Compare the2019 Chevrolet SonicVS 2019 Fiat 500L

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 Fiat 500L doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 500L doesn't offer a collision warning system.

The Sonic LT/Premier’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The 500L doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

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 500L 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 500L 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 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 500L:

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 144 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 500L is not a “Top Pick” for 2016.

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty covers the Sonic 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Fiat covers the 500L. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the 500L ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Sonic’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the 500L’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. Fiat doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 500L.

There are over 7 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Fiat dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sonic’s warranty.

The camshafts in the Sonic’s engine are driven by a hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs. The 500L’s camshaft is driven by a rubber belt that needs periodic replacement. If the 500L’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 500L.

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 Fiat vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in reliability, above the industry average. With 68 more problems per 100 vehicles, Fiat is ranked 29th.

On the EPA test cycle the Sonic Auto gets better fuel mileage than the 500L (26 city/34 hwy vs. 22 city/30 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Sonic uses regular unleaded gasoline. The 500L requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Sonic offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The 500L doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Sonic stops shorter than the 500L:

The Chevrolet Sonic’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Fiat 500L only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Sonic RS Hatchback handles at .84 G’s, while the 500L Lounge pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sonic Premier Hatchback executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the 500L Lounge (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

The Chevrolet Sonic may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 450 pounds less than the Fiat 500L.

The Sonic Hatchback is 7.2 inches shorter than the 500L, making the Sonic easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Sonic Premier Hatchback is quieter than the 500L Lounge (41 vs. 45 dB).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Sonic Hatchback a Mid-size car, while the 500L is rated a Small Station Wagon.

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 500L doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Fiat 500L doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

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 500L 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 500L 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 500L doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Chevrolet Sonic comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Fiat 500L isn’t available as a sedan.

Insurance will cost less for the Sonic owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sonic will cost $455 less than the 500L over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Sonic will be $6515 to $8947 less than for the Fiat 500L.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Sonic, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Fiat 500L 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 500L isn’t in the top three.

The Chevrolet Sonic outsold the Fiat 500L by over eighteen to one during 2017.