Chevrolet Sonic – A dependable and delightful road trip buddy!

They say that a car is the extension of your own home.

If that is the case, then naturally, the extension of your home should be every bit just as homey, comfortable and secure, wouldn’t you think?

Call it coincidence or call it fate, but my wife and I have long been planning to get a new car for our family and it just so happens that we were given a most welcome opportunity to try out the Chevrolet Sonic for a couple of days. Apart from that, it was serendipitous that during the same time we were to test drive this cute yet sturdy looking vehicle, our family was also scheduled to travel up north and visit the cities of Vigan and Baguio.

It was the perfect window to see what the Chevrolet Sonic had to offer in terms of performance.

But, hey… let’s admit it. One doesn’t depend on performance alone when choosing a car. Looks also play an important part and is a major factor in the deciding process. So, before we head out on the road, let’s have a look-see to find out if the Chevrolet Sonic is every bit a beauty.

The Chevrolet Sonic is a sub-compact car that combines bold styling, state-of-the-art connectivity features and engine performance in one smart vehicle package. Given its looks and size, the Chevrolet Sonic obviously caters to the new generations’ multi-faceted lifestyle and seems to be the perfect vehicle for customers who want more than just a simple car to get around the metro.

Even with its small body, the Chevrolet Sonic looks very sporty and sturdy.

I was actually impressed that even with its small frame, the Chevrolet Sonic had ample space in its compartment area.

Whether you have a ton of things in tow or if you and your family are bringing a good number of bags along for travel, it is quite comforting to know that compartment space will be the least of your problems.

I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that even with the Chevrolet Sonic’s compact body, it doesn’t feel the least bit cramped. Despite the Chevrolet Sonic’s compact exterior dimensions, it provides adequate interior space  to comfortably accommodate 5 average sized adults for any road adventure.

The Chevrolet Sonic’s masculine styling is very much complemented by the sophisticated interior design. Premium materials, motorbike inspired instrument cluster, dual-cockpit design and ice blue backlighting reinforces the sporty feel within the inside.

Seats are comfortable, it’s got great legroom and headroom will not leave you wanting (unless you’re as tall as Shaquille O’Neal, duh!).

Apart from that, I absolutely love how almost every feature of the vehicle (like lock and cabin light settings) can be controlled from the Chevrolet Sonic’s digital control panel, where the radio/audio player is also located. It is equipped with convenient features such as Bluetooth connectivity and audio streaming capabilities. Connecting my phone to the vehicle’s auxiliary input via bluetooth was a breeze!

Playing music and making/answering calls can all be done from the Chevrolet Sonic’s built-in audio system.

The Chevrolet Sonic also has steering wheel mounted  audio controls that provide easy audio management while driving.

The Chevrolet Sonic is equipped with a new 1.4L Ecotec engine with Double Continuous-Variable Cam-phase (D-CVCP) which provides efficient power and quality driving performance for people who are looking to make their daily city drive or weekend getaways more fun and exciting.

Apart from all these amazing features, the Chevrolet Sonic also comes with auto/daytime running lamp, auto rain sensing wipers (yeah!) and rear park assist sensors for more safety and convenience.

But as they all say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating… so what better way to experience the Chevrolet Sonic than to take it out for a spin. A long road trip to be exact.

Road trippin’ with the Chevrolet Sonic

First stop, Vigan!

Together with my family, we took the SCTEX–TPLEX route which was a joy to traverse all throughout. The Chevrolet Sonic had amazing handling whether on perfectly paved roads or on slightly rough surfaces. You’d think that with a 1.4L engine, overtaking vehicles on the expressway would prove to be slightly difficult but to my surprise, this baby provided great acceleration when it was demanded of it.

Another thing worth mentioning is that even when huge vehicles like buses and trucks pass by with considerable speed, it didn’t shake the Chevrolet Sonic even the least bit. Much credit goes to its body design and wide tires.

Passing through SCTEX and TPLEX was so enjoyable that I had to consciously stay within the expressway’s 100 km/h speed limit. The ride of the Chevrolet Sonic was so smooth, you could hardly hear or feel the vibration of the tires hitting the road.

As expected, fuel consumption wasn’t a concern at all. A full tank of the Chevrolet Sonic costs approximately Php 2,300.00 (based on current oil prices). By the time we arrived at Hotel Luna in Vigan City, we still had 1/4 of gas left in the tank which is highly impressive considering we covered 412 kms of road (more or less).

It is worth noting, by the way, that given the scorching heat our country has been experiencing the past couple of months, the air conditioning of the Chevrolet Sonic is amazing. I actually found myself turning the A/C down a number of times because it got too cold inside… during high noon at that!

After spending a couple of days in Vigan, we headed off to Baguio City. I figured it was also the perfect time to challenge the Chevrolet Sonic on steeply inclined zig-zag roads.

From Vigan, it would take us 3.5 hours to get to Le Monet Hotel at Camp John Hay via Naguilian Road.

During our ascent, although the steep sharp turns would prove to be quite formidable for the Chevrolet Sonic considering that the rear compartment was loaded with baggage, the vehicle didn’t choke or show any indication of great difficulty.

There were times during the drive that I switched to “Manual” mode so I could easily move from 1st to 2nd gear during slow traffic and bottleneck congestion on areas of the road wherein construction was being done.

The Chevrolet Sonic proved once again that it sure can kick butt even in the most trying of conditions.

Driving the Chevrolet Sonic was filled with pleasant surprises. It also doesn’t hurt that this gorgeous hatchback was a constant head-turner on the road. Having a beautiful wife sitting on the passenger seat probably helped on the head-turning department, too! Hahaha!

As we headed back on the road going down to Manila after a couple of days in Baguio, I realized how much I was going to miss driving the Chevrolet Sonic once the test drive is over.

I guess, the only way to re-experience the joy of driving this thrifty yet full-featured vehicle is if my wife and I finally decide to get a Chevrolet Sonic of our own, which I am quite confident our kids wouldn’t oppose.

So, if you happen to be on the lookout for a vehicle that is as practical as it is stylish and comfortable, consider putting the Chevrolet Sonic on your shortlist. It’s a pretty kickass car that never fails to surprise and amaze.

It is exactly the kind of extension of a home one would want to have. But don’t take my word for it… test drive a Chevrolet Sonic and experience the joy yourselves.

Allow me to leave you with a short video of our trip to Vigan and Baguio using the Chevrolet Sonic. Enjoy!

Safe tracking, folks!

To compliment the multi-faceted and tech savvy lifestyles of today’s generation, the Bowtie brand launched the Chevrolet Sonic I-drive, Free iPhone 6 promo. From April 9 to June 30, 2015, all new Chevy Sonic buyers are entitled to a free iPhone 6. The Apple gadget is a great pair to the Chevrolet Mylink system as it is highly compatible to the 7-inch touchscreen with voice command infotainment system.

Chevrolet Philippines also assures its customers of a worry-free ownership experience as the Chevrolet Sonic comes with a 5-year warranty program and free 3-year 24/7 Roadside assistance.

To know more about the Chevrolet I-Drive, Free iPhone 6 promo and Chevrolet’s products and services, head to your nearest Chevrolet dealership now. You may also log on to www.chevrolet.com.ph or visit their Facebook Page: Chevrolet Philippines.

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