New for 2015 is OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, which provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the car is on and comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial.
Sonic's youthful design, fuel efficiency, spirited driving experience and unexpected features for the segment are bringing new, younger customers to the Chevrolet brand, along with industry and government awards for value, design and safety. Thirty percent of Sonic buyers are under 35, and nearly half of buyers trade in a non-GM brand.
An advanced safety package including forward collision alert and lane departure warning – crash-avoidance technologies typically found on cars costing more – is available on all but base Sonic models, as well as a rear vision camera.
Ten standard air bags and Bluetooth phone connectivity across the Sonic lineup, as well as standard remote vehicle start on automatic transmission-equipped LT, LTZ and RS models, further enhance Sonic's value.
The Sonic lineup
Sonic customers can choose between two body styles: a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback in LS, LT, LTZ and RS models.
Sonic RS sedan and a Dusk package for the LTZ sedan joined the lineup midway through 2014 and return for 2015, giving customers more choices for high-style, performance-oriented sedans. The RS sedan delivers all of the performance-oriented features of the hatchback, while the Dusk package brings a higher level of sophistication to the segment, with distinctive exterior features and premium interior appointments.
Sporty, youthful exterior
From every angle, the Sonic sedan and five-door hatchback convey sportiness, strength, stability and refinement. Performance-themed design elements include its wheels-at-the-corners proportions, fender flares and motorcycle-inspired round headlamps.
Those design cues blend with Chevrolet global design hallmarks such as a dual-element grille and round taillamps. The leading edge of the hood forms a character line above the headlamps, which flows in a sleek side profile characterized by uninterrupted body side lines, a high beltline and low roofline. The side mirrors carry the same shape as the car and seemingly disappear into the profile.
Other details that reinforce Sonic's quality and attention to detail include chrome grille surrounds and matte black honeycomb grille inserts on all models. A range of wheel sizes, including 18-inch alloy wheels, reinforces its sporty demeanor.
Sonic Dusk – offered exclusively on LTZ sedan – includes an Ashen Gray Metallic exterior color, a unique ground effects styling package, satin aluminum-style trim and 18-inch aluminum wheels with a Pearl Nickel finish.
Exterior colors include: Blue Velvet (new for 2015), Red Hot, Ashen Gray Metallic, Silver Ice Metallic, Black Granite Metallic, Summit White and Mocha Bronze Metallic. For an additional charge, customers of LTZ and RS models may choose White Diamond, Crystal Red Tintcoat and Dragon Green Metallic. Crystal Red Tintcoat and Dragon Green Metallic are also available for an additional charge on LT models.
Contemporary, roomy interior
Sonic's cabin complements its motorcycle-inspired exterior with a detailed instrument cluster featuring a large, round analog tachometer set within an asymmetrical LCD readout, with a large digital speedometer display.
Depending on the trim level ordered, Sonic offers two varieties of cloth (LS and LT) as well as perforated leatherette (LTZ) and leather-appointed (RS) seating surfaces. Interior colors and combinations include Jet Black/Dark Titanium; Jet Black/Brick; Dark Pewter/Dark Titanium and Jet Black (RS).
Sonic Dusk package is offered in an exclusive combination, with Jet Black leather-appointed seats featuring Mojave tan sueded microfiber accents.
The mid-instrument panel surface flows seamlessly into the upper doors, with premium, low-gloss finishes. The automatic shift knob has a "cobra head" design, while the manual shifter has a chrome-finished knob.
The interior is functional, too, with storage compartments in the center stack and doors. The rear seats fold virtually flat for carrying larger items such as sports gear. Front bucket seats are standard and heated front seats are available.
Sonic safety and security
Sonic is designed to help drivers avoid crashes, while protecting the occupants in the event a crash occurs. Its strong body structure is designed to absorb crash energy and provide a protective "safety cage" around occupants. More than 60 percent of the body structure is composed of advanced steels.
Two available crash-avoidance technologies on all but base Sonic models – Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning – help warn drivers when they are approaching the vehicle in front of them too quickly; and when they venture outside of a marked roadway lane.
Source: Chevrolet
