As small cars go, my preference has always been for the Volkswagen Golf.
I’ve tried to be a Honda Civic guy. I’ve also always taken an interest in small practical cars from strange, out of the way places. You know, like Croatia. Italian-style small cars are clever, even when they’re being built in Japan like the Suzuki Swift. I’ve even tried to like a German-designed Opel built in South Korea and sold as a Pontiac.
But really I like the VW Golf. So when I say that the Chevy Sonic is pretty much like a VW Golf, it’s kind of a big thing for me. It’s as if the GM guys finally decided to quit fooling around with trying to prove how clever they are and just, what the heck, built a Golf.
The Sonic has long-travel, compliant suspension just like a Golf, and the car rolls a lot in the corners yet never loses touch with the pavement just like a Golf. The Sonic has an engine with a very broad and flexible powerband and very (very) tall gearing just like a Golf. The manual transmission has a smooth, long-throw shift action just like a Golf. The Sonic steers like a Golf and has a certain compatibility in the way all the driving controls work together just like a Golf.
This Sonic hatchback even looks like a Golf, that is if you scrunch up your eyes real good and ignore the Chevy Sonic front end and the wacky, too-clever rear window shape that makes the whole car look like a Golf that’s has been beamed up by the transporter with not entirely perfect duplication. And when you’re sitting in the Sonic, you also feel like you’re in a Golf, except all the architecture has been moved around so you can tell that it’s a sedan trying to be a Golf. Then again, the Sonic’s interior fits big people just like a Golf and the interior trim is actually way, way nicer than a Golf.
So despite being deeply, deeply skeptical of a car that has a heritage that includes the relentless crumminess of the Chevy Cavalier and the scary flimsiness of the Daewoo Lanos, and is still for all intents and purposes a German-designed Opel that’s been engineered in Korea and then built in a former Pontiac plant in Michigan, I really like this car.
Driving the Chevy Sonic reminds me of driving a VW Golf, and I think that’s a good thing.
Michael Jordan, Executive Editor, Edmunds.com @ 2,222 miles
throwback says:
01:56 PM, 01/27/12
Michael, be prepared for the Golf fanboy onslaught. I agree it does sort of look like a Gen 4 Golf from the side.
shadrach2 says:
02:38 PM, 01/27/12
That's interesting because I compared those precise vehicles a couple of weeks ago and reached different conclusions. I went in wanting to reach the same conclusion that you did because I thought buying American would be nice and because the Sonic is cheaper. The Sonic was fine but seemed less solid and buttoned down. It's quite a bit lighter and so I was expecting better overall handling but didn't perceive any. The interior seemed very plastic (not so much good plastic) and the overall style was trendy and, imho, very much going to age quickly. I'm surprised you perceived it as notably better than the Golf's; I came away with precisely the opposite view. I thought it was nice enough but not near the upscale look/feel of the Golf and without its subdued, going to look good for a long time, style. Everything in the Golf seemed substantial (except the steering wheel - the Sonic's is definitely nicer) and built to last.
The price area was one that actually became non-relevant because I'm leasing and the lease cost of the Golf was amazingly good. And as far as external style, we both seem to agree the Golf is the winner.
Pulled the trigger on the Golf and am still quite pleased that I did.
Shows that perception is definitely a subjective thing and one should always test for oneself before making a decision!
bankerdanny says:
02:55 PM, 01/27/12
Shadrach: which version of the Golf did you buy and which version(s) of the Sonic did you try?
shadrach2 says:
03:34 PM, 01/27/12
Bought the 2.5 liter base model with convenience package and auto tranny. Examined and drove the Sonic LTZ hatchback. (Also tried out a base Cruze, a midrange Fiesta and a lower end Focus, to keep the pricing somewhat close).
maxedoutmax says:
04:43 PM, 01/27/12
You must have not driven a later (current version) golf. The interior is vastly superior, esp the dash/ergonomics. The golf has A TON more space. Its much better for taller drivers, etc etc etc.
blueprint1 says:
06:41 PM, 01/27/12
The Golf has the Camry's job in Europe: it's the best-selling family car over there. It's not a first-time-buyer's car like a Sonic or Fit, and the overall maturity in the design and execution shows. The Golf is what you buy when you want a 3-series, A3 / A4 or C-Class but you can't quite afford it.
I do like the Sonic a lot. I'd be embarrassed in a Yaris or Accent, but not in this (in LTZ trim, of course).
ryans93 says:
09:01 PM, 01/27/12
I have not driven a Sonic yet so I can't comment on that (I hope it drives well, as that's a good thing for GM and domestic cars) but the interior comparison is not even close. The Golf has a cabin full of soft-touch, well assembled materials; it's very elegant and upper class. The Sonic's may be assembled solidly but is very hard and cheap feeling plastics. I do like the design, but the Fiesta's (and Focus's) interior is a much much closer comparison (I own a Fiesta).
blueguydotcom says:
09:30 PM, 01/27/12
Amusing blog post. Thanks.
panerai250 says:
07:45 AM, 01/28/12
Drove a Golf and Sonic back to back...I prefer the Sonic. It just comes across as a better built car. I really didnt find one Interior better than the other...but I like the layout of the Sonic better. I'll probably end up getting a three year old G...just not really Into this segment...nothing wrong with It...but Im use to something a bit bigger/faster.