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Used car guide
Used Chevrolet Sonic: the years to buy and the years to skip
Every Chevrolet Sonic from 2012 to 2020: what each year typically sells for (about $5,500 to $12,000), its crash rating, and whether it's a year to target or skip. The best bets are 2016–2020. Look harder at or skip 2012–2015.
2012–2020 Chevrolet Sonic
An affordable subcompact sedan or hatch with a solid feel and an available manual.
Years to target: 2016–2020. Look harder at or skip: 2012–2015. It has an average reliability record.
| Year | Typical price | Verdict | Crash rating | Typical miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $5,500* | Look harder | 5 of 5 | ~160,000 |
| 2013 | $6,000* | Look harder | 5 of 5 | ~150,000 |
| 2014 | $6,500 | Look harder | 5 of 5 | ~140,000 |
| 2015 | $7,500 | Look harder | 5 of 5 | ~130,000 |
| 2016 | $8,000 | Target | 5 of 5 | ~115,000 |
| 2017 | $9,000 | Target | 5 of 5 | ~105,000 |
| 2018 | $10,000 | Target | 5 of 5 | ~95,000 |
| 2019 | $11,000* | Target | 5 of 5 | ~85,000 |
| 2020 | $12,000* | Target | 5 of 5 | ~75,000 |
* Estimated from nearby years, since few were listed for sale.
Worth knowing
- 2012: owner complaints spike (354, mostly the transmission).
- 2013: owner complaints spike (217, mostly the engine).
- 2014: owner complaints spike (150, mostly the electrical system).
- 2015: owner complaints spike (114, mostly the electrical system).
- The turbo engine is prone to coolant leaks, and the cabin feels cheap next to newer small cars.
The trim we'd park in our garage
Look for the LT: it adds cruise control, alloys and the MyLink touchscreen, with Apple CarPlay from 2017, over the LS. The 1.4-liter turbo is the better engine.
On the test drive
Check for coolant smell or leaks around the 1.4 turbo's water outlet and hoses. Get a pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you buy.
Safety tech
- Automatic emergency braking: not offered in this generation.
- Adaptive cruise control: not offered in this generation.
- Blind-spot monitoring: not standard in this generation, so check the listing.
Also worth comparing at this price
- Toyota Corolla 2012–2013 · $9,000–$9,500
- Acura TSX 2013 · $10,000
- Toyota Yaris 2017–2019 · $8,500–$10,000
Find one near you
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Prices are typical dealer and private asking prices from used listings, collected in September and October 2026, for an average-mileage car. Years with too few listings are estimated from nearby years. Crash ratings, recalls and owner complaint counts come from NHTSA public records. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you buy. Spot something off? Let us know.