Compare the2019 Chevrolet SonicVS 2019 Honda Fit

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

Safety

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Compared to metal, the Sonic’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Honda Fit has a metal gas tank.

The Sonic has standard OnStar®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Fit doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Sonic and the Fit have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems and 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 Honda Fit:

	Sonic	Fit
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	152	251
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.3 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	166 lbs.	191 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	200/219 lbs.	326/375 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 Fit:

	Sonic	Fit
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head injury index	92	651
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	21 cm	25 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	0%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Tibia index R/L	.52/.41	.82/.51

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 Honda Fit:

	Sonic	Fit
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	104	206
Abdominal Force	184 G’s	217 G’s
Hip Force	366 lbs.	391 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	81 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	197	305

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 Fit is not a “Top Pick” for 2016.

Warranty

The Sonic’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Fit’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. Honda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Fit.

There are almost 3 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sonic’s warranty.

Reliability

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

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Sonic has a standard 438-amp battery. The Fit’s 340-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 23rd, below the industry average.

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 Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in reliability, above the industry average. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 12th.

Engine

The Sonic’s 1.4 turbo 4 cyl. produces 10 more horsepower (138 vs. 128) and 35 lbs.-ft. more torque (148 vs. 113) than the Fit Auto’s standard 1.5 DOHC 4 cyl. The Sonic’s 1.4 turbo 4 cyl. produces 8 more horsepower (138 vs. 130) and 34 lbs.-ft. more torque (148 vs. 114) than the Fit’s standard 1.5 DOHC 4 cyl.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Sonic has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Fit (12.2 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Fit 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 Fit:

	Sonic	Fit
Front Rotors	10.8 inches	10.3 inches
Rear Drums	9 inches	7.9 inches

The Sonic stops much shorter than the Fit:

	Sonic	Fit
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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

The Sonic’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Fit Sport/EX/EX-L’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sonic offers optional 17-inch wheels. The Fit’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 Honda Fit 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 Fit’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Sonic is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Fit.

The Sonic RS Hatchback handles at .84 G’s, while the Fit EX pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sonic Premier Hatchback goes through AutoWeek’s slalom faster than the Fit EX (42.1 vs. 41.9 MPH).

The Sonic Premier Hatchback executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Fit EX-L (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sonic LS/LT’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Fit’s (34.5 feet vs. 35.1 feet).

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Sonic Hatchback a Mid-size car, while the Fit is rated a Small Station Wagon.

Cargo Capacity

The Sonic Hatchback has a much larger cargo area than the Fit with its rear seat up (19 vs. 16.6 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The engine computer on the Sonic automatically engages the starter until the car starts with one twist of the key and disables the starter while the engine is running. The Fit’s starter can be accidentally engaged while the engine is running, making a grinding noise and possibly damaging the starter and ring gear.

The power windows standard on both the Sonic and the Fit have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sonic is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Fit prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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

The Sonic’s variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Fit’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

Consumer Reports rated the Sonic’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Fit’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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 Fit doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Model Availability

The Chevrolet Sonic comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Honda Fit isn’t available as a sedan.

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 Fit is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sonic is less expensive to operate than the Fit because typical repairs cost much less on the Sonic than the Fit, including $64 less for a starter, $149 less for fuel injection, $39 less for a fuel pump, $239 less for front struts and $103 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Chevrolet Sonic and the Honda Fit, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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 Fit isn’t in the top three.

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