I’ll confess I was never on board when the rumor mill started churning about General Motors resurrecting the 2027 Chevrolet Onix Activ badge. I think we have too many standard cars with plastic shells on the market already as it is. So, yes, I think we have an abundant market of adventure-style hatchbacks, even if there are only a few with them on the market.
That said, I’ve seen the engineering changes for this specific version, and I have to admit I think they did great. What drove this value even greater was that they layered construction on something thoughtful. I didn’t think that was how it was going to be, and I think the gap they filled is highly functional. Definitely smarter than I was, and I wish I had something like this when I was using hatchbacks.
First Impressions of the Design
| Particulars | Specs |
|---|---|
| Ground Clearance | 201 mm — perfect for awful roads |
| Total Height | 1.53 meters (61 mm taller than base) |
| Setup Style | Dark graphite wheels & blacked-out badging |
I think they did a great job with the design this time because of the sportier feel it added to the stance compared to the old model.
I wanted to see if this model was just another marketing gimmick with some extra ground clearance, instead of just taller than the ground model, but from my research, it looks like they are above the competition.
The height with ground clearance sitting at 61 millimeters and with the standard Onix hatch sitting at 201 millimeters I think this design helps if your everyday driving involves rough roads, speed bumps or potholes. I think the engineering team made a smart move at a value pricing option, with the design of model specific springs and with longer travel shock absorption.
I think they nailed the look with the dark graphite flat bows, the blacked out Chevrolet emblems, the different look in the 16 inches and the different design of the full led projector head lights. I think they did the best by not going over board with the bulk”’s.
Power and Mechanicals
The chassis setup is awesome if you live in an area with bad roads because the Onix has a height of 61mm over the standard Onix hatch with 201mm of ground clearance. I think the longer travel shock absorbers and adjustable model specific spring are the best upgrades for this vehicle. I think the overall style of the vehicle is awesome.
The dark graphite 16 inch alloy wheels and dark Chevrolet badge bowties make the vehicle very stylish, and next I think the roof rails and full led lights are very functional and the vehicle looks very premium with them added.
Placed inside the body, Chevrolet has their “1.0 liter Ecotec three cylinder turbo charged flex fuel engine,” put together with a “six-speed automatic with a clutch.”
Now, I want to see how this powertrain actually performs for everyday driving. Quick, low-end torque is the perfect recipe for a city car, and it helps skip through urban traffic with ease. They also keep the RPM’s pretty low for the highway.
- Max Power: 115 HP
- Max Torque: 16.8 kgfm (when using ethanol)
Fuel Efficiency
Since it’s a flex-fuel system, you can switch between ethanol and gas. I would say pay attention to your local gas prices when budgeting, but here is how the consumption profiles look:
| Fuel Type | Urban Cycle | Highway Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | 10.9 km/l | 15.3 km/l |
| Ethanol | 8.6 km/l | 12.1 km/l |
Interior Tech
Walking through the doors, It was immediately apparent to me what style GM is opting for in their latest designs. They want minimalistic, they want sleek, and they want new. I have to say I love the new, sleek, digital dashboards.
I don’t think my opinion is too different from the general public in this regard. There is a general praise for the new, sporty, bolstered seating and the new, flat bottom, leather steering wheel. I would go as far to say there is an athletic vibe to the cabin, which I tend to appreciate. One of my main concerns for a new vehicle is the connectivity.
I was more than satisfied with the inclusion of a native 4g lte Wi-Fi hotspot, as well as, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto. On top of all of that, I would be remiss to not mention the safety of the vehicle. The sleek new design does fit the bill in my opinion, of a new age safety vehicle, with the inclusion of 6 air bags and a good safety suite.
