2020 Chevrolet Sonic

Overview

The entry-level 2020 Chevrolet Sonic puts the emphasis on basic when it comes to basic transportation. Spend a little bit more, however, and this subcompact becomes an affordable daily driver that's quiet and well equipped. The Sonic is spacious for its small-car class, and it's available as either a sedan or a hatchback. It offers a comfortable ride and plenty of standard features, including a 4G LTE hotspot, giving passengers the ability to surf the web far outside the reach of the Wi-Fi at Starbucks. While the turbocharged engine provides adequate acceleration for the class, the rest of the Chevy Sonic's demeanor doesn't match up to its competitors: It's drowned out by more compelling offerings such as the Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and Toyota Yaris.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

#6 in Best Subcompact Cars for 2020

1

Toyota Yaris

STARTING AT: $16,605

SHOP Yaris

2

Hyundai Accent

STARTING AT: $16,270

SHOP Accent

3

Kia Rio

STARTING AT: $16,815

SHOP Rio

4

Nissan Versa

STARTING AT: $15,780

SHOP Versa

5

Honda Fit

STARTING AT: $17,185

SHOP Fit

6

Chevrolet Sonic

STARTING AT: $17,595

SHOP Sonic

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What's New for 2020?

Chevrolet has dropped the base 1.8-liter four-cylinder for 2020, and the turbocharged 1.4-liter engine is now standard. Also dead is the manual transmission; all Sonic models now come with a six-speed automatic. Two new exterior paint colors are available: Oasis Blue and Cayenne Orange Metallic. Chevy is discontinuing the Sonic sedan and hatchback after the 2020 model year.

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Pricing and Which One to Buy

Now that the turbocharged engine is standard on all Sonics, we recommend going with the mid-level LT trim. Going with the hatchback provides more cargo space with the rear seats folded. In this trim, you get a six-speaker audio system, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows, and SiriusXM satellite radio.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

There's only one engine available on the 2020 Sonic: a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder with 138 horsepower, which we have found to be perfectly adequate for relaxed, everyday driving. Although we did prefer the manual transmission in the 2019 Sonic, the six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and quickly. Front-wheel drive is standard on all trim levels; all-wheel drive is not available. The Sonic offers a comfortable ride but doesn't inspire when driven hard. Most notably, the Sonic is very quiet, registering 67 decibels at 70 mph in our testing, which beats many of its key rivals and matches that of a 2019 Mercedes-Benz E450 luxury sedan. At our test track, the Sonic recorded a zero-to-60-mph time of 8.5 seconds, which may seem slow, but the 2018 Honda Fit with the manual transmission and the 2018 Kia Rio with the automatic transmission recorded similar results.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

For a small, lightweight vehicle, the 2020 Sonic doesn't come up with the fuel efficiency one might expect. While the EPA estimates that the Sonic will return 34 mpg on the highway, we managed just 31 mpg in our 200-mile highway fuel economy test; for comparison, the Rio managed 43 mpg and the Fit got 41 mpg when equipped with a manual transmission.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The interior of the 2020 Chevy Sonic is simple and straightforward. The materials in the cabin of the car feel cheap and the steering wheel is only tilt-adjustable, but the steering wheel is wrapped in leather on LT and Premier models. The hatchback option does give passengers in the back slightly more headroom, but all other dimensions are the same as the sedan. With the rear seats down, the Sonic can fit 16 carry-on suitcases, but it is outmatched by the Fit, which fit 20 carry-on bags.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Chevy offers a 7.0-inch infotainment system as standard across the Sonic lineup. It displays a simple and intuitive interface, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Bluetooth connectivity, several USB ports, and a four-speaker sound system are all standard as well. LT and Premier models come with a six-speaker sound system and SiriusXM satellite radio.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)

View Crash Test Results

Both the 2020 Sonic sedan and hatchback received five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA). In the testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2019 Sonic performed well. It missed out on a Top Safety Pick award because of a limited availability of driver-assistance features. Key safety features include:

• Available lane-departure warning
• Available forward-collision warning
• Available rear parking sensors

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

The warranty offered by Chevrolet on the 2020 Sonic compares closely with most competitors in this subcompact segment, but the Accent and Rio both offer longer warranty policies that stretch as long as 10 years or 100,000 miles.

• Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance