The Sonic RS. Sounds fast doesn’t it? Images leap to mind of a blue hedgehog in red sneakers so quick he could defy gravity and the letters RS have been emblazoned on everything from Audi to Ford – you name it. However in Chevrolet’s history the RS badge has always denoted entry-level performance so it comes as little shock that the Sonic RS concedes at least 30kW to its closest rivals and a few hundred cubic centimetres. So it this one of those fairly spicy models but without much punch?
This is mostly new territory for Chevrolet whose sporty background has come from building big muscle cars but the company have never set foot in the small performance hatch segment. The problem they face is they’re trying to make up twenty years of development on rivals like the latest Peugeot’s GTi.
As it stands in the driveway you’d say it has all the visual markings of a hot hatch. It’s not the prettiest thing or the most modern but it looks tougher than Bear Grylls. Soft lines give way to sharp corners and it appears more vertical than long. Large wheels tucked into the far edges make it seem fairly high-riding as if ready to tackle our terrible roads. Front headlights are unique because the exposed lamps and the back ones feature a clear glass housing. Rear door handles hidden in the pillars help simplify the design lines. Offensive. Ready for a brawl in the parking lot. Check and check.
I first sampled this engine in the Chevrolet Cruze and was really disappointed but the Spark’s lighter body should change all that. The 1.4-litre capacity is rated at 103kW and 200Nm and Chevrolet claim that it will cover 100km/h in 9.5 seconds. Give the key a little twist and there’s no audible note from the exhaust to let you know you’re in an RS derivative and the noise remains flat even when hard on the throttle. Is that no-nonsense, brash exterior styling just pretending to be something it’s not?
For most of the drive, unless you come across some uneven roads, the traction control remains untroubled by the power delivered to the front wheels. The other problem is that power arrives fairly late and just when you’re expecting this late surge, the car runs out of revs.
Like most of the segment there’s only a six-speed on offer and the Sonic has been designed with a light clutch and short throws. Unless you’re really trying to score a few tenths it’s a friendly box to use but like most GM performance products there’s no chance of scoring a clean snap change between the first two gates. The Sonic RS is slightly insipid to drive and the engine never seems like it is on the boil or completely in the sweet spot. It is brisk and propels you past slower cars with relative ease but it’s no ball of fire. Against the likes of Fiesta ST or 208 GTi it will be thoroughly beaten but against something like the Suzuki Swift Sport it’s a much closer contest.
Although battling against an awkward driving position which affected confidence when driving fast there were signs that the retuned, stiffer and lower suspension could easily handle whatever twists came its way.
The transition from base model to halo model has affected the interior but not as much as we’d have hoped for. Red accents run throughout the cabin alongside black and silver trim and the leather and suede seats are distinctive by the RS emblems. The wheel is large and has a flat-bottom edge although there’s not a lot of adjustment so you have to spend time adjusting the seat before you get comfortable.
Sitting high some of the controls are out of reach and the ventilation knobs particularly unsighted. The list of niggles goes on; the small screen has cheap graphics and the MYLink connectivity system isn’t all that revolutionary in the way it pairs media and phones but it must be said that it covers a lot of equipment for the money.
By Max standards the RS is not a hot hatch but then Chevrolet never painted a target on the Fiesta ST… Chevrolet haven’t tried to attract the small group of petrolheads who already display an intense loyalty to their brand and car clubs but are after those who yearned for a Sonic with a bit more excitement without compromise.
Chevrolet Sonic RS 1.4T
Engine displacement: 1.4-litre 4-cyl turbo petrol
Power: 103kW
Torque: 200Nm
0-100km/h: 9.5 sec
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Drive: FWD
Wheels: 7.J x 17
Tyres: 205/50R17
Weight: 1275kg
Tank capacity: 46 litres
Consumption: 6.6l/100km (claimed)
Price: R225 300
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