2011 CHEVROLET Sonic Hatchback 5 Doors 1.8L 5MT FWD (137 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Chevrolet tried to produce the Sonic as a world car, selling it on different markets under different badges. However, it relied on an older platform developed by GM Korea.

Creating a world car leads to lower production costs. It saves money for customers who are looking for more affordable cars. It was also excellent for car-rental companies, who can purchase these vehicles at lower costs. But all these came with some drawbacks, which GM tried to solve by offering the Sonic with specific engines, depending on the market. In Europe, the car was known as Chevrolet Kalos. In Australia, the same vehicle was sold under the Holden Barina nameplate.

The Sonic featured angular headlights’ scoops fitted with round headlamps. The grille was split in two by a horizontal slat supporting the bow-tie badge. From its profile, the Sonic featured an ascending beltline ended with an upward kink on the C-pillar that hosted the door handle. The blackened B-pillars tried to provide a sportier coupe-look. At the back, the carmaker installed vertical taillights on the quarter panels flanking the tailgate.

Inside, the cheap upholstery and hard plastic were nicely designed and centered around the driver’s seat. The instrument cluster tried to mimic a motorcycle dashboard, featuring a large analog tachometer fronting the driver and an LCD on the right for the speed and other information about the car. At the front, it installed bucket seats, but without side bolstering. In the back, a split-folding bench was installed to increase the trunk size.

Under the hood, Chevrolet installed a choice of two engines, both being carried over from its European branch Opel. Depending on the version, these were paired with either a five- or a six-speed manual, with an option for a six-speed automatic.