Compare the2019 Chevrolet SonicVS 2018 Ford Fiesta

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Sonic LT/Premier offers an optional collision warning system, which detects an impending crash through forward mounted sensors and flashes a bright light and sounds a loud, distinctive tone to warn the driver to brake or maneuver immediately to avoid a collision. The Fiesta doesn't offer a collision warning system.

The Chevrolet Sonic has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Fiesta doesn’t offer Daytime Running Lights.

The Sonic LT/Premier’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The Fiesta doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

Both the Sonic and the Fiesta have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras and available rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Sonic is safer than the Ford Fiesta:

	Sonic	Fiesta
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	328/406 lbs.	415/349 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	273	291
Chest Compression	.3 inches	.4 inches
Neck Injury Risk	36%	52%
Neck Compression	74 lbs.	118 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	200/219 lbs.	544/408 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Chevrolet Sonic Sedan is safer than the Fiesta Sedan:

	Sonic	Fiesta
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	POOR
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head injury index	92	509
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	77 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	2 cm	5 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	21 cm	21 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.9/.8 kN	2.7/1.8 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	.86%/.57%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Tibia index R/L	.52/.41	.86/.57
Tibia forces R/L	3/1.6 kN	5.7/3.4 kN

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Sonic is safer than the Ford Fiesta:

	Sonic	Fiesta
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	104	130
Chest Movement	1.1 inches	1.2 inches
Abdominal Force	184 G’s	210 G’s
Hip Force	366 lbs.	413 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	239	307
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	96 G’s
Hip Force	761 lbs.	900 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	53 G’s	53 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sonic the rating of “Top Pick” for 2016, a rating granted to only 145 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Fiesta is not a “Top Pick” for 2016.

The Chevrolet Sonic has a better fatality history. The Sonic was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 23.9% lower per vehicle registered than the Fiesta, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Warranty

The Sonic’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Fiesta’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Chevrolet pays for the first scheduled maintenance on the Sonic. Chevrolet will pay for the first oil change, lubrication and any other required maintenance in the first year. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Fiesta.

Reliability

The Chevrolet Sonic’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Fiesta’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The camshafts in the Sonic’s engine are driven by a hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs. The Fiesta’s camshafts are driven by a rubber belt that needs periodic replacement. If the Fiesta’s cam drive belt breaks the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sonic’s reliability 44 points higher than the Fiesta.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in reliability, above the industry average. With 28 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 16th.

Engine

The Sonic’s 1.4 turbo 4 cyl. produces 18 more horsepower (138 vs. 120) and 36 lbs.-ft. more torque (148 vs. 112) than the Fiesta’s 1.6 DOHC 4 cyl.

As tested in Car and Driver the Chevrolet Sonic is faster than the Ford Fiesta (manual transmissions tested):

	Sonic	Fiesta
Zero to 60 MPH	8.1 sec	10.1 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	24.6 sec	35.9 sec
Quarter Mile	16.3 sec	17.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85 MPH	79 MPH
Top Speed	124 MPH	116 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Sonic Manual gets better fuel mileage than the Fiesta Manual (28 city/37 hwy vs. 27 city/35 hwy).

Transmission

A six-speed manual is standard on the Chevrolet Sonic, with closer gear ratios for better performance and a lower final drive ratio for quieter highway operation, less engine wear and better fuel mileage. Only a five-speed manual is available for the Fiesta.

To help the driver achieve optimum performance and fuel economy, the Sonic has a standard up-shift light to indicate when to shift based on power needs and conditions. The Fiesta doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Sonic’s brake rotors and drums are larger than those on the Fiesta:

	Sonic	Fiesta
Front Rotors	10.8 inches	10.2 inches
Rear Drums	9 inches	7.9 inches

The Sonic stops much shorter than the Fiesta:

	Sonic	Fiesta
60 to 0 MPH	128 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	159 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Sonic has larger standard tires than the Fiesta (195/65R15 vs. 185/60R15). The Sonic LT’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Fiesta (205/55R16 vs. 195/50R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sonic offers optional 17-inch wheels. The Fiesta’s largest wheels are only 16-inches.

The Chevrolet Sonic’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Ford Fiesta only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

The Sonic has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Fiesta’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sonic’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the Fiesta (99.4 inches vs. 98 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Sonic is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Fiesta.

The Sonic RS Hatchback handles at .84 G’s, while the Fiesta Titanium Five-Door Hatchback pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sonic Premier Hatchback goes through Road and Track’s slalom 7.2 MPH faster than the Fiesta Titanium Five-Door Hatchback (69.4 vs. 62.2 MPH).

The Sonic Premier Hatchback executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Fiesta Titanium Five-Door Hatchback (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Sonic Premier Hatchback is quieter than the Fiesta Titanium Five-Door Hatchback (41 vs. 46 dB).

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Sonic Sedan a Compact car, while the Fiesta Sedan is rated a Subcompact. The EPA rates the Sonic Hatchback a Mid-size car, while the Fiesta Five-Door Hatchback is rated a Compact.

The Sonic Sedan has 5.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Fiesta (90.3 vs. 85.1).

The Sonic Sedan has .8 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 3.4 inches more rear legroom, 2.4 inches more rear hip room and 4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Fiesta Sedan.

The Sonic Hatchback has .8 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 3.4 inches more rear legroom, 2.4 inches more rear hip room and 4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Fiesta Five-Door Hatchback.

Cargo Capacity

The Sonic Sedan has a much larger trunk than the Fiesta Sedan (14.9 vs. 12.8 cubic feet).

The Sonic Hatchback has a much larger cargo area with its rear seat up than the Fiesta Five-Door Hatchback with its rear seat up (19 vs. 14.9 cubic feet). The Sonic Hatchback has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the Fiesta Five-Door Hatchback with its rear seat folded (47.7 vs. 25.4 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Sonic easier. The Sonic’s trunk lift-over height is 27.25 inches, while the Fiesta’s liftover is 28.3 inches.

Ergonomics

The Sonic LT/Premier’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its front windows also automatically close, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Fiesta SE/Titanium’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

The Sonic has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Fiesta has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the SE/Titanium.

On extremely cold winter days, the Sonic’s optional (except LS/RS) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Fiesta doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Sonic owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Sonic with a number “1” insurance rate while the Fiesta is rated higher at a number “3” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sonic is less expensive to operate than the Fiesta because it costs $288 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Sonic than the Fiesta, including $5 less for fuel injection and $11 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Sonic, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Ford Fiesta isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sonic second among small cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Fiesta isn’t in the top three.

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