Tiny Turbo Track Terrors - Comparison Test
Member's, which one would you want or drive `if you had to ? Post & let us know OK


We take the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ , 2012 Mini Cooper S Coupe and 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth to the track to see which turbo wins the day.

By Jonathan Elfalan / Photos by Barry Hathaway
April 19, 2012

Slideshow >>
Video >>

<!--/photos-video-wrapper-->
<!-- /Main photo wrapper --><!-- test output end: --><!-- the article, at a glance, downloads, top competitors, from buying guide --><!-- left column -->There’s growing interest in the shrunken-car segment largely due to their tidily packaged efficiencies, but manufacturers are also seeing an opportunity to capitalize on their intrinsic fun factor—being small and lightweight, they also happen to handle well. Thanks to turbochargers and some additional go-fast tweaks, what was once just affordable transportation is now genuinely entertaining to sling around an autocross or a few corners at, say, the local kart track—assuming you ask permission first, like we did.




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Chevy’s Sonic LTZ may look like a bit of an outlier in this group but that’s because the upcoming RS model, which benefits from suspension upgrades, revised gear ratios and aesthetic treatments, wasn’t available at the time of testing. Despite having the least power, the most weight (carrying two extra doors) and wearing H-rated tires, it posted some pretty respectable numbers. Its softer suspension allowed more body roll than the other two, though it understeered less than the Abarth. But what hindered it most around our 0.8-mile circuit was its lack of inner wheelspin mitigation (electronic or mechanical), which puts your patience to the test at corner exits. Its interior is tastefully functional and the most ergonomically friendly of the bunch, and with its as-tested price tag under $19K, the Sonic may prove to be the no-brainer choice for some.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ




The Mini Coupe S sports styling that only a mother, or ardent Mini fan, could truly adore. Like it or hate it, the improved dynamics from a stiffened chassis paired with the boosted 1.6-liter and snappy gearbox makes for a winning combination—especially around any tight circuit. As the sticky Continentals gradually came up to temp, there was oversteer to be had, which is a boon in anything slow and decreasing in radius. While the decisive dynamic victor of this test, the Coupe does falls short of cargo space, user friendliness and rear visibility. If we stripped this car of every non-performance-related pleasantry, it would still command a price slightly over $26K.

2012 Mini Cooper S Coupe




The long awaited Abarth version of the Fiat 500 has arrived with much of its Italian charm intact. Unfortunately, this also means a classically tall and upright driving position with a steering wheel column that won’t meet you halfway. Get past these oddities (and the busy analog gauge cluster) and it’s nothing but amore from thereon. There are audible hisses of turbo-spool and a wonderfully raspy exhaust note produced from its hydraulically valved MultiAir engine—not to mention twist that puts it neck and neck with the Mini. As mentioned before, there’s a surprising amount of understeer given its weight and wheelbase (90.6 in.), but I suspect that conservative alignment settings were implemented to avoid what could’ve been precarious high-speed twitch. On a strictly utilitarian note, the Abarth has more usable space than the larger Mini Coupe.

2012 Fiat 500 Abarth




Each candidate has its strengths, and none is perfect, but I was most impressed by the Abarth’s attitude, style and enthusiasm behind the wheel. All three, however, deliver on the concept of big fun in a small package.
<STYLE type=text/css>table#spec {border:1px solid #000;}table#spec td {padding:5px 5px 5px 5px; border-bottom:1px dotted #000;}</STYLE><TABLE id=spec border=0 width=420><TBODY><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)"><TD></TD><TD>2012 Chevy
Sonic LTZ



