Chevrolet Sonic 5 MPG by year — every rating on record
The Chevrolet Sonic 5 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 9 model years, from 2012 to 2020. Across those years its best rated version returned 32 mpg (2012) and its thirstiest returned 28 mpg (2012). The EPA record holds 31 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Small Station Wagons.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 4 | 32 mpg | 28 mpg | #12 of 76 (85th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 2013 | 4 | 32 mpg | 28 mpg | #20 of 92 (79th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 2014 | 4 | 32 mpg | 28 mpg | #27 of 107 (75th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 2015 | 4 | 32 mpg | 28 mpg | #24 of 101 (77th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 2016 | 4 | 32 mpg | 28 mpg | #4 of 18 (82th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
| 2017 | 4 | 32 mpg | 28 mpg | #8 of 24 (70th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
| 2018 | 4 | 32 mpg | 28 mpg | #9 of 23 (64th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
| 2019 | 2 | 29 mpg | 29 mpg | #13 of 23 (45th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
| 2020 | 1 | 29 mpg | 29 mpg | #15 of 20 (26th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Chevrolet Sonic 5 placed highest in 2016 at #4 of 18, and lowest in 2014 at #27 of 107. It spent 7 of its 9 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 31 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 26 | 34 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 308 | 6/10 |
| 2019 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 26 | 34 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 308 | 6/10 |
| 2019 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 26 | 35 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 301 | 6/10 |
| 2018 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 25 | 34 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 311 | 6/10 |
| 2018 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 26 | 35 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 306 | 6/10 |
| 2018 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 27 | 35 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 296 | 7/10 |
| 2018 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 28 | 37 | 32 | 359.4 | 9.3 | $1,950 | 280 | 7/10 |
| 2017 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 24 | 34 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317 | 6/10 |
| 2017 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 25 | 33 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 312 | 6/10 |
| 2017 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 27 | 36 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 295 | 7/10 |
| 2017 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 28 | 38 | 32 | 359.4 | 9.3 | $1,950 | 281 | 7/10 |
| 2016 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 24 | 34 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 318 | 7/10 |
| 2016 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 26 | 34 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 305 | 7/10 |
| 2016 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 27 | 36 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 295 | 7/10 |
| 2016 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 28 | 38 | 32 | 359.4 | 9.3 | $1,950 | 276 | 8/10 |
| 2015 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 24 | 34 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317 | 7/10 |
| 2015 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 26 | 34 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 305 | 7/10 |
| 2015 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 27 | 36 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 295 | 8/10 |
| 2015 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 28 | 38 | 32 | 359.4 | 9.3 | $1,950 | 276 | 8/10 |
| 2014 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 24 | 34 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317 | 7/10 |
| 2014 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 26 | 34 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 305 | 8/10 |
| 2014 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 27 | 36 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 295 | 8/10 |
| 2014 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 28 | 38 | 32 | 359.4 | 9.3 | $1,950 | 276 | 8/10 |
| 2013 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl, start-stop | 24 | 34 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317 | 7/10 |
| 2013 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl, start-stop | 26 | 34 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 305 | 8/10 |
| 2013 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged, start-stop | 27 | 36 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 290 | 8/10 |
| 2013 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged, start-stop | 28 | 38 | 32 | 359.4 | 9.3 | $1,950 | 276 | 8/10 |
| 2012 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 24 | 34 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317.39285714285717 | n/a |
| 2012 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 26 | 34 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 306.44827586206895 | n/a |
| 2012 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 27 | 36 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 296.23333333333335 | n/a |
| 2012 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular | 1.4L 4-cyl, turbocharged | 28 | 38 | 32 | 359.4 | 9.3 | $1,950 | 277.71875 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 0 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 → 2019 | 32 → 29 mpg | -3 mpg | 397 gal |
What Sonic 5 fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic 5 burns 397 to 397 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,190 | $1,190 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,388 | $1,388 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,586 | $1,586 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2020 model year is $2,150 to $2,150 a year in fuel, or $500 less than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Midsize Cars
Across the 483 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Cars, the median best combined rating is 25 mpg. At 29 mpg the Chevrolet Sonic 5 is 4 mpg better the median, which is worth about $222 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Midsize Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Chevrolet nameplates
Every Chevrolet model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.