Review: Chevrolet Sonic RS Turbo

Photos and text by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

I had the pleasure of testing the 2013 Chevy Sonic RS over a weekend as well as through a Klout perk that brought me and two dozen people to the Canadian Tire Motorsport park for an intensive stunt driving and racing course. So, I had the opportunity to test the Sonic RS as a daily driver as well as in a sportier setting.

It is hard to imagine that the top of the line Chevy Sonic RS is the replacement for Chevy's humble Aveo econobox, but it is. Chevy has heaped all the premium features, amenities and upgrades on the Sonic RS, so that it is replete with luxuries and conveniences worthy of larger, loftier and more expensive cars.

What it's all about

The Sonic RS is designed for drivers who want a compact and practical car but also who value performance, sporty looks and handling as well as the latest technology and luxury features that are often reserved for more expensive or larger cars.

Chevy created a fun, practical yet edgy subcompact that can offer some of the sportiness of European subcompacts like the Mini or the Fiat 500, but which also has the practicality and spaciousness many have come to expect from the Mercedes B-Class but at a more affordable price point.  We're looking at $20,995 for the Turbo with standard transmission (*including destination charges).

The profile of the RS is a little aggressive, it leans forward and the styling of the headlights is a little meaner than we're used to seeing from cars in this class. While it is a 5-door hatchback, the Sonic RS looks and feels more like a coupe. At first glance, its sometimes easy to miss that rear doors actually exist.

Relatively spacious with enough space for four adults (five if they are small adults), the Sonic RS easily fits an infant car seat, but will not accommodate most strollers except for the very thin and collapsible umbrella variety (and even those will likely make it to the front passenger sear). It is ideal for singles or couples without children and a capable commuter which is both comfortable and functional.

Specs and features aplenty

The Chevy Sonic RS has been tuned, upgraded and enhanced for sportier driving. The responsive 1.4L ECOTEC Turbo engine has 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. This little beastie will go 0–96 km/h in under 8 seconds, when pushed.

Pushing will be done via a six-speed gearbox which at times feels like it has one too many gears. There's also a visual reminder on the dashboard that prods you when you should shift up or down, which can be a little unnerving for some users. "Look, this car comes with its own backseat driver!"

Chevy lowered the Sonic RS, threw in a stiffer sport suspension as well as a 4-wheel disc with 4-wheel Anti-lock Baking System (ABS). The focus on performance is evident once you sit on the cockpit and see the RS badge on the leather steering wheel which is also outfitted with all the necessary stereo volume and audio controls. The leather front seats are secure and snug and even the rear seats have a similar firmness that's still quite comfortable.

The Chevrolet Sonic RS is really one big gadget. Its got the video game inspired digital speedometer mated with an analog tachometer. This might be eye candy to some, but to me felt confusing and had me impulsively looking at the speedo more than I usually would.

There are various circles surrounding the speedometer, which at first look a little bit like frivolous design, but these are actually all the engine, temperature, safety and status indicators. 

The centre of the console is owned by the MyLink system on a large LCD touchscreen that manages radio, satellite radio and bluetooth voice and music while giving users temperature information. There's no GPS integrated into the MyLink, or at least, it wasn't easily accessible which means users who want or need this will likely have to look into getting a standalone unit or their smartphones.

Driver-focused design

The Sonic RS has almost everything else, and certainly puts the driver at the centre of the experience. I loved the armrest, the cup holders and the various cubbies for stashing all sorts of things. I liked the hidden USB port in the glove box as well as the fact that they designed it so you can easily run a cable out of the glovebox to your smartphone or MP3 player (which plays through MyLink as well).

The RS badging on the floor mats, seats and on the other parts of the car really make it feel special. Most people who get into the RS realize it is a cut above the Sonic norm.

The plastic trim on the dashboard is a little overdesigned for my taste but at least felt secure. The moonroof/sunroof is a great addition and easy enough to deploy. The rubber that covers the dashboard and the door panels is quite rigid and feels substantial.

Visibility is generally good, but the blind spots in the left and right rear require getting used to and I found the rear view mirror too small as well as the visibility through the hatch to be a bit limited. A nice feature was embedding magnified mirrors into the side view mirrors. These Chevy folks really know what drivers want.

Driving experience

I'm 6'1 and felt I had more than enough space, and headroom was ridiculous (although the headrest is comically large). Everything was well within reach, and I easily got used to the layout of the various knobs and doodads. 

Safety is a big deal with these smaller compacts, and the Sonic RS has no less than 10 airbags. The Sonic RS does feel more secure than many smaller cars I've driven, this was specially true when we were throwing it around in Motorsport Park.

With traction control disengaged and going through sudden often brutal park and slide maneuvers, the Sonic RS didn't buckle against the pressure although some of us riding in the back seat were ready to hurl.

Starting the ECOTEC engine, you hardly realize that it is running since it is so quiet. It is a graceful little engine that will let out a decisive yet muted roar once you speed up. I was impressed by the Sonic RS's acceleration and seeming lack of turbo lag when speeding up. The responsiveness of the four disc brakes was also surprising and very welcome, specially during the stunt driving course as well as while driving on the track.

During the weekend that I had the Sonic RS on loan, I enjoyed driving it around town. While it is a sport-tuned car with a stiffer ride, it still felt comfortable enough in most conditions. 

The short-throw shifter was well-placed, responsive but a bit confusing, mainly because i founf it was easy to miss 3rd gear. This is something easily corrected on the driver end but it still affected my overall experience. I also feel that because it is a six-speed gearbox, you are constantly needing to up and downshift. My opinion is that a 5-speed gearbox for this size engine would have been just right.

Highway driving with the Sonic RS was a revelation. It has enough power to accelerate on demand thanks to the turbo and doesn't feel like a rolling tin can when larger vehicles zoom by. It feels solid and stable.

The creature comforts like the sunroof, satellite radio, and various controls make driving a pleasure and its good to see that OnStar is also available but making a sat-nav or GPS option available for this trim model would have been perfect. 

So, the Sonic RS is a practical and economical car for people who love more spirited driving and a little luxury. If you're looking at a sporty Mini, a Fiat Abarth or similar sport version subcompacts, check out the Sonic RS or give it a test drive. This car will surprise, thrill and endear itself  to you almost as fast as it does 0-60.

Rating : 4 out of 5