We've seen the Sonic jump out of a plane. We've watched it bungee jump. This year, it even starred in its very own music video. But how does it handle the real world? Does it live up to the reliability and quality standards that Chevrolet is famous for? Of course it does. But to prove it, Chevrolet employs a man whose only job is to test the durability of the Sonic. His name is Seth Valentine, and every mile he puts on the Sonic is referred to as a "Seth mile," because of his aggressive testing standards.

According to Chevy, "A 'Seth mile' is different. More extreme. More grueling. More punishing."¹ The very first Sonic to roll off the assembly line was the first to experience Seth's tiptop standards. In one six-week period, he put more than 14,000 miles on it, drove it all around the country and back. From California to Colorado to South Carolina, he put the compact through some of the country's most extreme conditions to see just how well it could perform.

Why does he do this? "Because I want to experience everything a customer could," says Valentine. "In the course of one week I can go from below sea level at 120 degrees F to below freezing temperatures at 12,000 feet above sea level."²

We're happy that people like Seth are willing to go the extra mile(s) to prove the durability of all new Chevrolet models. In one of his tests, a trip from Detroit to Phoenix, Seth and his team discovered that the 40 mph crosswinds in Texas caused some intense cabin noise. He called the assembly plant, and before VIN 2 left the factory, engineers had fixed the issue. And that's just one example of many.

And that's exactly why the 2012 Sonic you'll find here at Capitol Chevrolet Cadillac is one of the most expertly engineered compact cars you'll find on the road today. A zippy 1.4-liter, four-cylinder engine powers the Sonic, delivering best-in-class power at 138 horses. And, is it fuel-efficient? You bet. The EPA estimates it at 29 mpg city/40 mpg highway.

What's all this mean for you, the car shopper in the greater Salem and Portland area? Well, if you come in and see us at Capitol Chevrolet Cadillac, 2711 Mission St. SE, Salem OR, 97302 to take one for a spin, you'll find it to be fun, economical, environmentally-conscious, and most importantly: road tested. Plus, it comes with Chevy's 100,000-mile powertrain warranty - just in case.

Source:^1,2http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/chevrolet/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Feb/0209_sonic