The 2025 Chevy Optra is a forbidden fruit in GM’s North American home market. It’s a car that goes by many names, called the Chevy Aveo and Chevy Sonic. The same car is called the Aveo in Mexico and the Sail in South American markets, but it’s called the Chevy Optra in Egypt. Today, we’re taking a closer look at the powertrain of this plucky subcompact car.
The 2025 Chevy Optra is powered by the naturally aspirated 1.5L I4 LAR engine. Transmission options are a continuously variable automatic and a 6-speed manual. The engine is rated at just 98 horsepower and 103 pound-feet of torque. These low output specs are likely one of several reasons why the Chevy Aveo/Sail/Optra isn’t offered in North America; it’s underpowered compared to the old Ecotec-powered Chevy Sonic.
The Optra is offered in two trims in Egypt: LS and LT. A few standard features on the LS include power mirrors, dual-exit exhaust, LED taillights, and 15-inch steel wheels. Upgrading to the LS brings alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, front fog lamps, automatic climate control, and a gray-and-black two-tone interior. The standard infotainment system in both trims employs an 8-inch touchscreen and comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
One small feature that people loved about the North American Chevy Sonic that’s also found in the Chevy Optra is a front armrest. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but not all subcompact cars in this price range have this convenience feature.
However, why does this car have its own unique model name in Egypt? It replaced the rebadged Baojun 630, which was marketed as the Chevy Optra in Egypt. GM decided to introduce a new-generation Optra, which is produced by SAIC-GM-Wuling and has the model code 310C. The Chevy Aveo is offered as a sedan or hatchback in Mexico, but the Egyptian-market Chevy Optra is sedan-only. Based on the exchange rate at the time of this writing, the starting price of the 2025 Chevy Optra in Egypt is about $14,500 USD.
The 2025 Chevy Optra, Aveo and Sail have two production sites: the SGMW plant in Liuzhou, China and GM Egypt in 6th of October City, Egypt. Conversely, the USDM Chevy Sonic that was discontinued in 2020 was one of the last subcompact cars built in the United States, specifically at Orion Assembly in Orion Township, Michigan.
Barring a resurgence in popularity of subcompact cars in North America, it’s unlikely ths potential Sonic successor will ever be offered in GM’s home market.
Comments
It screams “vintage” but if the price is right…
If that’s a forbidden fruit, it must be akin to a durian!
They need to get their heads out of their ass and start making a nice car for the USA.
We had the Chevy Cruze, the only problem with that car was the non
competitive 1.4 and 1.6 Liter Engines, though reliable, 153 horsepower just didn’t make the cut for most consumers, and gm wasn’t going to make the investments for performance improvements.
I run the CT4-V. It an amazing cat! Not Blackwing crazy, but 0 to 60 in under 5 seconds (easily. 4.8 pretty consistently) and 159 mph. It also gets about 32mph! With that performance, I would have been happy with 25! But it shows that you don’t have to drive oversized lawnmowers and golf carts to have an economical GM product! And she really runs! True story ..on I75 playing around with a Charger Daytona Hemi. Probably about a 2013 or so. I pulled him hard at every speed! Really bad from 20 mph!! We never got a chance to go from 0 but I am confident the Cady would have just embarrassed him more. He eventually just stayed behind me a drifted back. It was awesome! So, If you can live with 32 instead of 36 mpg and want a little rocket that has world class handling…buy a CT4-V
Americans are bad at math. The top selling three new vehicles get 15 MPG. We forget $6.00 guzzoline too easily. President Carter had it right. May he rest in peace.
GM, Ford, and Stellantis (Chrysler) need to offer vehicle like this right now and make it in America and put Americans to work. Millions of new car buyers forced to forego purchases because the big three offer nothing affordable and fuel efficient like this model would buy a vehicle like this like there’s no tomorrow.
I own a 2022 Chevy Spark and I find it awesome to drive! I do not feel being underpowered. At 1.459 cents per liter for gas, I am so happy when I go at the pump.
I would change for this Optra if it was available here.
In the U.S. gm has completely abandoned the affordable entry-level vehicle market as they focus on highly profitable pickups and SUVs to fund their EV fantasies.
As Mother Mary says, “Let them eat cake!”