I test drove a dozen or so cars, the Sonic wasn't even on my radar. The stealership I test drove a Fiesta at put me in a Sonic to keep me busy while they recharged the dead battery on the Fiesta, and I was just blown away by how much better it was than everything else.
I don't do dirt roads for fun, but a lot of Renaissance festivals are dirt for participants entrances and so on, Sonic handles the bumps and slides well. But what I do end up doing a lot of is driving in the snow, and with new tires it also handles those brilliantly, the only thing I really have to worry about is all those other folks out there who are driving things that won't stop or turn under those conditions!