Compare the2019 Chevrolet SonicVS 2018 Ford Fiesta ST

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 ST 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 ST 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 ST doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

Both the Sonic and the Fiesta ST 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.

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 ST:

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 ST is not a “Top Pick” for 2016.

The Sonic’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Fiesta ST’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 ST.

The Chevrolet Sonic’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Fiesta ST’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 ST’s camshafts are driven by a rubber belt that needs periodic replacement. If the Fiesta ST’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 ST.

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.

On the EPA test cycle the Sonic Manual gets better fuel mileage than the Fiesta ST (28 city/37 hwy vs. 26 city/33 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Sonic uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Fiesta ST requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Sonic offers an optional automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. The Fiesta ST doesn’t offer an automatic transmission.

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 ST doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

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

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

For better maneuverability, the Sonic LS/LT’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Fiesta ST’s (34.5 feet vs. 35.5 feet).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Sonic Premier Hatchback is quieter than the Fiesta ST:

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

The Sonic Hatchback has 5.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Fiesta ST (90.6 vs. 85.1).

The Sonic Hatchback has a much larger cargo area with its rear seat up than the Fiesta ST with its rear seat up (19 vs. 10.1 cubic feet). The Sonic Hatchback has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the Fiesta ST 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 ST’s liftover is 28.3 inches.

An Oil Life Monitor is standard on the Sonic to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Ford doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Fiesta ST.

The Sonic (except LS/Manual) offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The Fiesta ST doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 ST’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Sonic has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Fiesta ST only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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 ST doesn’t offer automatic headlights.

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 ST doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Chevrolet Sonic comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Ford Fiesta ST isn’t available as a sedan.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Sonic, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Ford Fiesta ST 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 ST isn’t in the top three.