2012 Honda CR-V, Subaru BRZ, 2012 Chevrolet Sonic: Today's Car News

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Today at High Gear Media, we review the 2012 Ford F-150 and drive the 2012 Chevy Sonic. The 2012 Honda CR-V gets revealed on the Internet while Subaru releases images of the BRZ STI Concept. All this and more in today's car news, right here on The Car Connection.

The 2012 Honda CR-V has been revealed on the Internet before its official debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Unfortunately the 2012 Honda CR-V may be delayed due to the flooding in Thailand.

Subaru releases images of the BRZ STI Concept which will be shown at the 2011 LA Auto Show.

After driving the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic 1.8-liter hatchback, we think you should get the 1.4-liter turbo.

The 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo has finally been confirmed for production.

Robocalls are coming to an OnStar vehicle near you.

Did you know your local auto dealers hate high-mileage cars?

Elon Musk says the Model S is sold out and Tesla will be profitable in 2013.

We review the 2012 Ford F-150 and love the new powertrains, but the ride is somewhat jiggly.

One in four U.S. car engines will stop when you do in 2015.

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2012 Chevrolet Sonic

See What the
Rest of the Web Says We've gathered reviews from Edmunds.com, Cars.com plus live Tweets on this car. See What We Found »

With the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, General Motors is at last fully in the small-car game. That might sound silly to those who can recall a laundry list of former Chevrolet small cars—Chevette, Vega, Spectrum, Cavalier, Cobalt, Aveo, Metro, Sprint, to mention a few—but most of those vehicles truly felt like halfhearted efforts that took second stage to the automakers trucks and larger cars.

That's not the case with the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, a completely new, global small car that thankfully has nothing to do with the rental-car-mainstay, the Aveo, that it replaces—thus the new model name.

At a time when the subcompact class seems to be segmenting into two camps—with the Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, and Hyundai Accent on the larger side, and the Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris, and even the Fiat 500 at the lower end of the scale—the Sonic lands mostly in that smaller group, at least by the EPA's definition. Yet in looking at curb weight (about 2,600 pounds), the Sonic ranks as one of the heavier vehicles in this class.

Factor in an all-new structure that feels transformational compared to the Aveo's, and vaultlike next to many other small-car designs, combined with a top-notch safety list (already an IIHS Top Safety pick and ten standard airbags), and it's a little more forgivable that the Sonic tips the scales at that.

There are two engines at launch in the Sonic, and both of them are poached from the Chevrolet Cruze lineup: a normally aspirated 1.8-liter four, or a turbocharged 1.4-liter four. Both can be had with either a manual gearbox or an all-new six-speed automatic. The 1.4T is definitely our favored choice between the two, as it's more flexible as well as more fuel-efficient. Nicely weighted steering rounds out the driving package, and while the Sonic is actually surprisingly good fun to drive, the steering is if anything a little too isolated and damped. That speaks for the rest of the package—which is great, from a passenger and comfort perspective. The Sonic is supremely roomy, comfortable, refined, tight, and quiet for a small car, and it's really hard to find any serious flaws with the entire package—and in our opinion, it looks better than most in this class in sedan form, even though we love hatches.

The Sonic delights with surprise standard features like alloy wheels on all models, plus remote keyless entry and air conditioning, and comes pretty well-equipped for around $15k. But then, in this arms race of features and value, there are some disappointments. For instance, you'll need to reach to LT or LTZ models to be able to option to the 1.4T engine, and some tech essentials like USB (with full iPod control) and Bluetooth are optional and only offered on the top-of-the-line LTZ model. That said, a loaded 2012 Sonic LTZ should still total below the $20k mark—a seriously good deal in today's market.

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The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic

The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic subcompact looks like a hit for Chevy this year. The combination of a low cost vehicle, a high miles per gallon rating and drivability make this little car a big hit!

Chevrolet is the definition of hit-or-miss. Models like the Corvette and Equinox lead their markets, while the Impala and Aveo languish behind competitors. For 2012, the Impala is left to scrap for itself, but the Aveo is gone. It has been replaced by the all-new 2012 Chevy Sonic, a compact sedan or hatchback that Chevy hopes will knock the socks off competitors such as the Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit. The impending question is, hit or miss?

