If You Think The Chevy Sonic Sedan Looks Funny Now, You Should Have Seen It Before
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Between the two designs, the modern look of the Chevy Sonic five-door hatchback appears several dials more handsome than its four-door sedan counterpart. Maybe it’s the fact the tail lamps appear too big for the body, or that the nose is too stubby. It could be both. But even earlier design attempts at a Sonic sedan had an even more awkward look to it.
Designers felt the need to elongate the four-door Sonic, by stretching the trunk to the point where its longer than the hatch by a highly significant 14.1 inches. In the process, that gave the Sonic sedan 14 cubic-feet of cargo space, or just 1.4 cubic-feet less than the Chevy Cruze. We can’t say we blame the designers, but they could have at least finished the job and proportioned the tail lamps a little better. Eh, maybe they did and it was another budget-based decision.
Maybe we’re just off our rocker. Opine with us in the comment section below!
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I really can’t stand this car because it is so cheap and awful looking, the interior is great with me but GM really messed it up. Yes, I know I have said this before but still.
Actually I like the styling of the sedan way more than the hatcback. But part of that has to do with extreme dislike of hatchbacks. There’s no such thing as a “hot hatchback” in my book.lol
4th gen SS with T-top in 35 anniversay trim?
The C6 in all flavours?
“Your book” must be pretty boring if you’ve written off all hatchbacks.
Sorry, nothing about a hatchback is appealing to me. Hatchbacks are not hot, just look at the Porsche Panamera and the WRX. And I absolutely loved the WRX before they went to the hatch bodystyle.
Well, Subaru has never been known for its styling prowess… But have seen the Volvo C30, Audi A3, or — from the GM stable — Astra GTC?
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2011/09/frankfurt-2011-rakish-opel-astra-gtc-promises-performance/
This vehicle looks way better in person than in pictures, however it still seems to be the bastard step child in the Chevy line, the hatch while way better looking still has issues; I have a feeling there is already a major refresh for both these vehicles in the works, if not there should be; pricing for these is rediculous, why not go and get a Mazda 3 and call it a day. Again there should be 2 very simple options a LT version and the RS version and call it a day. I looked at these but made the choice to grab a loaded year old HHR for what the base model starts at.
Pricing is ridiculous just compared to its first generation. Very ridiculous… A fully decked out Aveo came in at about $16,000, whereas the base current comes in close to that without cruise control or automatic transmission. To get a decent Sonic, it’s almost as much as a Cruze, which is on the next level of vehicle classing.
And that’s without considering the styling. Which, even in person, looks a bit ridiculous in its awkward attempts to look like a motorcycle-subcompact crossover. And the inside is worse; it works well enough, but its not very user-friendly or practical. Which is supposed to be a prime focus for economy cars.
It also doesn’t get the gas mileage it should. Sure, EPA estimates are usually a little off, but from a week’s worth of rental driving an LTZ, I’ve found the Sonic’s automatic to get what the Aveo’s automatic is supposed to get. While my Aveo is the other way around, provided that I do everything you’re supposed to do with a car.
I’m not saying the Sonic isn’t my first choice for a brand new subcompact, or that I don’t appreciate GM’s aim to make a nicer car out of their economy one. But I’m sure I’m not the only one to notice a considerable loss on substance for flash. I hope the next update balances it out. If not? Well… I didn’t hate the Ford Fiesta that much…
I like the Sonic till you see that silly gauge pod I see the spark will also use a set up like that too bad
The gauge pod works better than you would think.
i’m willing to bet money this out sells the hatch easily…
i like them both
I don’t see what’s ugly or funny looking about it. My issue with the Sonic has been partially addressed (the RS has disc brakes at the rear), but the dumb name persists. Oh well…
Personally, I love the styling of the Sonic. Especially of one considers the price and the segment/competitors.
I would buy the sedan over the hatch, primarily based on looks. Kind of confused by the article title. Nothing funny-looking about it to me in the least. And the people I know that bought a sedan have relayed stories of continual unsolicited compliments.
Really? The sedan over the hatch, huh? Must be a deep- rooted American hatred for hatches 😉
I am honestly befuddled by our extreme liking of sedans, yes there are some sedans that sould be sedans, especially the full size ones, but a compact sedan just doesnt make sense, i know looks are subjective, but I think every hatch version of a compact sedan, if executed properly, will look better than its hatch counterpart. The benefits of a hatch go on forever, but what following the list of the benefits of a compact sedan will leave you at a dead end.
Barbersher, I love hatchbacks as well, but it’s a fallacy that a compact hatch is more versatile than a compact sedan. Except for ease of access to a smaller cargo space (in a hatch) a sedan usually has a much larger trunk than its sedan variant and with rear folding seats actually has mor usable cargo space.
Hatches are more of a ultra efficient solution to a obvious lack of space. Ie more of a truncated station wagon of sorts. But still unlike a wagon of a sedan thy still fall short in the cargo capacity area.
JzEllis,
While it is true that that sedans usually have more cargo space on paper, they are not more versatile in my experiance. Rear seats would fold down on both varients so that is not of consequence. For example, I could not fit my road bike in a first gen focus sedan but could on a focus hatch. In a civic hatch, I could fit my mini barbeque grill, but not in the civic sedan. For me, its been the other way, the sedan has more cargo space, but the hatch has more usable cargo space. Ultimately, it comes down to what kind of things one would carry.
True. I Guess that’s why although I prefer hatches in compacts, if a wagon version is available I’d pick that even over the sedan. Of course it’s gotta look good as well. In this case to me, the sedan beats the hatch in that department. Not to say the hatch is ugly. Just deliberately “funky”. Which is good as well.
For me owning a Sonic hatchback would have no benefit for me. My snowboard is long enough that it wouldn’t fit vertically, so I’d have to fold down the seats in the hatch anyway. I mean, if you’re hauling tall objects that cannot be put on their sides, then you should get the hatch. As for me, there’s no benefit of owning the hatch, I have an SUV for my utility needs. And in my opinion they look cheap/inferior. I can’t help but think of the AMC Gremlin whenever I see these so called “Hot Hatches”.lol