The motoring industry in South Africa has been saying for years that the brands to watch in the market will be Chevy and the Korean manufacturers. True to prediction, 2012 looks like it’s going to be a big year for the Americans who are almost actually Koreans (Daewoo).
Chevy has started off 2012 with a collection of new cars that are just a taste of what’s to come from this constantly improving brand.
Sonic Diesel Hatch
The Sonic Hatch 1.3-litre Diesel was the most exciting of the announcements they made last week in the Cape.
A follow-up to the impressively successful Sonic hatch launched last year, Chev are bringing in a turbo-diesel model to the line up that I much preferred over the petrol version.
With any diesel, the concern for most is a noticeable turbo-lag, but in the Sonic diesel, I’m glad to say that there’s little to no lag at all. I have read some reports by other journos claiming that the turbo-lag is horrendous, but if you’re going to treat the 70kw within this small segment hatch like a GTi hot hatch, then obviously you’re going to be unimpressed.
Treat it like the competent town run-around that it is though, and you’ll be very impressed. I promise you.
This car is going to be the first car for South African teens all over the country who are lucky enough to have parents who’ll spring for their new wheels, and these teens are going to find the Sonic diesel just as comfortable on the N1 to Cape Town when they tell their parents that they’re “just going to Warmbaths for the weekend” as they will darting around the Uni parking lot desperately looking for a parking because they’re late for their law final.
Sonic Sedan
Essentially the same car as the Sonic hatch we’ve seen driving around for a few months now, the one big addition to this sedan range is the inclusion of an electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmission, the very first one of its kind in a B-segment Chevy.
Remember years ago when your mate in the know warned you that eventually auto transmissions would be cheap enough to make for them to put them into smaller, and smaller cars? Well it’s time.
The auto transmission comes as an option on the 1.6-litre LS model.
Captiva Diesel
While they had everybody together in the same place, Chevy also let us drive the new Captiva diesel derivative which I enjoyed far more than it’s petrol brother which was launched last year.
Since it was launched, the Captiva has become more popular on SA roads than the middle finger, and now American-made car fans have the option of a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine with 135kw and 400Nm of torque.
Aside from that, the LTZ spec level is much the same as before: leather everywhere, dual-zone cimate control and cruise control.
Oh, and of course you get Chev’s 5 year/120 000 km after sale deal.
Wicked!
Sonic Hatch
1.4 LS 5-speed – R156 990
1.6 LS 5-speed – R168 570
1.3 LS Diesel 6-speed – R178 730
Sonic Sedan
1.4 LS 5-speed – R156 990
1.6 LS 5-speed – R168 570
1.6 LS 6-speed a/t – R178 570
Captiva Diesel
2.2LTZ Diesel AWD AT – R427 500
