Rental Car Review: My Wisconsin Week With a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT

In my travels as Chief Justice of the 24 Hours of LeMons Supreme Court, I spend a lot of time in bottom-end rental cars. Sometimes I get press cars and write about them on these trips, but that’s usually more of a hassle than it’s worth. For about 15 four-day race weekends a year (plus a few vacation trips here and there) I’m in a Dodge Avenger, Nissan Altima, Ford Focus, or other rental-fleet favorite. 2013 is a year of Wisconsin visits for me; first, I went to my wife’s Milwaukee high-school reunion with a ’13 Jaguar XJL Portfolio, then I spent nine days in Door County with a rental ’12 Sonic, and next month I’ll be at the Chubba Cheddar Enduro at Road America with a ’14 Mitubishi Evo. The Sonic made an unexpectedly strong impression on me in August, so let’s see what life with Chevy’s little Daewoo is like.

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  • FreedMike Sounds like an excellent way to waste a ton of money.
  • Theflyersfan 175K what...miles? Kilometers? Yards? Is this the one Land Rover in the universe that made it over 100,000 under its own power? I'd be too afraid to drive it daily. Just waiting for the first dash light - it always starts with just one - before the Christmas tree lights up, something sputters or stumbles, and then you're on the side of the road, miles from nowhere, with the toxic smell of frying electronics spewing from each vent. If you and your loved ones are into unplanned surprises and pain, go for it. If a beach vacation in Somalia mixed in with some overland trekking in Chechnya is your idea of best vacation ever, we have a vehicle for you. If you think your local Land Rover dealer has the best coffee in town, and you don't mind hours of HGTV on their waiting room TV, go for it. Just update your Facebook page regularly as the rest of us want to read the carnage.
  • Ajla While this won't be a GX460, it probably isn't any worse a purchase than a Lincoln or Cadillac.
  • 1sowa Its clearly the "Honda Anyone"
  • Oberkanone Nope. Never. Run away. Unreliable money pit.