</TD><TD>2012 Fiat
500 Abarth



</TD><TD>2012 Mini
Cooper S Coupe



</TD></TR><TR><TD>List price</TD><TD>$17,235</TD><TD>$22,000</TD><TD>$24,600</TD></TR><TR><TD>Price as tested</TD><TD>$18,695</TD><TD>$26,050</TD><TD>$32,150</TD></TR><TR><TD>Curb weight</TD><TD>2825 lb</TD><TD>2590 lb</TD><TD>2760 lb</TD></TR><TR><TD>Weight dist, f/r %</TD><TD>62/38</TD><TD>63/37</TD><TD>62/38</TD></TR><TR><TD>Layout</TD><TD>front engine/front drive</TD><TD>front engine/front drive</TD><TD>front engine/front drive</TD></TR><TR><TD>Engine</TD><TD>1.4-liter turbocharged dohc 16V I-4</TD><TD>1.4-liter turbocharged sohc 16V I-4</TD><TD>1.6-liter turbocharged dohc 16V I-4</TD></TR><TR><TD>Transmission</TD><TD>6-sp manual</TD><TD>5-sp manual</TD><TD>6-sp manual</TD></TR><TR><TD>Horsepower</TD><TD>138 bhp @ 4900 rpm</TD><TD>160 bhp @ 5500 rpm</TD><TD>181 bhp @ 5500 rpm</TD></TR><TR><TD>Torque</TD><TD>148 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm</TD><TD>170 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm</TD><TD>177 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm</TD></TR><TR><TD>Tires</TD><TD>Hankook Optimo H428, 205/50R-17 88H</TD><TD>Pirelli P Zero, 205/40R-17 84W</TD><TD>Continental ContiSportContact 3 SSR, 205/45R-17 84V</TD></TR><TR><TD>0-60 mph</TD><TD>7.8 sec</TD><TD>6.6 sec</TD><TD>6.6 sec</TD></TR><TR><TD>0-100 mph</TD><TD>23.6 sec</TD><TD>17.9 sec</TD><TD>17.1 sec</TD></TR><TR><TD>0-1320 ft (1/4 mile)</TD><TD>16.2 sec @ 86.9 mph</TD><TD>15.1 sec @ 92.5 mph</TD><TD>15.0 sec @ 93.8 mph</TD></TR><TR><TD>Top speed</TD><TD>125 mph</TD><TD>129 mph</TD><TD>139 mph*</TD></TR><TR><TD>Braking, 60-0 mph</TD><TD>126 ft</TD><TD>129 ft</TD><TD>119 ft</TD></TR><TR><TD>Braking, 80-0 mph</TD><TD>223 ft</TD><TD>234 ft</TD><TD>208 ft</TD></TR><TR><TD>Skidpad</TD><TD>0.84 g</TD><TD>0.85 g</TD><TD>0.92 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>Slalom</TD><TD>69.4 mph</TD><TD>70.2 mph</TD><TD>70.7 mph</TD></TR><TR><TD>**Lap time</TD><TD>1:11.4</TD><TD>1:09.6</TD><TD>1:08.1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Our mileage</TD><TD>29.4 mpg</TD><TD>29.2 mpg</TD><TD>26.7 mpg</TD></TR><TR><TD>EPA city/hwy</TD><TD>29/40 mpg</TD><TD>28/34 mpg</TD><TD>27/35 mpg</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=4>*Electronically limited.
**Grange Motor Circuit.



</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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<TABLE border=0 width=186><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Photos:
Tiny Turbo Track Terrors! »



</TD></TR><TR><TD>




</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Photos:
2012 Chevy Sonic LTZ »



</TD></TR><TR><TD>




</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Photos:
2012 Mini Cooper S Coupe »



</TD></TR><TR><TD>




</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Road Test:
2012 Fiat 500 Abarth »



</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


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<!-- tags, pager -->Pages: 1 Photos

 

<TABLE id=spec border=0 width=420 itxtNodeId="420" itxtHarvested="0"><TBODY itxtNodeId="510" itxtHarvested="0"><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)" itxtNodeId="533" itxtHarvested="0"><TD itxtNodeId="537" itxtHarvested="0"></TD><TD itxtNodeId="536" itxtHarvested="0">2012 Chevy
Sonic LTZ




</TD><TD itxtNodeId="535" itxtHarvested="0">2012 Fiat
500 Abarth




</TD><TD itxtNodeId="534" itxtHarvested="0">2012 Mini
Cooper S Coupe




</TD></TR><TR itxtNodeId="532" itxtHarvested="0"><TD itxtNodeId="562" itxtHarvested="0">List price</TD><TD itxtNodeId="561" itxtHarvested="0">$17,235</TD><TD itxtNodeId="560" itxtHarvested="0">$22,000</TD><TD itxtNodeId="559" itxtHarvested="0">$24,600</TD></TR><TR itxtNodeId="531" itxtHarvested="0"><TD itxtNodeId="570" itxtHarvested="0">Price as tested</TD><TD itxtNodeId="569" itxtHarvested="0">$18,695</TD><TD itxtNodeId="568" itxtHarvested="0">$26,050</TD><TD itxtNodeId="567" itxtHarvested="0">$32,150</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I don't know about you, but to me that's a lot of money
for what you get...+ I don't think the MPG's are that great 4-Sure
What do you think ? I think some Auto Companies are on `Drugs & going in the wrong direction....
A new Mustang V6 is in this price range & is cheaper/faster/+ better MPG's......

What would you buy instead in the above price range ?

 

New Yamaha FJR1300. About $15K. About 39/43mpg. Easier to wash than any car. Only one window to keep clean. Lower maintenance costs. Comes with A/C standard. Can use HOV lanes at all times.

 

Not that the others look great, but that Cooper coupe looks retarded. They couldn't make it look worse if they put 32" wheels on it. Its just wrong and choppy. I'd definately take a Mustang V6 or the Yamaha over any of those little death traps

 

Id just save my money

 

Yes `Dave,
I'd rather have a motorcyle then any of the above rides 4-Sure...I just have to learn how to go slow on a bike...I'm getting older & I hope that I can learn to slow down, but it's sure is fun going fast ~> LOL...Thanks for your post & contribtuions.



`Mike, you have $ Money to Save WoW...How do U do that ? LOL ?
===========================================
Yes `Brent, I sure wouldn't want to get hit in one of the cars above 4-Sure......I can't believe how expensive they are for what they are ? ? I like human go Karts, but the times aren't that good 4 the $'s they cost

 

Space u just gotta misplace your money for awhile & than.youll save it