Chevrolet Onix

Chevrolet Onix
Overview
Manufacturer General Motors
Production 2013–present
Body and chassis
Class Subcompact car
Layout Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Chronology
Predecessor

The Chevrolet Onix is a subcompact car launched by American automaker Chevrolet in Brazil at the 2012 São Paulo International Motor Show and the second generation in China at the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show. In Brazil, it was launched to replace the Chevrolet Corsa and some versions of the Chevrolet Celta. Mainly produced in General Motors Brazil’s plants in Gravataí and São Caetano do Sul, the Onix is a five-door hatchback. A sedan version is sold as the Chevrolet Onix Plus in Brazil, and as the Onix sedan in Colombia. The Onix has also been produced in Uzbekistan since 2022 by UzAuto Motors.

The Onix was Latin America’s best selling car in the year 2018, with sales of over 249,552 units.

First generation (2013)

First generation
2013 Chevrolet Onix
Overview
Also called
  • Chevrolet Prisma (sedan, 2013–2019)
  • Chevrolet Joy (hatchback, 2019–present)
  • Chevrolet Joy Plus (sedan, 2019–present)
Production 2013–present
Assembly Brazil: Gravataí, Rio Grande do Sul; São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo (GM Brazil) (2012–2023)
Colombia: Bogotá (GM Colmotores) (2023–)
Body and chassis
Body style 5-door hatchback
4-door sedan (Prisma)
Platform GM Gamma
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
  • 5-speed manual
  • 6-speed manual
  • 6-speed 6T40 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,528 mm (99.5 in)
Length
  • 3,930–3,958 mm (154.7–155.8 in)
  • 4,275–4,282 mm (168.3–168.6 in) (Prisma)
Width
  • 1,705 mm (67.1 in)
  • 1,737 mm (68.4 in) (Activ)
Height
  • 1,474–1,484 mm (58.0–58.4 in)
  • 1,497 mm (58.9 in) (Activ)
Curb weight 1,008–1,119 mm (39.7–44.1 in)

The first generation Onix was available in three trim levels (LS, LT and LTZ) with two 4-cylinder engines, the 1.0-liter producing 78 PS (57 kW; 77 bhp) (gasoline)/80 PS (59 kW; 79 bhp) (ethanol) and 1.4-liter 98 PS (72 kW; 97 bhp) (gasoline)/106 PS (78 kW; 105 bhp) (ethanol) offering automatic or five-speed manual transmission. In Brazil, the 4-door sedan variant was known as the Chevrolet Prisma.

For 2017, the Onix and Prisma received a facelift, along with interior improvements. A touchscreen was added with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. The LS trim level kept the original front end and became known as the Onix Joy and Prisma Joy, leaving the LT as the base trim for the updated Onix/Prisma. A crossover-like version called the Onix Activ was also added, with raised suspension, plastic body cladding and roof rack.

In late 2019, the Onix and Prisma were replaced in Brazil by the second-generation Onix and Onix Plus, respectively. However, the Onix Joy and Prisma Joy remained available, and were renamed Joy and Joy Plus, respectively. The Joy and Joy Plus have been built at the São Caetano do Sul plant in Brazil from 2019 through 2022. Production will move to GM Colmotores in Colombia in early 2023.

Technical details

Specs include front-wheel drive, MacPherson strut front and twist-beam rear suspension, and (in the three versions shown) dual airbags, ABS and power steering. In February 2013, the new Prisma, the sedan version of the Onix, with a trunk of 500 liters, was launched.

The 1.0-liter versions are fitted with 14" wheels, with 15" wheels being fitted to 1.4-liter models.

Safety

In December 2014, the Chevrolet Onix in its most basic Latin American market configuration with 2 airbags was evaluated under the Latin NCAP assessment and achieved a 3-star safety rating for adults and 2-star safety rating for children:

Test Score Points
Adult 62.76% (3-star) 10.67 out of 17
Children 41.10% (2-star) 20.14 out of 49

In May 2017, the Chevrolet Onix in its most basic Latin American market configuration with 2 airbags and no ESC was re-evaluated under the Latin NCAP assessment, using the 2016 Assessment Protocol, and achieved a 0-star safety rating for adults and 3-star safety for children.

Test Score Points
Adult 0.00% (0-star) 0.00 out of 34
Children 55.88% (3-star) 27.38 out of 49

In January 2018, an updated Chevrolet Onix in its most basic Latin American market configuration with 2 airbags and no ESC was evaluated under the Latin NCAP assessment, and achieved a 3-star safety rating for adults and 3-star safety for children.

