Compare the2019 Chevrolet SonicVS 2018 Toyota Yaris

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

Safety

© 1999 - 2026Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (Advanta-STAR). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2026/04/05

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Chevrolet Sonic are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Toyota Yaris doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Sonic’s blind spot mirrors use wide-angle convex mirrors mounted in the corner of each side view mirror to reveal objects that may be in the driver’s blind spots. The Yaris doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

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 Yaris 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 Yaris have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, 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 Chevrolet Sonic weighs 461 to 606 pounds more than the Toyota Yaris. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

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 Toyota Yaris:

	Sonic	Yaris
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	152	219
Neck Injury Risk	31%	31%
Neck Stress	262 lbs.	341 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	328/406 lbs.	413/434 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.3 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	36%	46%
Neck Stress	166 lbs.	227 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	200/219 lbs.	541/337 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 Yaris 5dr Liftback:

	Sonic	Yaris
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	POOR
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	92	127
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	62 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	2 cm	17 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	21 cm	22 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1.16%/.59%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Tibia index R/L	.52/.41	1.16/.59

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 Toyota Yaris:

	Sonic	Yaris
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	104	157
Abdominal Force	184 G’s	257 G’s
Hip Force	366 lbs.	440 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	239	450
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	81 G’s
Hip Force	761 lbs.	824 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	197	353
Hip Force	885 lbs.	943 lbs.

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 Yaris is not a “Top Pick” for 2016.

Warranty

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

There are over 2 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Toyota 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 Yaris’ engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th, 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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in reliability, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 8th.

Engine

The Sonic’s 1.4 turbo 4 cyl. produces 32 more horsepower (138 vs. 106) and 45 lbs.-ft. more torque (148 vs. 103) than the Yaris’ 1.5 DOHC 4 cyl.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Sonic is faster than the Toyota Yaris (manual transmissions tested):

	Sonic	Yaris
Zero to 60 MPH	8.1 sec	9.1 sec
Quarter Mile	16.1 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	86.4 MPH	80.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Sonic has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Yaris (12.2 vs. 11.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Yaris.

A six-speed automatic is optional on the Chevrolet Sonic, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a four-speed automatic is available for the Yaris.

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 Yaris doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

A standard “hill holder” feature keeps the Chevrolet Sonic with manual transmission from rolling backwards on a steep slope. The Yaris doesn’t offer a hill holder feature.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Sonic	Yaris
Front Rotors	10.8 inches	10 inches
Rear Drums	9 inches	7.87 inches

The Sonic stops shorter than the Yaris:

	Sonic	Yaris
70 to 0 MPH	184 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	128 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	149 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Sonic has larger standard tires than the Yaris (195/65R15 vs. 175/65R15). The Sonic LT’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Yaris (205/55R16 vs. 195/50R16).

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

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Sonic is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Yaris.

Passenger Space

The Sonic Sedan has 5.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Yaris 5dr Liftback (90.3 vs. 85.1).

The Sonic Sedan has 1.2 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear legroom, 1.5 inches more rear hip room and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Yaris 5dr Liftback.

Servicing Ease

The Sonic has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The Yaris doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

Ergonomics

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 Yaris doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Yaris’ starter can be accidentally engaged while the engine is running, making a grinding noise and possibly damaging the starter and ring gear.

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Sonic has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The Yaris doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.

The power windows standard on both the Sonic and the Yaris 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 Yaris 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 Yaris’ power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

The Yaris’ power locks don’t automatically lock the doors. The Sonic’s standard power locks automatically lock the doors when a certain speed is reached. This is an important feature for occupant safety. Locked doors are proven to open less often in collisions, and they are also effective in preventing crime at traffic lights. (The power lock’s automatic feature may have to be activated by your dealer.)

Keyless Open and Start optional on the Sonic (except LS) allows you to unlock the doors, trunk and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Toyota Yaris doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

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 Yaris’ fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

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 Yaris doesn’t offer automatic headlights.

The Sonic has standard remote mirrors. The Yaris L doesn’t offer either a remote driver side or passenger side mirror. The driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Sonic LT/Premier’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The Yaris doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

The Sonic LT/Premier’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Yaris LE/SE’s power mirror controls are on the dash, hidden behind the steering wheel, where they are awkward to manipulate.

The Sonic (except LS) offers optional heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the Yaris.

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 Yaris doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Standard smartphone integration for the Sonic allows the driver and passengers access to select programs on their smartphones, including reading text messages aloud, playing internet radio stations and other connected activities without taking their eyes off the road or their hands from the wheel. The Yaris doesn’t offer factory integrated smartphone program access.

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 Yaris 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 Yaris because typical repairs cost much less on the Sonic than the Yaris, including $84 less for a starter, $139 less for fuel injection, $56 less for a fuel pump and $213 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

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

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its April 2012 issue and they ranked the Chevrolet Sonic Premier Hatchback higher than the Toyota Yaris SE 5dr Liftback.

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 Yaris was rated third.

See Available Inventory