The outgoing Aveo was infamous for its comatose performance. The new Sonic has been revived through a standard EcoTec 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine or a turbocharged EcoTec 1.4-liter four-cylinder garnering 138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. Available transmissions are a new five-speed manual and six-speed automatic gearbox. While the Sonic may not burble as energetically as its digital namesake, it will be a vast improvement over the apathetic Aveo. Pundits speculate that the base powerplant will achieve an impressive 40 mpg on the highway.

Mention a Corvette, and hosts of drooling loyalists will gush over its heavenly handling. They should; the Corvette is an American icon and one of the best-handling sports cars available. Sonic owners will be proud to note that Corvette engineers stopped by to tune the Sonic’s suspension. With a MacPherson strut suspension in the front and a multi-link suspension with a torsion bar in the rear, the Sonic promises a strong and responsive driving experience. Vehicle IQ is augmented by standard StabiliTrack, electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist. Judging by the specifications, the Sonic will be an exciting and engaging vehicle to drive in the compact car segment.

The Aveo was also notorious for its copy-cat looks – not so the Sonic. Designers drew cues from the motorcycle world and crafted the Sonic with a forward-leaning body, sloped hood and aggressive LED headlights. Both the five-door hatchback and the four-door sedan are low-slung, with the tires pushed towards the corners for an alert, hunkered down appearance.

The interior blends fun with functionality. With class-leading cargo space in the sedan, fold-flat rear seats and laudable rear-seat roominess, the Sonic is eminently practical; with an analog tachometer set inside a digital LCD readout, a swooping dashboard and glassy surfaces finishes, the Sonic is exceedingly stylish. Notable feature highlights include ten airbags and OnStar, with optional heated front seats, sunroof and remote start.

The 2012 Sonic is a hit. Good work, Chevy.

View the original article here

2012 Chevrolet Sonic

See What the
Rest of the Web Says We've gathered reviews from Edmunds.com, Cars.com plus live Tweets on this car. See What We Found »

With the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, General Motors is at last fully in the small-car game. That might sound silly to those who can recall a laundry list of former Chevrolet small cars—Chevette, Vega, Spectrum, Cavalier, Cobalt, Aveo, Metro, Sprint, to mention a few—but most of those vehicles truly felt like halfhearted efforts that took second stage to the automakers trucks and larger cars.

That's not the case with the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, a completely new, global small car that thankfully has nothing to do with the rental-car-mainstay, the Aveo, that it replaces—thus the new model name.

At a time when the subcompact class seems to be segmenting into two camps—with the Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, and Hyundai Accent on the larger side, and the Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris, and even the Fiat 500 at the lower end of the scale—the Sonic lands mostly in that smaller group, at least by the EPA's definition. Yet in looking at curb weight (about 2,600 pounds), the Sonic ranks as one of the heavier vehicles in this class.

Factor in an all-new structure that feels transformational compared to the Aveo's, and vaultlike next to many other small-car designs, combined with a top-notch safety list (already an IIHS Top Safety pick and ten standard airbags), and it's a little more forgivable that the Sonic tips the scales at that.

There are two engines at launch in the Sonic, and both of them are poached from the Chevrolet Cruze lineup: a normally aspirated 1.8-liter four, or a turbocharged 1.4-liter four. Both can be had with either a manual gearbox or an all-new six-speed automatic. The 1.4T is definitely our favored choice between the two, as it's more flexible as well as more fuel-efficient. Nicely weighted steering rounds out the driving package, and while the Sonic is actually surprisingly good fun to drive, the steering is if anything a little too isolated and damped. That speaks for the rest of the package—which is great, from a passenger and comfort perspective. The Sonic is supremely roomy, comfortable, refined, tight, and quiet for a small car, and it's really hard to find any serious flaws with the entire package—and in our opinion, it looks better than most in this class in sedan form, even though we love hatches.

The Sonic delights with surprise standard features like alloy wheels on all models, plus remote keyless entry and air conditioning, and comes pretty well-equipped for around $15k. But then, in this arms race of features and value, there are some disappointments. For instance, you'll need to reach to LT or LTZ models to be able to option to the 1.4T engine, and some tech essentials like USB (with full iPod control) and Bluetooth are optional and only offered on the top-of-the-line LTZ model. That said, a loaded 2012 Sonic LTZ should still total below the $20k mark—a seriously good deal in today's market.

