Consumer Reports not happy with the Sonic LTZ 1.4 turbo 6-speed manual

**MetroMPG** · 04-18-2012, 02:21 PM

Seems their biggest complaint is the top 3 gears are "too tall" (designed for low RPM / good fuel economy), which means frequent downshifts for extra power - eg. passing, or climbing a hill on the highway.

Normally people who choose a manual like to shift, so what's the problem? They say the shift quality is crummy:

"2012 Chevrolet Sonic is not super"

Power is good in the first three of the six gears. But the higher gears are tuned to maximize fuel economy. Sure, you expect to need to downshift in a sporty low-displacement car, but dropping two or three gears for a slight highway incline is crazy.

We enjoy driving manual-transmission cars. Downshifting would be more fun if the shifter was any good, but it isn't. Throws are long, and the shifter manages to be both rubbery and stiff.

Video - 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is not super

They're fans of the Sonic's 1.8L engine with the automatic though, calling it "one of the best subcompact sedans on the market."

There's a video too.. I'll see if it embeds....

http://bcove.me/9jxbn5n2

**thehunterooo** · 04-18-2012, 05:13 PM

They need to move to Florida, there are no inclines here

**MetroMPG** · 04-18-2012, 05:32 PM

A fine idea! Better winters than Michigan too (I think that's where they are).

I was thinking: I'd bet that if the Sonic's top gearing was shorter, they'd complain the car doesn't get competitive fuel economy.

**2010AveoLT** · 04-19-2012, 05:17 AM

of course, This is Consumer Reports we are talking about here, They'll look for ANYTHING to Put Down an American car, just so they can put Honda and Toyota on their Pedestal.

**MetroMPG** · 04-19-2012, 02:22 PM

Well, they did say the Sonic sedan 1.8 is "one of the best subcompact sedans on the market."

**wylee** · 04-20-2012, 11:40 AM

I wonder how those bozos would feel about a 600 class sport bike. If one doesn't care about fuel economy they can simply not go into 5th or 6th. I'm sure the car will easily handle legal speeds in 4th. They may have a legitimate gripe about the shifter; I have not driven one so I don't know. Griping about shifting down 2-3 gears and then raving about the automatic tells a lot more about the driver than the car I think.

I can say the one car that I would rather drive an automatic version of is the 10th generation Corolla, but that had nothing with shifting. The throttle response delay (I'm guessing around 3-400 milliseconds) makes for very slow shifts.

When had my RSX-S, I can recall dropping from 6th to 3rd a few times and I don't remember being bothered by it. I was bothered by 2nd (or maybe it was 3rd) gear in that car though; in cold weather it was pretty hard to get it in and it often ground going in in warm weather.

**MetroMPG** · 04-20-2012, 02:32 PM

I skip gears up AND downshifting all the time in my cars for various reasons. Doesn't bother me at all. Keeps you on the ball & involved in the task of driving to know when it's needed.

But like you wylee, I haven't tried a Sonic's shifter. If it's really crummy, it does take away from the pleasure of driving.

**petrified.rabbit** · 04-20-2012, 09:33 PM

sounds like they moved up a gear prematurely to me. Just like in vw's the engines like rpms.. but the car will still function in the lower range.

i can comfortably hold my 4th gear to almost 80mph.. and not be riding redline.