2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ Sedan (Manual)
All photo credits
- Photo: 2017 Chevrolet Sonic LT sedan front 4.28.18 by Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 2019 Chevrolet Sonic RS in "Shock", front left by Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 2019 Chevrolet Sonic RS by Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 2017 Chevrolet Sonic LT sedan rear 4.28.18 by Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic interior (5871855888) by InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ Sedan (Manual) is a 138-hp 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 sedan with a 6-speed manual and front-wheel drive. It starts at $16,535 MSRP and is rated at 33 mpg combined.
It makes 138 horsepower at 4,900 rpm and 148 lb-ft of torque at 1850 rpm, spinning to a 6,500 rpm redline. EPA fuel-economy estimates are 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway (33 mpg combined).
The Sonic measures 173.1 inches long on a 99.4-inch wheelbase and has a curb weight of 2,806 lb.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | |
| Body Type | Sedan |
| Powertrain | Gas |
| Price | |
| MSRP | $16,535 ($23,405 *) |
| MSRP with Destination | $17,295 ($24,481 *) |
| Destination Charge | $760 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Type | Ecotec 1.4L Turbo I4 |
| Displacement | 1.4 L |
| Horsepower | 138 hp @ 4,900 rpm |
| Torque | 148 lb-ft @ 1850 rpm |
| Redline | 6,500 rpm |
| Valvetrain | DOHC, 16 valves, VVT |
| Bore and Stroke | 2.9 x 3.3 in (73.7 x 83.8 mm) |
| Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 |
| Injection Type | Sequential multi-port fuel injection |
| Drivetrain | |
| Drive Type | FWD |
| Transmission | |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Fuel Economy | |
| City | 29 MPG |
| Highway | 40 MPG |
| Combined | 33 MPG |
| Recommended Fuel | Regular unleaded (87 octane) |
| Tank Capacity | 12.2 gal |
| Suspension | |
| Front Suspension | Independent, lower control arms, coil springs, gas shocks |
| Rear Suspension | Semi-independent torsion beam, coil springs, gas shocks |
| Tires & Wheels | |
| Wheels Front | 17" x 8.0" |
| Wheels Rear | 17" x 8.0" |
| Tires Front | P205/50R17 |
| Tires Rear | P205/50R17 |
| Dimensions & Weight | |
| Length | 173.1 in |
| Width | 68.3 in |
| Height | 59.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 99.4 in |
| Front Track | 59.4 in |
| Rear Track | 59.4 in |
| Ground Clearance | 4.9 in |
| Cargo Volume | 14 ft³ |
| Curb Weight | 2,806 lbs |
| Interior | |
| Headroom Front | 38.7 in |
| Headroom Rear | 37.8 in |
| Legroom Front | 41.8 in |
| Legroom Rear | 34.6 in |
| Shoulder Room Front | 53.4 in |
| Shoulder Room Rear | 53 in |
| Hip Room Front | 51.4 in |
| Hip Room Rear | 51.6 in |
Similar cars
Rivals to the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ Sedan (Manual) with similar size, power and price from around the same years.
Safety & Recalls
NCAP safety ratings
| Overall | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ (12.6 % risk) |
Other tested variants (1)
- 2012 Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD: 5 ★ overall
Recalls
7 recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2012 Chevrolet SONIC. Not every recall applies to every trim or VIN — check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Jul 2, 2014 · EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.
Consequence: Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.
NHTSA campaign 14V417000
Jun 12, 2014 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured March 1, 2012, to June 29, 2012, and equipped with a 6 speed automatic transmission and 1.8L four cylinder engine. In the affected vehicles, the transmission turbine shaft may fracture.
Consequence: If the transmission turbine shaft fracture occurs during vehicle operation in first or second gear, the vehicle will not upshift to the third through sixth gears, limiting the vehicle's speed. If the fracture occurs during operation in third through sixth gear, the vehicle will coast until it slows enough to downshift to first or second gear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission turbine shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14234.
NHTSA campaign 14V315000
Jun 6, 2014 · AIR BAGS
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Consequence: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020. Buick owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. Note: This is an expansion of recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023.
NHTSA campaign 14V300000
Jan 24, 2013 · AIR BAGS
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Consequence: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
NHTSA campaign 13V023000
Oct 31, 2012 · AIR BAGS
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Consequence: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal airbag, that airbag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
NHTSA campaign 12V522000
Aug 20, 2012 · VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured from May 5, 2011, through February 24, 2012. These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems." The windshield wiper washer hose on these vehicles may separate from the washer fluid reservoir. If this occurs, washer fluid will not be available to the windshield.
Consequence: A lack of washer fluid could impede the driver's view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will secure the windshield washer hose to prevent separation, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 7, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.
NHTSA campaign 12V408000
Dec 28, 2011 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 21, 2011. ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE FRONT BRAKE INNER OR OUTER PAD MAY BE MISSING.
Consequence: A MISSING PAD COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT BRAKES FOR A MISSING INNER OR OUTER PAD. IF A BRAKE PAD IS MISSING, DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW INNER AND OUTER PADS, A NEW BRAKE CALIPER, AND A NEW ROTOR. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 14, 2012
NHTSA campaign 11V599000
354 owner complaints to NHTSA for the 2012 Chevrolet SONIC
Owner Complaints
354 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Chevrolet SONIC (27 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 17 an injury). See all on nhtsa.gov
| Power Train | 154 |
| Engine | 83 |
| Electrical System | 59 |
| Unknown Or Other | 46 |
| Air Bags | 34 |
| Suspension | 19 |
Complaints are unverified reports submitted to NHTSA by owners. They cover the whole model year, not a specific trim, and a count alone doesn't show how common a problem is.
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov), matched as 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. US-market vehicles only; data cached for up to 7 days.