Dead In The Water: Abysmal Chevrolet Sonic Sales Suggest It’s On Its Way Out
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We’ve all seen the headlines: Ford Motor Company has made the call to all but exit the North American car market over the next several years, focusing more intently on trucks, crossovers, and SUVs. Rumor has it that General Motors has been weighing a similar move, as consumers continue to flock to utility vehicles in droves.
The latest indicator that it might be time for General Motors to shrink – if not terminate – its portfolio of conventional car models in North America: U.S. Chevrolet Sonic sales have been absolutely abysmal this year. Throughout the second quarter of this year, Chevrolet Sonic sales stood at just 4,582 units in the U.S. – an average of just 50 cars per day. They were down more than 55 percent of where they were during Q2 2017, and the figures are enough to put the Sonic solidly in last place in the U.S. subcompact market.
The best-selling car in the segment – the Nissan Versa – sold more than quadruple the number of cars. The Honda Fit, and even the Ford Fiesta, had roughly triple the sales of the Sonic in the second quarter.
Sales Numbers - Subcompact Mainstream Cars - Q2 2018 - United States
| MODEL | Q2 18 / Q2 17 | Q2 18 | Q2 17 | YTD 18 / YTD 17 | YTD 18 | YTD 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VERSA | -20.26% | 20,319 | 25,483 | -19.23% | 45,684 | 56,558 |
| FIT | -4.49% | 13,773 | 14,420 | -4.78% | 25,064 | 26,322 |
| FIESTA | +13.22% | 13,061 | 11,536 | +3.17% | 25,359 | 24,580 |
| YARIS | -33.44% | 8,656 | 13,005 | -35.10% | 16,616 | 25,604 |
| MIRAGE | +23.10% | 7,653 | 6,217 | -3.67% | 13,185 | 13,687 |
| ACCENT | -58.28% | 7,407 | 17,752 | -54.41% | 14,825 | 32,515 |
| RIO | +67.34% | 6,046 | 3,613 | +65.61% | 11,071 | 6,685 |
| SONIC | -55.68% | 4,582 | 10,338 | -41.17% | 10,565 | 17,958 |
| TOTAL | -20.39% | 81,497 | 102,364 | -20.37% | 162,369 | 203,909 |
There’s not much incentive to keep investing in a model that’s currently moving less than a fifth of the units it once did, especially when its 2014 peak wasn’t all that high to begin with, at 93,518 units. For comparison, at its peak in 2001, the Chevrolet Silverado sold 716,051 units, and boasted a fatter margin, to boot.
It was already reported in April that the Sonic would likely exit production soon, possibly as early as this year. Those folks hoping for an eleventh-hour rally in Chevrolet Sonic sales that might buy the subcompact some more time are going to be sorely disappointed.
About Chevrolet Sonic
The Chevrolet Sonic is a subcompact family of vehicles that include a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback. Having replaced the Aveo in the Chevrolet lineup, the Sonic is currently Chevrolet’s second-smallest car, slotting above the Chevrolet Spark city car but below the compact Chevrolet Cruze, midsize Chevrolet Malibu and full-size Chevrolet Impala.
The current model was introduced for the 2012 model year and represents the first generation of the Sonic nameplate. The model rides on the GM Gamma platform shared with the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore.
The model was given a midcycle refresh for the 2017 model year. The 2018 Chevy Sonic represents the sixth model year of the first-generation Sonic. The vehicle remains highly competitive in its segment and the 2018 model year brings a handful of changes, including a new exterior color, a change to the Sun and Sound Package, and the standardization of the seven-inch diagonal color touchscreen. For the 2019 model year, the Sonic gained one new exterior color (while losing two other colors), the removal of the base 1.8L naturally-aspirated Ecotec engine, and several other minor equipment-level changes.
A March 2017 rumor stated that GM would discontinue the Sonic as soon as 2018. As of this writing, it’s unclear whether or not the nameplate will see a second generation.
The Sonic is assembled at the following plants:
- GM Lake Orion plant in Orion Township, Michigan, USA operated by GM USA
- GM Bupyeong plant in South Korea operated by GM Korea
- GM Cairo plant in Egypt operated by GM Egypt
- GM Hanoi plant in Vietnam operated by GM Vietnam
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So do the typical GM thing and eliminate rather than improve to make the vehicle more competitive.
The Chevy Sonic needs a MAJOR update. Every other manufacturer has better offerings! Once Gas Prices go back to $3.50/gal avg, no one will want a CUV anymore. Chevy will be unprepared for a wave of consumers that was a very personable Subcompact Sedan. I love my 2014 Chevy Sonic. While there are newer models, there needs to be improvement. The biggest is Fuel efficiency and Engine Options. Give the Sonic a base 1.5L Turbo Inline-4, with a 2.0L Turbo Optional. Improve the Suspension for either a sportier ride, or more comfortable. Improve the handling dynamics, and Technology available.
Or just give it the 1.6L TD and pump out 55 MPG.
It is already at $3.50/gallon here in California. >:(
Is a ‘unit’ more than one car? Because if it isn’t — and the Sonic averaged 50 a day — that would be around 18,000 cars?
