What engine is a Chevy Sonic?
The Chevy Sonic was powered by two gasoline engines during its U.S. run: a 1.8-liter inline-4 and, later in its life, a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4.
Engine options
The Sonic’s powerplants spanned a conventional naturally aspirated four-cylinder and a smaller turbocharged option that offered more torque for daily driving and highway merging.
- 1.8-liter inline-4 (gasoline): approximately 138 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque. This was the base engine on the early and mid-range trims.
- 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 (gasoline): around 138 horsepower and up to about 148 lb-ft of torque, available on higher trims to boost performance and efficiency.
Note: exact figures can vary slightly by model year and market, but these are the commonly cited outputs for the U.S.-spec Sonic engines.
In summary, the Sonic offered two gasoline engines: a 1.8L naturally aspirated unit and a 1.4L turbocharged unit that delivered more torque for similar horsepower.
Performance and practical considerations
The turbocharged 1.4L option provides stronger low-end torque, which can improve urban and highway responsiveness, while the 1.8L engine offers straightforward reliability for everyday driving. Transmission choices and tuning across model years also influenced real-world fuel economy and acceleration.
Model years and context
In the United States, the Sonic was produced from 2012 through the 2019 model year. The 1.4-liter turbo was introduced during the model’s run to enhance efficiency and performance on higher trims, while the 1.8-liter engine remained the baseline option for earlier years. Production ended as GM reorganized its small-car lineup.
Summary
The Chevy Sonic's engine lineup centers on two gasoline powerplants: a base 1.8-liter inline-4 and a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4. These options offered a balance between simple, reliable performance and boosted torque for better highway and city driving. The Sonic calendar ended in 2019 in the U.S., marking GM's shift away from this subcompact model.