Gallery

Second generation (2019)

Second generation
Chevrolet Onix sedan (pre-facelift)
Overview
Production 2019–present
Assembly Argentina: Buenos Aires, Argentina (GM Argentina)
Brazil: Gravataí, Rio Grande do Sul (GM Brazil)
China: Yantai, Shandong (SAIC-GM)
Mexico: San Luis Potosi (until May 2022)
Uzbekistan: Asaka (UzAuto Motors)
Body and chassis
Body style 5-door hatchback
4-door sedan
Platform GM GEM platform
Related Chevrolet Tracker
Buick Excelle (second generation)
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
  • 5-speed manual
  • 6-speed manual
  • 6-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,550 mm (100.4 in) (hatchback)
2,600 mm (102.4 in) (sedan)
Length 4,160 mm (163.8 in) (hatchback)
4,474 mm (176.1 in) (sedan)
Width 1,730 mm (68.1 in)
Height 1,471 mm (57.9 in)
Curb weight 1,120 kg (2,470 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor Chevrolet Cavalier
Chevrolet Cobalt
Chevrolet Sonic

In April 2019, a new sedan named the Onix was launched in China with the Chinese name "科沃兹"; Kēwòzī . The Onix replaces both the Sonic and Cavalier in the Chinese market, and is slightly larger than the Prisma/Onix sedan. It uses the GEM (Global Emerging Markets) platform.

The Onix is offered in China with a turbocharged, direct-injected 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine, rated at 92 kW (123 hp; 125 PS) and 180 N⋅m (133 lb⋅ft; 18 kg⋅m) torque. Fuel economy is rated at 4.9 L/100 km (20.4 km/L; 57.6 mpg‑imp; 48.0 mpg‑US). A naturally aspirated 1.0 L 3-cylinder DVVT engine is also available for the manual 320 trim. Brazilian versions resort to port-injection for both the turbocharged and the naturally aspirated versions.

The first version of the Onix to debut was the Onix Redline. It features black exterior trim with red accents, and a two-tone interior.

The Onix is also produced in Uzbekistan since 2022 by UzAuto Motors. Sales began at the end of 2022.

Markets

Brazil

In Brazil, the new sedan debuted in September 2019 as the "Onix Plus", while the hatchback went on sale in November 2019. In addition to the LT and LTZ trim levels from the previous generation, a new top-level Premier level was added. The Onix Plus was rated 5 stars by Latin NCAP.

All versions of new Onix and Onix Plus have 6 airbags, ABS brakes and electronic stability control.

In 2019, the Chevrolet Onix was the best-selling car model in Brazil, for the fifth consecutive year, with a total of 268,066 sales. It was also the best-selling model in Latin America.

Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay

As engines up to 1.0L are not benefitted with a lower taxation, a naturally-aspirated 1.2L engine always combined with a 5-speed manual transmission is available for the entry-level versions instead of the smaller one offered in Brazil where the Onix for Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay is made. Turbo versions retain the 1.0L displacement, while being offered with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. Other difference from the Onix sold in Brazil is the absence of flex fuel capability.

Mexico

The Onix was launched in the Mexican market in spring of 2020 as well to place itself between the Cavalier and the Sail, the latter being known as Aveo in that country.

The LT and LS trim lines use a 1.0-litre motor able to generate 85 kW (114 hp) and 120 lb⋅ft (163 N⋅m) torque, with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic transmission. Its top trim line, Premier, uses a 1.2-litre motor able to generate 96 kW (129 hp) and 141 lb⋅ft (191 N⋅m) torque, and is only offered with a 6-speed automatic transmission. All motors are turbocharged. All versions have six airbags, ABS brakes and electronic stability control. In addition, the Onix includes a 7" (17 cm) infotainment system screen, OnStar services, and reverse sensor with camera.

Colombia

The second generation Onix was launched in Colombia as the "Onix Turbo" in March 2020. The first generation Onix is still on sale and renamed as "Chevrolet Joy" from November 2020. The sedan version was called Onix Sedán.

Uzbekistan

The Onix has also been produced in Uzbekistan since 2022 by UzAuto Motors Sales began in late 2022. In early 2023, UzAuto Motors began to accept orders for new versions of the Chevrolet Onix Premier. In addition, the UzAuto Motors Powertrain plant also produces the 3-cylinder 1.2-litre turbocharged CSS Prime engine that the Onix uses.

Powertrain

Model Engine Power Torque Fuel economy
320 "New generation Ecotec" LGB 1.3L I3 VVT (petrol) 79 kW (106 hp; 107 PS)
at 6200 rpm
130 N⋅m (96 lb⋅ft; 13 kg⋅m)
at 4000-4400 rpm
4.8 L/100 km (20.8 km/L; 58.9 mpg‑imp; 49.0 mpg‑US)
325T, Redline 325T "Eighth generation Ecotec" LIV 1.0L I3 (turbo-petrol) 92 kW (123 hp; 125 PS)
at 5800 rpm
180 N⋅m (133 lb⋅ft; 18 kg⋅m)
at 1350-4500 rpm
4.9 L/100 km (20.4 km/L; 57.6 mpg‑imp; 48.0 mpg‑US)

Safety

The Onix Plus and Hatchback, in their basic configuration with six airbags, both received 5 stars for adult occupants, 5 stars for infants, and an Advanced Award from Latin NCAP in 2019.