View the original article here

Chevrolet prices Sonic subcompact from $14,495

Replacing its dated Aveo, the Chevrolet Sonic will go on sale later this year beginning at $14,495 including a mandatory destination charge.

Still set to be known outside of North America as the Aveo, the small car gains a new badge in this market in an effort to differentiate it from its rather pedestrian predecessor.

Available in both four-door sedan and five-door hatchback configurations, the Sonic can be ordered in three different trim levels – base LS, midlevel LT and upscale LTZ. Surprisingly well-equipped even in base configuration, the Sonic is designed to give entry-level buyers a more premium vehicle than they might expect. It’s a recipe that has been successful so far for the larger Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan and GM is optimistic that it will work on a smaller subcompact.

LS models come standard with 15-inch alloy wheels, 10 airbags, stability control, OnStar, air conditioning, power locks, keyless entry and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel. Sedans list from $14,495, while hatchbacks start at $15,395.

For $15,695 (sedan) or $16,495 (hatchback), buyers can step up to the LT, which adds a six speaker audio system with a CD player and three months’ worth of XM Satellite Radio, power windows, heated power side mirrors, Bluetooth connectivity, a USB adapter, steering wheel radio controls, heated front seats, cruise control, fog lamps and 17-inch alloy wheels.

GM hasn’t priced or detailed the range-topping LTZ trim level.

What makes a Sonic?
Chevrolet has been sure to tout its upcoming Sonic model in hatchback trim, starting with the reveal of the sport-minded Aveo RS concept, but little had been said about a sedan variant until its debut earlier this year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit..

The North American version of the Sonic will come standard with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine backed by either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic. Putting out 138 horsepower and 125 lb-ft. of torque, it bests both the Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit for grunt. A 138 horsepower 1.4-liter turbocharged engine will also be on offer for $700 on LT and LTZ models, and although its horsepower rating is identical to the smaller engine, it will offer a broader and higher torque curve offering 148 lb-ft. at just 1,850 rpm. With the 1.4-liter, buyers have the choice of a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. Given the Sonic weighs about 500 pounds less than the Chevrolet Cruze, it should offer above average performance.

A higher-performance model based on the Aveo RS show car is still likely to debut in the future.

Inside, the Sonic gains a much more upmarket interior than before, including more premium materials and a much sportier design. Its instrument cluster is said to have been inspired by motorcycles.

Both Sonic models will be built for North American buyers at the automaker’s Orion Township, Michigan, assembly plant, which makes the Sonic the only subcompact built on United States soil.

View the original article here

2012 Chevy Sonic Subcompact To Start At $14,495

Chevrolet has announced pricing for the 2012 Sonic, which replaces the discontinued Chevrolet Aveo. Sonic sedan models will start at $14,495 including destination charge, which makes Chevy’s subcompact sedan $500 more expensive than a comparable Ford Fiesta sedan. If hatchbacks are your preference, the least expensive Sonic starts at $15,395, while the least expensive Fiesta hatchback is $16,295 which gives the nod to the Sonic for hatchback value. 

Chevrolet is quick to point out that the new Sonic is the only subcompact built in America, and that the car comes with best-in-class safety equipment and acceleration. The acceleration claim is for Sonic models equipped with the optional 1.4-liter turbocharged engine and six-speed manual transmission, which also returns fuel economy up to 40 miles per gallon in highway driving.

Chevy’s vice president of marketing, Rick Scheidt, was quick to establish a link between the Sonic and Chevy’s more sporting offerings, saying, “Sonic shares the spirits of Chevrolets like the Corvette by delivering athletic and agile performance. Today’s customers have high expectations for small cars. Sonic comes with an unexpected level of standard equipment so that every customer will have comforts and amenities they desire.”

Scheidt’s comments aside, don’t look for the Sonic to offer a Carbon version any time soon. In fact, the Z Spec package that will be marketed for the car will be focused on appearance, not added performance. Still, the Sonic does come well equipped for the price, offering standard features like 15-inch alloy wheels and a hill-holder function that others charge extra for.

Will that be enough to create a Sonic sales boom for Chevrolet? We’ll know when the car hits dealerships this fall. 

[Chevrolet]

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