The Sonic's 1.4-liter turbocharged
4-cylinder notches a horsepower rating of 138 with a substantial 148 lb-ft of
peak torque between 1850 rpm and 4900 rpm. Engine power is on par with the
class-leading Hyundai Accent's 138 hp 4-cylinder and exceeds the Honda Fit's
117 hp as well as the Ford Fiesta's 120 hp. It's the impressive level of
turbocharged torque, however, that means the Sonic, unlike many rivals, never
feels overworked.
The Sonic's turbocharged 4-cylinder
as well as its 1.8-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder also power the Chevrolet
Cruze sedan. The turbocharged Sonic engine mates to a 6-speed manual
transmission. An automatic isn't offered with the turbocharged engine, but the
1.8-liter engine is available with either a 6-speed automatic or a 5-speed
manual.
While we appreciate the 1.4T combo
with the stick shift, it would be nice if a six-speed automatic was available.
Without it, unless you drive stick you don't get anywhere near the claimed 40
mpg numbers. Instead, the 1.8L engine gets 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway for
the 5-speed manual and 25/35 for the 6-speed automatic.
While the turbocharged engine
doesn't toss occupants deep into the seatbacks, it does translate into
admirable fuel economy. During a 40-mile trek with speeds in the 65 mph range,
our test car's mpg readout (located within a rectangular pod-shaped display)
hovered around 39 mpg. In continual stop and go city driving, the mpg varied
between 27 and 34.7.
