I'm currently in college (in my senior year), and am debating whether to trade in my 2012 Chevrolet Equinox for a Sonic RS. I was given the Equinox from a family member who decided he didn't want/need it and preferred a different car (the actual story is a lot longer than that). There are a few reasons I'm considering the trade-in. The Equinox is a fantastic car, but I would prefer something more fun to drive (with better fuel economy). So... on to a few questions for the RS owners. What's the best fuel economy the RS can achieve on the highway? Also, is the RS worth the upgrade over the LTZ?
Considering the RS
- Thread starter romverj
- Start date
ScarabEpic22
Member
I have a 6MT RS and average 28mpg all around with mine. That's a heavy dose of city driving aka sitting in traffic for 1+ hr per day. All highway at 75mph I get ~32-33 hand-calc'd (33-34 via cluster), 65mph is closer to 34.
Personally, I thought the RS was worth the extra $$ over an LTZ. Real leather, better front seats, firmer suspension, more aggressive bumpers/body kit, different wheels, standard MyLink (think the LTZ has this std too), and rear disk brakes sold me. You can get the RS in a sedan for 2015 too.
Personally, I thought the RS was worth the extra $$ over an LTZ. Real leather, better front seats, firmer suspension, more aggressive bumpers/body kit, different wheels, standard MyLink (think the LTZ has this std too), and rear disk brakes sold me. You can get the RS in a sedan for 2015 too.
TopazRS6spd
Member
I'm only 3 days into ownership, I have 2014 Rs 6spd. The car is a blast to drive, and I have driven a lot of the cars in this bracket. I was driving a 2007 nissan versa HB, and the ONLY thing I miss about that car were the seats. The RS seats are very pretty and all, however I feel they lack bolster. You kind of sit on them, rather than in them if that makes sense? So aggressive cornering gets a little scary at times, I actually try to keep the arm rest down to act as something to keep me in place when cornering hard. I'd still imagine their better than the other sonic seats though. The steering wheel in the RS is very nice, so that is a plus over the others. The rear disc which is only on the RS out of the hatchbacks is a huge brake improvement. Actually almost put myself through the windshield the brakes were so strong and i wasnt used to them coming from the versa which had rear drums. The close gear ratio 6spd which is only on the RS adds a nice peppy feel. Though you do give up a few mpg's having it, but nothing substantial. With a heavy foot, and doing a lot of stop and go driving the car tells me im averaging about 27mpg's. I am no where near shifting where i should to be able to save gas. Straight highway cruising though, im easily in mid 30s which is great for me.
And last but not least the RS package just looks plain badass compared to the other sonics. I think the topaz blue that I have is beautiful, but the gray is really nice imo as well.
And last but not least the RS package just looks plain badass compared to the other sonics. I think the topaz blue that I have is beautiful, but the gray is really nice imo as well.
sonic13rs
New member
Look at #'s below for life time mileage. I live at 6,000' and my driveway drops my mileage each time I drive up it (10-16 % grade and gravel, .3 mile long). So, my mileage would be at 1-2 mpg better otherwise. Gone to CA 4 times (once with 4x8 trailer) which is 1,100 each way. Going again Sat with stop in Vegas for 2 weeks. :banana:
34,000 miles
34,000 miles
sonic_braaappp
New member
i love my RS over the other trims for the reasons stated above, but i do wish it got better fuel economy like the other trim models. overall though, im more than satisfied with the car
CheapFuneral
New member
I have an lt 1.4 and I'm glad it's not an rs. The gearing is spread out a bit more which means slightly less acceleration but 0-60 times and such are almost unchanged. At the same time on my stock lt doing 65 my cluster displays between 45-50mpg. 10-15 mpg for a couple tenths of a second is worth it to me. If the rs had a bigger engine that was reasonably faster it would be another story
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
McD6113
Member
I can't say about how an RS compares to an LTZ, as I've never driven an LTZ, however I can say that I bought my RS for the things it has that the LTZ doesn't. The slightly lower/stiffer suspension, rear disc brakes, and the body styling really sold me. The higher gear ratios and the loss of MPG over the LTZ wasn't really a concern for me because the 31-33 MPG my RS averages is a lot better than the 23.5 MPG my Subaru averaged and the 20-22 MPG my Mustang GT averaged (and babying a modded V8 Mustang enough to get 22 mpg is ZERO fun). On long highway trips, I can usually average around 34.5 MPG and I love the seats in the RS.
NotStockRS
New member
I got the 2013 RS with auto tranny. I wanted manual but wasn't one available at the time in my area. :/ anyways here's my build thread: http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15625
I get about 38-40 @ 65mph with the superchip 8040 and DDM works intake....I get around 45mpg at 55. I love the handling and I get a lot of looks. I raced a stang 5.0 the other day, not sure how easy he was going but a rolling start of 60mph he didn't catch me till I hit 110mph.....but I hung with him, however easy he was going, until 85 or 90 mph. SUPER fun to drive!
I get about 38-40 @ 65mph with the superchip 8040 and DDM works intake....I get around 45mpg at 55. I love the handling and I get a lot of looks. I raced a stang 5.0 the other day, not sure how easy he was going but a rolling start of 60mph he didn't catch me till I hit 110mph.....but I hung with him, however easy he was going, until 85 or 90 mph. SUPER fun to drive!
Chuck Schick
Member
I bought an LT, dealers did not have any RS models. late 2014's that is.