Chevrolet touts the 2012 Sonic's 40-mpg highway rating

With an EPA-rated 40 mpg on the highway, Chevrolet is calling its 2012 Sonic one of the most fuel-efficient small cars on the market.

Chevy says that 40-mpg rating puts the Sonic right on par with the 2012 Ford Fiesta and the Hyundai Accent in terms of eco-friendliness.

In city driving, the 1.4-liter turbocharged Ecotec engine gets 29 mpg. Paired with a six-speed manual transmission, the Sonic reaches 60 mph in 8.2 seconds, which isn't too shabby.

Production for the Sonic--the replacement for theChevy Aveo and one of the only subcompact cars currently built in the United States--began this summer at a General Motors assembly plant in Michigan.

By Michelle Koueiter