The new 2012 Chevy Sonic has hit two very important milestones. First, when fitted with an Ecotec 1.4-liter turbo engine and six-speed manual transmission, it delivers an EPA-estimated 40 miles per gallon (mpg) highway. Second, it has just been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

To earn the distinction of "IIHS Top Safety Pick", the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic had to successfully earn "Good" scores in a series of three crash tests, including: frontal offset, side impact, and roof strength. Among the many protective safety features the new 2012 Chevrolet Sonic delivers are 10 air bags, a single-welded-side-ring-unit body structure, safety cage made primarily from high-strength steel, LATCH, complimentary  six-month subscription to OnStar Directions and Connections service, hill-hold technology, and panic brake assist technology.

Joaquin Nuno-Whelan, Line Director and Chief Engineer, Chevrolet Sonic designed the award-winning Sonic to surpass consumer expectations of the subcompact segment. Happily, he admits his success, saying, "This designation by IIHS confirms that Chevy customers can buy a subcompact with top safety performance."¹

Safety, however, isn't the only way in which the Chevrolet Sonic challenges sub-compact stereotypes. It also champions many of its closest competitors with envious fuel economy. The only sub-compact currently built in the U.S., it offers up to 40 mpg highway with the turbo engine.

The turbo Chevy Sonic also promises 148 lb.-ft of torque between 2,500 and 4,900 rpm and a galleria of premium features designed to enhance the smoothness and integrity of the driving experience. These include: dual-overhead camshafts with continuously variable valve timing, chain-driven cams, variable-flow oil pump, and electronically controlled thermostat, among many others.

To learn more about the award-winning Chevrolet Sonic and other new Chevrolet models named IIHS Top Safety Picks (like the Chevrolet Volt and Chevrolet Cruz), please contact Dan Vaden Chevrolet today, or visit us in person at 9393 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA. We're happy to share specs, compare models, and arrange test drives.

Source: ¹http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/16/chevy-sonic-officially-rated-40-mpg-earns-top-safety-pick-w-vi/