It might be $3,000 under the Volkswagen Golf GTI, but at the same time the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS is no Golf GTI. So with an asking price of $20,995, is the Sonic RS too expensive? Or has the U.S. dollar really fallen this far? And just what is its direct competitor? Keep in mind that despite the brake, suspension and gearing upgrades, there’s no power upgrade.
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I have only driven the non-Turbo LTZ, and I found the non-RS handling and power to be very good for a car in this class (especially compared to the Fiesta, Honda Fit and the unreliable Korean offerings) . The RS suspension/braking upgrades are going to take an already excellent handling car into the best in class. Just need a little more power (but aren't we always going to say that?)...
Agreed with the above post. Its really oomph that this car is missing and with subcompact hot hatches reaching past 180hp, they really need to bring the hp of the RS up to that or hell one up the Veloster Turbo with more power, stickier tires and better suspension/chassis to handle the extra oomph. That'll teach Hyundai how to do a sporty subcompact properly.
I don't think the Veloster Turbo is in the same league as the Sonic.... Now if you said about the Accent/Rio turbo (I know it's doesn't exist) then that's something else.
Veloster is more compact than subcompact, yeah. As for turbo versions of the Accent/Rio, they don't exist yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if they showed up within a couple years.
I wouldn't surprised if Kia put out a Rio Turbo because for me, Hyundai doesn't really fit the image of putting the Turbo on their Accent.
There were rumors roaming around about a Rio hatch with the veloster turbo engine on it but they probably died out already. I definitely agree that the Accent isn't a candidate but the Rio5 is definitely one. Though if given the choice between a Sonic RS with a 200hp 1.4T/ new 1.6T MGE that just got announced or a Rio5 with the Veloster Turbo's engine, I'd take the Sonic just cause of the better chassis/suspension.
While most of the gripes about the Sonic RS are valid, people fail to realize there is an ECM tune available for $350 that increases the torque and HP by about 50. Yes it voids the warranty technically but I'd rather pay $350 for that than $26,000 or more for another turbo model car. I have my own mechanic I trust as it is.