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

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"

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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.

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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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

I resent the comments about the bad days with the Aveo. Both my wife and I were quite please with 1st gen Aveos.

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Originally Posted by NYChevoo

I resent the comments about the bad days with the Aveo. Both my wife and I were quite please with 1st gen Aveos.

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Same here. I keep telling ppl that I would get another Aveo in a heartbeat.

I would get another aveo if I were buying another car in the segment, which I will never do again anyways, but I am happy with mine.

I've never owned a manual but I now drive a lot for work and really wish I had a manual.

I will say that with the 1.4L turbo in my Cruze coupled with the 6sp manual that I most definitely return to 3rd and 4th gears for passing others on the highway. 5th and 6th is exactly what they say it is. Both gears are very tall and there is not much power in them but my fuel mileage is outstanding. My 04 Aveo got a respectable 30mpg with its automatic tranny its whole life never wavering. The Cruze that I have now gets between 46 and 47mpg.

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Originally Posted by watson

I've never owned a manual but I now drive a lot for work and really wish I had a manual.

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Funny, that seems opposite to the thinking of most people (most North Americans, anyway). Manuals are a dying breed. Too hard to eat & text while driving them. Also, to do it well they require some skill & actual thinking!

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Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Funny, that seems opposite to the thinking of most people (most North Americans, anyway). Manuals are a dying breed. Too hard to eat & text while driving them. Also, to do it well they require some skill & actual thinking!

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Thinking? Who thinks? well then that may actually explain why from time to time I miss a shift!