2018 Chevrolet Sonic
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2018 Chevrolet Sonic is sold in the U.S. with gasoline power. The EPA lists 8 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 28 to 32 MPG and an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,050 to $2,300 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Compact Cars |
| Fuel type(s) | Gasoline |
| Combined economy | 28-32 MPG |
| Best / worst combined | 32 / 28 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,050-$2,300 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 280-311 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 3-7 / 10 |
| NHTSA overall | 5 / 5 stars |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2018 Sonic costs about $2,050 to $2,300 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $2,188. Over five years that is about $10,938 in fuel alone before maintenance, insurance and depreciation — which is why the running cost, not just the price, decides what a car really costs.
Relative to an average new vehicle, the most efficient Sonic configuration saves about $1,250 in fuel over five years; less efficient versions spend more.
For context, the average combined economy of compact cars in this dataset is about 29 MPG. The Sonic sits roughly 1 MPG above that mark at its midpoint, making it more efficient than average for its EPA class.
Configurations and fuel economy
| Version | Engine | Drive | Trans | Fuel | Combined | Annual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Manual | Gasoline | 32 MPG | $2,050 |
| Sonic 5 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Manual | Gasoline | 32 MPG | $2,050 |
| Sonic | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 30 MPG | $2,150 |
| Sonic 5 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 30 MPG | $2,150 |
| Sonic | 1.8L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Manual | Gasoline | 29 MPG | $2,250 |
| Sonic 5 | 1.8L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Manual | Gasoline | 29 MPG | $2,250 |
| Sonic | 1.8L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 28 MPG | $2,300 |
| Sonic 5 | 1.8L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 28 MPG | $2,300 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2018 Sonic records tailpipe CO₂ of 280-311 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 3-7 out of 10, a 5-star NHTSA overall crash rating. The EPA classifies it as compact cars.
Compare this car
Open the comparison tool to line this 2018 Sonic up against any other vehicle in the database, or jump to other years and trims from the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic overview.
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Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.