2014 Chevrolet Sonic RS sedan

Chevrolet offers the Sonic with the discretionary 138-hp 1.4-liter turbo four on LT and LTZ trimmings but makes the small huffer standard in the sporty RS bundle. Halfway Chevrolet added the sedan and the RS bundle; it'd been hatchback-only when it arrived for 2013. This shows that, besides figuring out at long last to construct an adequate car that is little as well as assemble it within America, GM has additionally found a method to give fresh to the marketplace something.

Additionally new -2014, is the Advanced Safety package of forward-crash alarm and lane-departure warnings, which added the $20,530 MSRP and $395 on the Sonic RS sedan examined here. It was the only extracost choice, so the sticker cost came in at under $21,000.

The RS normal gear list is not quite weak, with A/C, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with the Chevy MyLink infotainment system, and a tilting and telescoping column, remote keyless entry, a rearview camera. Using programs in your smartphone obtained via the Bluetooth link, the MyLink touch screen provides you with accessibility to navigation, Pandora, and other characteristics--this car did not have the 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot link to the web, but the Sonic will contain that with 2015 versions. So the "keep it new" attitude is continuing into a fourth year.

2014 Chevrolet Sonic RS sedan

Anticipate revisions as the 2015 versions roll out, but a little Chevy is decidedly not what critics expected in 2010.

The sporty RS draws raves that are fewer as opposed to Sonic in general, mainly because expectations are raised by the badge beyond the real reach of the auto. Certainly, the RS will not plan to fight even the Kia Forte Koup turbo or the likes of the Ford Fiesta ST in functionality, to be honest or, specification, cost.

The latter has a wider torque band with a more powerful peak (148 lb- ft versus only 125 at 3800 rpm) and total EPA mileage ratings that are indistinguishable, so we believe it is worth the $700 uptick.

Coupled here to a six-speed manual transmission, the 1.4-liter is powerful enough to outrun the non-functionality-level variations of the aforementioned adversaries to 60 miles per hour. This equality is despite what, in theory, should be closer spacing and a accelerative mix. The zero-to-30 time does not enhance--maybe Chevy only use one set up and could save some dollars?

We have grown a little jaded about the Sonic as the B-section interesting-to-drive quotient enlarges with new entries featuring sharper, more responsive driving dynamics. The manual shifter of the Sonic is not the greatest tool in the subcompact shed management is foreseeable but not sprightly, and the automobile's steering is rapid but short on feedback.

2014 Chevrolet Sonic RS sedan

The similarity to its larger stablemates is more than skin deep: at 2846 pounds our scale, this RS sedan weighs some 220 pounds more than a Ford Fiesta SFE that is similarly sized sedan. Steering clear of the serious operation end of the B-section spectrum looks shrewd. Because circumstance larger would loom and the edges of size (a luggage compartment more open than the one in back seats that are habitable, and the Honda Civic, for starters) would matter less. As it's, the 168-foot stopping distance from 70 miles per hour and 0.85 g cornering could be better were the chassis lighter.

Placing the RS trimmings subsequently, is like this chain of pearls granny. Things are classed by it up a bit without actually fooling anyone into believing that you are headed to town. In a section where the property roamed in its Kmart wardrobe, adequate look improvements are offered by the Sonic RS. The RS interior improvements contain some leather-trimmed bucket seats that are heated with suede-like red stitching and microfiber inserts up front, plus a leather-dressed shift knob. Add lane-departure warning systems and those crash and lose a few more dollars on telephone programs and the Sonic RS motorist needn't feel deprived. That is more than you could say for generations of preceding Chevys that are little. Let us trust another step--making the driver feel particular comes shortly.