As we pointed out last week, the 2017 Chevy Sonic is the recipient of quite a few changes, updates, standard equipment and new convenience features that represent a midcycle refresh for the subcompact vehicle range. One of those changes is the RS package.
Offered as a standalone model from the 2013 through 2016 model years, the RS gets converted into a free-standing package on the 2017 Sonic. This is an important distinction, as the change allows the package to be ordered on most trim levels of the 2017 Sonic Sedan while being standard on all trims of the 2017 Sonic Hatchback.
Following are the features included in the RS package of the 2017 Sonic (the RPO codes are in parenthesis) as well as their availability for the 2017 Sonic Sedan and Hatchback:
2017 Sonic Sedan RS Package (WFK) equipment:
- Sport body kit (BVG)
- Front fog lamps (T3U)
- Sporty rocker moldings (B6E)
- Integrated decklid rear spoiler (D59)
- RS lettering (E38)
- Piano Black accented instrument panel (VWC)
- Sport, 3-spoke leather-wrapped with contrasting stitching, flat bottom steering wheel (N35)
- Carpeted front and rear, deluxe floor mats (B54)
- Includes (P1H) 16″ aluminum wheels, (ACB) Jet Black Deluxe Cloth interior and (VYE) leather Sport shift knob on LT Manual Sedan
- Includes (P1H) 16″ aluminum wheels and (ACB) Jet Black Deluxe Cloth interior on LT Automatic Sedan
- Includes (RJX) 17″ Midnight Silver aluminum wheels, (ADN) Jet Black leatherette with sueded microfiber inserts interior and (FE3) Sport suspension on Premier Automatic Sedan
2017 Sonic Sedan RS Package availability:
- Available on LT Manual
- Available on LT Automatic
- Standard on Premier Manual
- Available on Premier Automatic
2017 Sonic Hatchback RS Package (WFK) equipment:
- Front fog lamps (T3U)
- Sporty rocker moldings (B6E)
- Rear Sport spoiler (T56)
- RS lettering (E38)
- Piano Black accented instrument panel (VWC)
- Sport, 3-spoke leather-wrapped with contrasting stitching, flat bottom steering wheel (N35)
- Carpeted front and rear, deluxe floor mats (B54)
- The 2017 Sonic Hatch includes the following wheels:
- 16-inch aluminum wheels standard on LT Manual and LT Automatic
- 17-inch Midnight Silver aluminum wheels standard on Premier Manual and Premier Automatic
2017 Sonic Hatchback RS Package (WFK) availability:
- Standard on all trims of the 2017 Sonic Hatch
To note, the repositioning of the Sonic RS from a standalone trim level to a package also results in the discontinuation of two features that were unique to the standalone Sonic RS model, namely:
- 6-speed manual transmission and (FV2) 4.18 final drive axle ratio
- 4-wheel disc brakes
These are no longer part of the new Sonic RS package.
Comments
Wait…
They’re discontinuing the:
6-speed manual transmission and (FV2) 4.18 final drive axle ratio
4-wheel disc brakes
???
I thought those were some of the things that made the RS unique.
According to the order guide, the 6 speed manual is still available, but the 4.18 ratio is replaced with the 3.65.
I’m torn on the loss of the 4.18 axle ratio. Yes, it does make 1st gear about worthless, but helps it with the remaining gears.
It could use more power for a sport version, and the 4.18 helps compensate for the lack of grunt.
The loss of the rear disc brakes baffles me. I have a hard time understanding why drum brakes are still offered on ANY car.
There are less moving parts, less labor in replacing the pads, and it would allow for some consolidation of parts to lower costs. If the disc brakes and lower final drive were offered in an LTZ, I may have opted for that instead of the 2015 RS that I did purchase. With those options not available on any Sonic, I would not buy one of these. I understand some of the reasoning for consolidating options in order to offer other class leading features – I see the give and take necessary. However, those compromises have eliminated the attraction that I would have had for the vehicle. Still happy I bought the 2015.
I totally agree on the 4 wheel disc brakes. I suspect the 4.18 ratio was deleted to improve fuel economy. RS fuel economy was 3 MPG city/6 MPG highway less than other Sonics with the 1.4 turbo/manual drive train, with almost no improvement in measured acceleration. A 2016 RS carries 131 pounds more than a Sonic LT, so perhaps Chevy thought the lower gear was necessary to offset the extra weight. Styling is always subjective, but I prefer the new 2017 front end.
So, in other words, the only trim for the hatchback is basically LT, with the RS “package” as standard… What the heck…? And it’s still ugly. Perhaps a little worse than it was without them.
I suppose the only thing it could do worse would be to shrink the gas tank. They already did that with the 2016 manual LT turbos, and they seem to have made a bad habit of it with most of their “refresh” models. I wonder how much they’ll actually expect people to shell out for their “affordable”, thoroughly-poorly-planned new economy car…? I just can’t see them asking for much. What a load of it…
Hondas 1.5 makes 174 horsepower, Fords 1.6 makes 197hp. we get 138hp, nice!
They got rid of 4 wheel disc brakes AND the awesome leather and suede interior for the RS?? Now it’s just a package?? What the hell GM!!??