If Chevy is sold under company that emphasised on bulk spare parts, SC, repair and most importantly the management is comprised of know how passionate engineers that at least know how to get things done, it could sell in healthy numbers. If you don't know, Cruze is selling well elsewhere because of its tech and build quality. The Sonic is somewhat better than your crappy quality Almera. It's 1.4 could still get 130Nm whereas your Almera 1.5 can't even get more than 140Nm yet it is powered by stronger 6AT gearbox.
NASA will more likely bring in Rio 1.4 as they prefer FC over performance for B-segment. If you don't know, those who buy B-segment main objective is point A to B car with great FC. Also, our local market prefer sedan over hatchback as we need to ferry people and goods in the boot. Comparing the Rio 1.4 with Almera 1.5:
Rio 1.4
output 107ps@6,300rpm (got hi-rev)
torque 135 N.m@ 4,200rpm
6AT with strong 1st gear at 4.162
Almera 1.5 so high over 1500mm with very long tail giving more drag behind
output 102ps@6000rpm
torque 139Nm@4000rpm
old 4AT with weaker 1st gear at 2.861, weight is distributed to bigger area towards rear more way form engine will cause more drag from idle and when going up slope, sluggish gear change some more.
Back to topic, Sonic should have highest build quality for affordable car category like its bigger bro Cruze. Are you intending to get infected journalist to write bad and find fault with it this time?
As usual ur assumption never came truth, look what happen to Cruze ? Which is cheaper than all Japanese rival even Elantra, pointless to brag about oversea market, I mean Wuling Sunshine is selling well in China, in fact is among top 20 in the world selling chart, anybody want one here ?
Come on people do not buy car base on amount of speed in gear box alone, if this is true you should get a 21 speeds Mountain Bike instead.
Face it a cheapo ugly front light, stupid looking motorbike meter & lemon brand with a 1.4 engine selling for 80+K doesn't work in our market.
We r not talking about sport car which just built for speed, we r talking about a B segment family car built for passenger , isn't a taller roof & better leg room is more comfortable ? I mean how fast can this 1.4-1.5 go anyway.
Sluggish gear is when the engine doesn't provide enough torque to let the 6 speed box shift smoothly & constantly hunting for gear to compensate low torque engine.
This is normal car we talking about if u want to climb hill everyday get a Pick Up Truck, U live on top of a Mountain ? Remember u said engine power important than gear box in Vios vs Almera ? Now u change again, u constantly contradicting ur self again.
The biggest rival for Sonic in fact is Rio with a 1.4 engine & 6 speeds box, since it's distributed by a same Co. Either one would be sacrificed to ensure another success, I bet u know which one, now u know why Chevy can't sell well here.