Consumer Reports not happy with the Sonic LTZ 1.4 turbo 6-speed manual
Seems their biggest complaint is the top 3 gears are "too tall" (designed for low RPM / good fuel economy), which means frequent downshifts for extra power - eg. passing, or climbing a hill on the highway.
Normally people who choose a manual like to shift, so what's the problem? They say the shift quality is crummy:
"2012 Chevrolet Sonic is not super"
Quote:
Power is good in the first three of the six gears. But the higher gears are tuned to maximize fuel economy. Sure, you expect to need to downshift in a sporty low-displacement car, but dropping two or three gears for a slight highway incline is crazy.
We enjoy driving manual-transmission cars. Downshifting would be more fun if the shifter was any good, but it isn't. Throws are long, and the shifter manages to be both rubbery and stiff.
Video - 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is not super
They're fans of the Sonic's 1.8L engine with the automatic though, calling it "one of the best subcompact sedans on the market."
There's a video too.. I'll see if it embeds....
http://bcove.me/9jxbn5n2