2012 Chevrolet Sonic
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2012 models.
- Class
- Midsize Cars
- Body styles
- 4dr Sedan Ls/Lt/Ltz, 5dr Hatchback Ls/Lt/Ltz
- Engines
- 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, 1.8L 4-cyl
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 32 combined · 28 city / 38 hwy
- Length
- 159.1–173.2 in
- Curb weight
- 2,690–2,727 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 7 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 32 MPG combined — 34% better than the average 2012 midsize car (23.9 MPG).
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 25 similar 2012 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is a midsize car offered with 2 engines (1.4L 4-cyl turbo and 1.8L 4-cyl) and front-wheel drive.
It measures about 173 inches long and 69 inches wide on a 100-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 2,727 lb (4dr Sedan Ls/Lt/Ltz).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 32 MPG combined (28 city / 38 highway), 34% better than the 2012 midsize car average of 23.9 MPG, for an estimated $2,100 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 7 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 248 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the power train.
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr Sedan Ls/Lt/Ltz | 173.2 in | 68.5 in | 59.8 in | 99.6 in | 59.4 / 59.4 in | 2,727 lb | 62/38 |
| 5dr Hatchback Ls/Lt/Ltz | 159.1 in | 68.5 in | 59.8 in | 99.6 in | 59.4 / 59.4 in | 2,690 lb | 62/38 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic 5 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 38 / 32 | +34% | $2,100 | 278 |
| Sonic | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 38 / 32 | +25% | $2,100 | 278 |
| Sonic | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 36 / 30 | +17% | $2,250 | 296 |
| Sonic 5 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 36 / 30 | +26% | $2,250 | 296 |
| Sonic 5 | 1.8L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 34 / 29 | +21% | $2,300 | 306 |
| Sonic | 1.8L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 34 / 29 | +13% | $2,300 | 306 |
| Sonic 5 | 1.8L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 34 / 28 | +17% | $2,400 | 317 |
| Sonic | 1.8L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 34 / 28 | +9% | $2,400 | 317 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2012 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic.
Similar 2012 midsize cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Chevrolet Sonic (this car) | 32 MPG | Not rated | 7 |
| 2012 Toyota Corolla | 29 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2012 Honda Civic | 44 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2012 Toyota Prius | 50 MPG | Not rated | 7 |
| 2012 Hyundai Elantra | 32 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2012 Ford Focus | 32 MPG | Not rated | 10 |
| 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer | 28 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
Recalls (7)
Equipment › Electrical · Jul 2, 2014
NHTSA campaign 14V417000 · 2,990 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.
- Fix
- 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.
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · Jun 12, 2014
NHTSA campaign 14V315000 · 21,567 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Air Bags · Jun 6, 2014
NHTSA campaign 14V300000 · 31,520 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Air Bags · Jan 24, 2013
NHTSA campaign 13V023000 · 4,167 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Air Bags · Oct 31, 2012
NHTSA campaign 12V522000 · 2,949 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer · Aug 20, 2012
NHTSA campaign 12V408000 · 44,668 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- A lack of washer fluid could impede the driver's view, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads · Dec 28, 2011
NHTSA campaign 11V599000 · 4,296 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- A MISSING PAD COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Fix
- 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
Not every 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2012 Chevrolet Sonic buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 7 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Power Train — 111 owner reports. Test-drive through all gears, including reverse; note slipping, harsh or delayed shifts.
- Engine — 59 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Electrical System — 36 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 57,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Sonic years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Sonic | 29 | 174 in | ★★★★★ | 0 | 10 |
| 2019 Sonic | 31 | 174 in | ★★★★★ | 0 | 8 |
| 2018 Sonic | 32 | 174 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 15 |
| 2017 Sonic | 32 | 174 in | Not rated | 0 | 37 |
| 2016 Sonic | 32 | 173.2 in | Not rated | 2 | 48 |
| 2015 Sonic | 32 | 173.2 in | Not rated | 3 | 114 |
| 2014 Sonic | 32 | 173.2 in | Not rated | 4 | 137 |
| 2013 Sonic | 32 | 173.2 in | Not rated | 6 | 180 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Chevrolet. How we calculate this →