rear seats fold down to make 47.7 cu-ft of space for all your voluminous cargo needs. The optional RS package adds sporty accents like red stitching on the seats and floor mats.
Child seat details
The 2020 Chevrolet Sonic has seating for five in sedan or hatchback models (the seats are identical), with up to three child seats in the back row. This includes LATCH car seats, infant car seats, rear-facing convertible car seats, forward-facing convertible car seats, and booster car seats. Note that the center rear seat lacks a head restraint, so it can't accommodate a backless booster seat.
LATCH points are easy to access on the back side of the rear seats. On the front side, the red belt buckles stand out against the black interior and are flexible enough to accommodate most child seats.
Performance
Despite the cool looks of the RS package, and the suspension's sporty handling, the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic is not in the “hot hatch" category. However, the turbocharged 1.4L four-cylinder is enthusiastic about its job, and due to the low curb weight (just 2,857 lbs.), the Sonic is really fun to drive. With 138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque, the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic can sprint from zero to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds (according to the manufacturer, when new).
The six-speed automatic transmission is quick and responsive around town and downshifts perfectly when passing on the highway. The front-wheel drive is competent in poor weather, while the suspension design simultaneously soaks up bumps while still giving you the appropriate amount of road “feel." The 2020 Chevrolet Sonic hatchback RS isn't any faster than a non-RS package, but the larger wheels should give even more feedback.
As a commuter, you'll appreciate the handling and power, but also the ability to minimize trips to the gas station. The base engine of the 2020 Sonic gets an EPA-estimated 29 mpg combined.
Year comparison
2012-2020 Chevrolet Sonic (first generation)
There is only one generation of the Chevrolet Sonic, spanning many years. You'll notice a few key differences in the early years. The turbo 1.4L engine has been there since the beginning, but from 2012 to 2019 it could be paired with a six-speed manual transmission. The base engine was a 1.8L four-cylinder paired with a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.
The appearance changes slightly over the years too, with 2012-2016 models having a more angular grille and exposed motorcycle-like headlights, while 2017-2020 models wear the more contemporary and aerodynamic Chevrolet look. If Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration are must-haves, look to 2017-2020 models with the Chevrolet MyLink® system.
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