Chevrolet Sonic
When buying a budget car, the main consideration, is what are you prepared to live without? The list up for compromise will need to feature, brand, build quality, perceived value, power, performance and handling, not to mention widgets and gadgets. Safety, reliability and warrantees are of course also going to enter your decision process. At the bottom of the scale, you get your no-name brand complete with dubious warranty, a name you can only pronounce, let alone spell when completely sober, and a door panel that should in a perfect scenario stay on for at least the first two weeks. Acceleration will be adequate, if and only if you tend to take on the infirm in their Zimmer frames.
This leads us to the question of the starter or budget car. The Chev Sonic on test this week is a good case in point, while it begins at R155 000 it isn't quite scraping the bottom of the barrel, but it is still firmly in the starter category.
First the numbers; 1.4 litres gets you 74kW, 130Nm and a fuel consumption claimed at 5,8l/ 100km, well into the diesel category, which a small petrol like this will do every time.
For your money you get as standard a relatively long list of bits and bobs: real alloy wheels; power steering; height and reach on the wheel; aircon; front electric windows; folding and heating side mirrors; sunglass holder; RDS radio/cd; onboard computer; ABS & EBD; front and side airbags for the front seats; fog lamps; remote central locking with alarm and some more mundane items. Unusually at this level, you get 5 star Euro NCAP specs, with rear Isofix child seat attachments in the back. Additionally, opt for a R6k “comfort pack” and you get Bluetooth, steering wheel mounted sound controls and two more speakers, bringing the count up to six.
A respectable 5 year 120 000km warranty with roadside assistance is included along with a three year 60 000km service plan, which will cover the first four services.
Now to the driving impression. First up, this is a real car. It drives, stops and turns properly. The car does what it says on the box. Its overall impression is of competence. The drivetrain, at the coast at least, where it was tested is adequate. I think it may just fall under the line at the reef, but if you live near a view of the sea it will do. Considering the power on hand, the chassis remained well composed and the suspension absorbed typical road hazards with aplomb.
I must note this isn't for the sporty of nature, but for the laid back commuter and the Miss Daisy's out there. It will get you there. For a small car it feels spacious, the dash materials again are adequate with no real flaws as such. The materials seem more designed for durability than touchy-feely high end-ness and that is no fault.
About the only hiccup of any note, and this is nit-picking, is that with the fan on full blast, the passenger left hand vent would occasionally snap into the closed position with a sudden whack, redirecting air to the rest of the car. Otherwise it is a well behaved economical runabout that does what it should.