The Sonic's 1.4-liter turbocharged4-cylinder notches a horsepower rating of 138 with a substantial 148 lb-ft ofpeak torque between 1850 rpm and 4900 rpm. Engine power is on par with theclass-leading Hyundai Accent's 138 hp 4-cylinder and exceeds the Honda Fit's117 hp as well as the Ford Fiesta's 120 hp. It's the impressive level ofturbocharged torque, however, that means the Sonic, unlike many rivals, neverfeels overworked.
The Sonic's turbocharged 4-cylinderas well as its 1.8-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder also power the ChevroletCruze sedan. The turbocharged Sonic engine mates to a 6-speed manualtransmission. An automatic isn't offered with the turbocharged engine, but the1.8-liter engine is available with either a 6-speed automatic or a 5-speedmanual.
While we appreciate the 1.4T combowith the stick shift, it would be nice if a six-speed automatic was available.Without it, unless you drive stick you don't get anywhere near the claimed 40mpg numbers. Instead, the 1.8L engine gets 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway forthe 5-speed manual and 25/35 for the 6-speed automatic.
While the turbocharged enginedoesn't toss occupants deep into the seatbacks, it does translate intoadmirable fuel economy. During a 40-mile trek with speeds in the 65 mph range,our test car's mpg readout (located within a rectangular pod-shaped display)hovered around 39 mpg. In continual stop and go city driving, the mpg variedbetween 27 and 34.7.
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