The Chevy Sonic's gauge cluster is the worst I've ever seen.

"TheBaron2112" (TheBaron2112)
09/13/2013 at 00:38 • Filed to: None

Seriously.

This is awful. It's as if Chevy didn't even bother with integrating it into the dash. It looks like they stole it off of someone's motorcycle. The rest of the Chevy Sonic is awesome. I like it. It's a nice middle ground between what I want in the Honda Fit and what I want in the Ford Focus ST.

But my lord.

This will keep me from loving it. I could not bring myself to stare at this for the next 5 years.

DISCUSSION (25)

kouryuuk > TheBaron2112
09/13/2013 at 00:42

Am I the only one that actually really likes this dash cluster in a small car? I feel this is probably the best designed part of the car, It's got a big tach, big speedo, you can read all the information clearly and it looks like it fell off a lightcycle from Tron. It's kickass.

fhrblig > TheBaron2112
09/13/2013 at 00:46

I like it just fine.

TheBaron2112 > kouryuuk
09/13/2013 at 00:46

I just don't like the digital aspect. What ever happened to good old fashioned dials?

And can you adjust the brightness of this? I feel like this would blind me at night. I turn the brightness knob almost all the way down on my gauges now when I drive at night.

offroadkarter > TheBaron2112
09/13/2013 at 00:48

the first thing I said when I saw the car in person was

"that looks like the gauges off a snowmobile"

I... I'm not sure why... whatever, I'm not buying one either way

More Power!!and also some brakes. > kouryuuk
09/13/2013 at 00:48

No it is an excellent dash and cluster. Most people think so, at least most people I have talked to about it.

SonorousSpeedJoe > TheBaron2112
09/13/2013 at 00:49

Well, it is supposed to be "motorcycle-inspired", along with the headlights.

This is probably one of the things that would keep me looking at this for 5 years, IMO. Aside from some details of the rear fascia (particularly the sedan), I don't see how the Sonic's design has been so polarizing.

kouryuuk > TheBaron2112
09/13/2013 at 00:50

YOU HAVE A DIAL! A BIG ONE AT THAT, AND IT'S A TACHOMETER, WHAT ELSE COULD YOU WANT, In a manual transmission car that is the first thing you want, then you have this lovely digital display that is giving you tons of other information that is useful to you. The could have really messed up and gone digital with the whole thing, but they didn't.

Burrito de EJ25 > kouryuuk
09/13/2013 at 00:51

Nope! I think it looks nice. It suits the car.

kouryuuk > More Power!!and also some brakes.
09/13/2013 at 00:51

I wish my GTI had a cluster this good looking, if it weren't better in every measurable way, I would totally jump on a Sonic RS.

Joe_Limon > TheBaron2112
09/13/2013 at 00:57

My old 1986 Tbird had a digital display and you could adjust the brightness. I am all for fun designs like this in economy cars. Just because someone is poor, doesn't mean they prefer bland, or should be punished for being poor.

TheBaron2112 > Joe_Limon
09/13/2013 at 00:59

I looked at the LT trim level tonight at Carmax. I have to say I was really, really excited that it came with hand crank windows.

I'm a bit of a luddite.

D > kouryuuk
09/13/2013 at 01:01

I love it too.

Jayhawk Jake > TheBaron2112
09/13/2013 at 01:11

You're the first person I've ever heard not like it. I love it, it's one of the best features of the car IMO

Jayhawk Jake > TheBaron2112
09/13/2013 at 01:12

Yes, you can adjust the brightness and it dims automatically with the headlights

Joe_Limon > TheBaron2112
09/13/2013 at 01:19

Personally I can see the appeal. I think there is a potential market for a minimalist car.

Bench seats, manual windows, no stereo, a single mono slab dash with digital displays/touch screen toggles, painted metal floor/roof. The weight/cost savings potential would put it in a great class.

Bytemite > TheBaron2112
09/13/2013 at 01:22

It looks like it was glued onto the dash last minute...it's as if they forgot about leaving a hole for the gauges and just slapped it on.

GM build quality though.

Jayhawk Jake > SonorousSpeedJoe
09/13/2013 at 01:28

Ugh, I hate the sedan. It has a huge ass.

Jayhawk Jake > Bytemite
09/13/2013 at 01:29

I sit in one every day and not once have I felt that way. It blends fine, especially the top of the tach

Jayhawk Jake > Joe_Limon
09/13/2013 at 01:48

Fun fact on the sonic, I can easily list all the physical buttons.

Seat heat x 2, rear defrost, ac, recirc, lock/unlock. That's it on the dash, all the entertainment controls are done on the touch screen, there's a touch volume, home, and power button below it. Manual ac knobs, child lock and traction control, steering wheel buttons, and a few buttons on the turn signal stalk round out the car. It's fantastically minimalistic.

I wish it had a proper volume knob though. Cranking highway to hell isn't as satisfying when it becomes "repeatedly mashing the ^ button"

Xesty > TheBaron2112
09/13/2013 at 08:28

lol

Menebrio > TheBaron2112
09/13/2013 at 09:20

Quite the cluster F. I prefer mine analog

Eazy-O > TheBaron2112
09/13/2013 at 09:29

*shrug* My buddy's girlfriend has an Aveo (euro spec Sonic) and I quite like the cluster. It's funky. Sure, it could be a bit more flush, but eh. I couldn't live with the Sonic from the B pillar back, so whatevs. :D That rear wheel looks so lost below the massively high beltline. Ugh. This applies to the hatchback, not the mini-sedan thing. Not sure if that one's better, though, don't really see many around. :)

ZeroOrDie - Powered By MZR > TheBaron2112
09/13/2013 at 10:49

You are crazy. That thing is awesome. Would you rather stare at some bland cluster with a bunch of dummy gauges on it? I dont think so.

TheBaron2112 > ZeroOrDie - Powered By MZR
09/13/2013 at 11:05

I'd prefer a dial for tach, speedo, fuel, and temp. The Fit and Fiesta just seem to be nicer places to be. There's less unused space.

ZeroOrDie - Powered By MZR > TheBaron2112
09/13/2013 at 11:07

To each his own. Out of many one. Etc.