Running like the wind ever since his 1991 debut, Sonic the Hedgehog was finally inducted into the… Walk of Game (don’t ask). Tears of joy were shed by millions of spotty teenagers when the anthropomorphic daredevil was celebrated in 2005. Seven years and thousands of tubes of Clearasil later, those teens are now adults and they’re shopping for cars rather than video games. Deep down however, those childish tendencies remain and they long for another burst of Sonic on their Segas. But rather than trying to recreate their wasted youth, I have a better idea for them — get behind the wheel of the all-new Chevrolet Sonic instead.
Aimed predominantly at the youth market, the sub-compact Sonic is available as a four-door saloon and five-door hatch in our region. I got to play with the former for a couple of days recently but before I could plant myself into the driver’s seat and turn the key, I had to pull myself away from its stylish exterior.
Boasting a sporty design with an aggressive front end, it sure looks like a winner. The large bowtie sits proudly in the middle of the two-tier grille, flanked by a pair of headlights that interestingly enough, don’t have a lens cover. My first reaction was that someone on the assembly line had fallen asleep. They hadn’t, it’s just a neat little design feature. Housed in dual tubes, with high-gloss black bezels and chrome rings, they’re dazzling. The taillights look classy too as do the 16in five-spoke aluminium painted wheels.
Stepping into the cabin, I was surprised by just how roomy it was in there. I poked and prodded the dashboard and immediately raised a Roger Moore-like eyebrow. ‘It looks pretty good and has a quality feel about it,’ I thought to myself, slightly confused by my lack of disappointed. For all intents and purposes, it looked and felt far more upscale than I had expected. I liked the digital LCD readout coupled with electric blue ambient backlighting in every nook and cranny, both giving the interior a clean and modern feel about it. Two glove boxes, large door pockets and many other compartments meant storage space was aplenty while the boot had 466-litres of room.
This LT trim Sonic also boasted a chunky multifunction steering wheel, a USB port and a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio as standard. I tried in vain to find a serious fault with the impressive car. Something’s got to give. It didn’t. Not even when I turned the key and startled the motor into life.
Chevy has stuck a 115bhp 1.6-litre four-pot with dual-overhead camshafts and variable valve timing under the little bonnet and mated it to a six-speed automatic. It’s the only drivetrain we’ll get here but there really isn’t a need for anything else as this one does everything you’d expect, and then some. Frugality is at the forefront of its design. The powerplant sips around 6.6 litres-per-100km but still produces a spirited performance. Acceleration isn’t exactly neck snapping but don’t for a second go thinking the Sonic is gutless. It delivers a lovely raspy roar when you put the hammer down and takes off with just enough anger, leaving you happy.
Cushioning all those road imperfections is a not too softly sprung McPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and a stabiliser bar and a torsion beam axle-mounted suspension at the back. They combine to deliver a stable ride and you only upset the Sonic’s poise if you’re really trying. It feels nice and rigid too and that is thanks to the body on frame structure while advanced steels improves passenger safety and here’s how. If you were to roll it over, the roof won’t cave in because it is able to carry as much as four times the weight of the car. Other safety features include four airbags and ABS — the latter lacking in some similarly priced cars in the segment.
Verdict
The hedgehog even made it to the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition, coming 10th out of the top 50 video game characters. But, I’m sure the Chevy will rank much higher in the sub-compact segment. It looks sharp, feels great on the move and is a lively performer, much like its namesake. Oh, and just as fun. That’s why I’m predicting big things for the little Sonic. Why not head to your nearest Chevrolet dealer and ask them for a demo? But don’t expect them to pull out a 16-bit Sega game console. Times have moved on and Chevy has proved here that it hasn’t been standing still either.
Specs & ratings
Model Sonic LT
Engine 1.6-litre four-cyl
Transmission Six-speed auto, FWD
Max power 115bhp @ 6,000rpm
Max torque 155Nm @ 4,000rpm
Top speed NA
0-100kph NA
Price Dh56,700