My very first car was the similar Honda Civic hatch in the mid-80s. Back then that style car was a common first car.
If I were that age now I wouldn’t want this car but the Ford Ecosport. (Or the Fiat Uno.) A tiny Chevy Trax, if you will.
I drove one of these last year and can confirm it is a sound hatchback design with good handling for the class. Too bad GM never bothered to improve it. The 1.4T engine is not up to the task, being both less efficient and less powerful and engaging than the competition.
Also, the torsion beam rear suspension GM so proudly puts in all of their economy cars really sucks. The ride is choppy compared to competitors with IRS at the same price point. People notice these things on test drives.
Honestly It’s hard to believe the same company made both the Sonic and my ATS Coupe. Other companies don’t gimp their low end products to the extent that GM does.
Don’t agree, can you really say the competition is of better quality? It’s a crap car segment where price is king. When’s the last time you saw a Sonic well discounted or in an ad?
Replace it with a cheap EV and do better.
Slash prices and export it? Come on GM…
What, aren’t you these same people said that gm would stop making sedan’s? There not going stop making compact and subcompact car’s .
I’ve shopped for a Sonic a couple of times in its life cycle, and the biggest issue I’ve found is the lack of incentives compared to the Cruze. You can usually get a Cruze for the same (or even less) than a Sonic…
OUCH
I own a 2013 LTZ Turbo with 182, 000 miles, which I bought new. The car has been bullet proof with absolutly no problems. Burns no oil..8,000-10,000 mile oil intervals with Mobil 1 , and the dipstick is still full!
GM Marketed the heck out of the Sonic in the beginning, but didn’t do anything to promote it after that.
better off with a base level Cruze, no need for this car in the lineup
I own a 2012 sonic with 124xxx miles and the last 11 months of had it it has been nothing but a money pit. I dont blame gm as much as I blame the dealership I got it from. Iv had to replace the upper wiring harness, lower wiring harness and now the water pump decided to go out which caused the head gasket to blow before I got it home from work. Dealer refuses to admit they sold me a lemon because of all the other work iv done on top of that so I’m gonna drive it until it blows up. Personal experience of the model wouldn’t reccomend to anyone.
You must drive your car a lot.
Make it an all electric performance torque monster and upgrade it to IRS. Maybe start an urban race series and use competition footage in advertising.
GM should be testing hi performance electric drive systems till they melt!
I own a 2103 Sonic LTZ, it has less than 95,000 miles on it and I’ve had nothing but problems with it from the start. Good thing they aren’t making them anymore. I’ll never buy anything from Chevy again.
GM needs to redesign it or go on a new generation that match the likes of customers. In the same time GM has to research why the versa, fit and first sales are quadruple and triple those of the sonic.
I have a 2015 chevy sonic anand honestly my car has been AMAZING. I bought it at 8 miles and I’m now at almost 76k. Its routinely taken me on 1k-1.5k one way trips. The car is amazing GM is awful. I live my car to pieces but I never want another GM product after this one. I was 1.5k miles from home and my purge valve went. I authorized the dealership tech to fix my car but he came back saying it was bad gas I was fine and just not let my tank drop below half for a bit. Ignore the check engine light. I made it clear how far I had to go he said it was fine. I was almost stranded in the west va mountains and had to limp itto the dealership at home. It was the purge valve and it was gonna cost me 2x what it would have the first time I said fix it. I called chevy but they consider all of their dealerships independent and wont do anything. Wont own up to anything. Wont help with anything. I dont know how you can say not my problem when your logo is on their chest. That attitude is why I’ll never take my car into the dealership again and I’ll never touch another chevy. It’s a great car but the company isnt worth it.
You were far out of warranty and you expect GM to take care of it? The purge valve on that car is a 5 minute job, you could have easily done it yourself.
There isn’t enough space in this market for Sonic and Spark. These two cars are far too similar in size, styling. Also, Sonic is a pretty ugly model in an era when compact doesn’t automatically equal hideous.
Chevrolet will contine as GMs full-service brand due to China and Latam. Cars line up will probably get paired down to Spark, Cruze, Malibu will the fully paid for and highly regarded Impala hanging around fleet now that Ford is calling it quits.
Ford and FCA quitting cars presents a market for the “Made in America” crowd who hate Japanese cars for being Japanese. GM must update Malibu now that the new Altama is offering everything but leather on base trim. In fact, GM would be smart to well appoint all Chevy cars with low cost perks such as tinted windows, soft plastics, and LED.
FCA proved with Chrysler 200 that an automaker can offer a fantastic interior even on base models and Chevy needs to stand out from the pack if it wants volume.
I have a 2015 Sonic RS. I LOVE it! Quick, handles well, goes well over 100 mph.
The problem is GM just hasn’t promoted it. If they gave it more teeth, like making a ridiculously fast SS package, it would have done better.
Cosmetically the only thing with the Sonic is the rear. It’s horrible. The front end is perfect. Extremely attractive.
GM must be letting it die on purpose. Sink or swim on your own. No support I’ve seen. Bet a new electric crossover replaces it. Or should!