What did Chevy Sonic used to be called?
The Chevy Sonic was previously named the Chevrolet Aveo in North America.
The Sonic’s renaming reflects GM’s branding shift for its subcompact lineup. The same car lineage began overseas as the Daewoo Kalos and carried Kalos or Aveo branding depending on the market, before GM introduced the Sonic name in North America for the 2012 model year.
Naming evolution: North America and beyond
Below is a concise timeline of major naming milestones for the car in North America and the key overseas branding shifts that led to the Sonic name.
- Daewoo Kalos debuted overseas in 2002 and reached the U.S. market as the Chevrolet Aveo for the 2004 model year.
- For the 2012 model year, GM renamed the North American model to Chevrolet Sonic, shifting branding from Aveo to Sonic.
- In other markets, the same basic car often continued under Kalos or Aveo branding for a period, while the Sonic name appeared in select regions as GM rolled out its global small-car lineup.
The name evolution underscores GM’s branding strategy rather than a fundamental redesign—the Sonic badge signaled a refreshed image for the same compact platform in North America, with regional variations worldwide.
Global branding notes
Across different markets, the car has appeared under several names: Kalos, Aveo, and Sonic, depending on regional branding decisions and model year. The Sonic’s introduction in 2012 aimed to give the model a more modern, sportier perception within GM’s global compact-car portfolio.
For readers seeking year-by-year specifics by country, the branding can vary, and GM’s press materials provide the most precise mappings for each market and model year.
Summary
The Chevy Sonic’s direct predecessor name in North America was Chevrolet Aveo, with the Kalos name used overseas before the Sonic designation took hold in the U.S. for the 2012 model year. The change reflects a broader branding strategy rather than a radical change to the car’s design, and it illustrates how GM managed naming across global markets.
