Compare 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vs 2012 Kia Rio

2012 Chevrolet Sonic
2012 Kia Rio
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Select style
4-Door Sedan LS 1LS
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Sonic 4-Door Sedan LS 1LS 26 35 $13,518 $13,865
Sonic 4-Door Sedan LS 2LS 25 35 $14,561 $14,935
Sonic 4-Door Sedan LT 1LT 26 35 $14,462 $15,065
Sonic 4-Door Sedan LT 2LT 25 35 $15,489 $16,135
Sonic 4-Door Sedan LTZ 1LZ 26 35 $15,831 $16,665
Sonic 4-Door Sedan LTZ 2LZ 25 35 $17,028 $17,925
Sonic 5-Door HB LS 1LS 26 35 $14,395 $14,765
Sonic 5-Door HB LS 2LS 25 35 $15,439 $15,835
Sonic 5-Door HB LT 1LT 26 35 $15,230 $15,865
Sonic 5-Door HB LT 2LT 25 35 $16,257 $16,935
Sonic 5-Door HB LTZ 1LZ 26 35 $16,496 $17,365
Sonic 5-Door HB LTZ 2LZ 25 35 $17,693 $18,625
Select style
4-Door Sedan Automatic EX
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Rio 4-Door Sedan Automatic EX 28 36 $15,535 $16,300
Rio 4-Door Sedan Automatic LX 28 36 $14,010 $14,500
Rio 4-Door Sedan Automatic SX 28 36 $16,675 $17,500
Rio 4-Door Sedan Manual LX 29 37 $13,145 $13,400
Rio 5-Door HB Automatic EX 28 36 $15,735 $16,500
Rio 5-Door HB Automatic LX 28 36 $14,205 $14,700
Rio 5-Door HB Automatic SX 28 36 $16,880 $17,700
Rio 5-Door HB Manual LX 29 37 $13,335 $13,600

Pricing

Invoice Price
$13,518
$15,535

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$13,865
$16,300

Monthly Payment Estimate
$231 / month
$272 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating
8.0
7.6

TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is neither subsonic nor supersonic—but it's a good, sound choice and a world better than the Aveo it replaces. The yardsticks have moved--but the 2012 Kia Rio has kicked itself into contention in a class filled with very good economy cars.

TCC Likes

TCC Dislikes

Fuel Economy

City
26 mpg 28 mpg

Highway
35 mpg 36 mpg

Vehicle

Number of Passenger Doors
4 -

EPA Classification
Compact Cars Compact

Interior Dimensions

Second Shoulder Room (in)
53.0 52.1

Front Leg Room (in)
41.8 43.8

Passenger Volume (ft³)
90.4 88.4

Front Hip Room (in)
51.4 52.1

Second Leg Room (in)
34.6 31.1

Front Head Room (in)
38.7 40.0

Passenger Capacity
5 5

Second Hip Room (in)
51.6 51.2

Front Shoulder Room (in)
53.4 53.1

Second Head Room (in)
37.8 37.6

Exterior Dimensions

Height, Overall (in)
59.7 57.3

Track Width, Rear (in)
59.4 60.0

Wheelbase (in)
99.4 101.2

Liftover Height (in)
- TBD - - TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
68.3 67.7

Track Width, Front (in)
59.4 59.9

Min Ground Clearance (in)
4.9 5.5

Length, Overall (in)
173.1 171.9

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)
14.9 13.7

Brakes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
NA 10.3 x 0.4

Brake Type
Pwr Pwr

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
9.0 x - TBD - NA

Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
10.8 x - TBD - 10.1 x 0.9

Drum - Rear (Yes or )
Yes NA

Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )
NA Yes

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
12.2 11.4

Steering

Steering Type
Electric Pwr Steering Electric Pwr

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
2.8 2.8

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)
NA - TBD -

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
14.1 15.5

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
34.5 34.5

Tires

Spare Tire Size
Compact NA

Front Tire Order Code
Q1H NA

Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA

Rear Tire Size
P195/65R15 P185/65R15

Rear Tire Order Code
Q1H NA

Front Tire Size
P195/65R15 P185/65R15

Trailering

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA NA

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA NA

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA NA

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA NA

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)
2727 2403

Wheels

Rear Wheel Size (in)
15 x - TBD - 15 x 5.5

Front Wheel Material
Aluminum Steel

Spare Wheel Material
Steel NA

Front Wheel Size (in)
15 x - TBD - 15 x 5.5

Spare Wheel Size (in)
Compact NA

Rear Wheel Material
Aluminum Steel

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)
- TBD - 6.3

Electrical

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
100 110

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
438 540

Engine

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
138 @ 6300 138 @ 6300

Engine Type
Gas I4 Gas I4

Fuel System
Electronic Fuel Injection Direct Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM
125 @ 3800 123 @ 4850

Engine Order Code
LUW NA

Displacement
1.8L/110 1.6L/97

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
26 28

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
29 31

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
35 36

Transmission

Reverse Ratio (:1)
3.31 3.44

Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA -

Second Gear Ratio (:1)
2.14 2.72

Trans Order Code
M26 NA

Drivetrain
Front Wheel Drive Front Wheel Drive

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
3.94 3.27

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.12 1.39

Trans Description Cont.
Manual Automatic

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA 0.77

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)
NA -

First Gear Ratio (:1)
3.73 4.40

Clutch Size (in)
- TBD - NA

Third Gear Ratio (:1)
1.41 1.83

Trans Type
5 6

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.89 1.00

Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA

Summary

Vehicle Name
Chevrolet Sonic Kia Rio

Body Style
4 Door Sedan Sedan

Suspension

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
w/Coil Springs w/Coil Springs

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)
NA - TBD -

Suspension Type - Front
MacPherson Strut MacPherson Strut

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)
NA NA

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
w/Coil Springs w/Coil Springs

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)
NA - TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)
- TBD - 0.79

Suspension Type - Rear
Torsion Beam Torsion Beam

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
5.1 5.9

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score
7 -

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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