The 2014 Chevrolet Volt ($34,185) comes with cloth upholstery automatic climate control keyless ignition/entry remote start a tilt-and-telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel height-adjustable driver’s seat cruise control Chevrolet’s MyLink touchscreen interface with voice controls, Bluetooth and smartphone integration and a six-speaker audio system with CD player, MP3, satellite radio capability, auxiliary audio jack and USB port. Volt and other plug-in hybrids qualify for a federal rebate, plus additional credits in some states. The Toyota Prius plug-in, priced below $30,0, has the most cargo space of the bunch, but a far shorter all-electric range. While it can’t go as far in pure EV mode, C-MAX offers nearly double the amount of total cargo space.
Ford’s C-MAX plug-in hybrid offers up to 21 miles in electric mode only, and can go up to 600 miles with a fully charged battery and a full tank of gas. Just a couple of years ago, the Volt was the only plug-in hybrid on the market. Its handling is much better than that of the all-electric Nissan Leaf. With a regular 120-volt household outlet, the Volt takes anywhere from 10 to 16 hours to charge, depending on temperature.ĭriving the front-wheel-drive Volt is really no different from driving any gasoline-powered compact or mid-size car, and the Volt is more energetic and enjoyable than some of them. With a 240-volt fast charger, the Volt can fully charge in about four hours.
Drivers who do this say they use so little gas that they have to worry about gasoline going bad in the tank.Ĭombined with the gasoline engine, the Volt has a total range of about 380 miles. Drivers who can plug it in for charging while at work can double its practical electric range. The Volt gets an EPA rating of 98 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) and 35/40 mpg City/Highway using the gasoline engine.Īnyone who drives less than 30 miles a day should never have to put gas in the Volt. The Volt will run solely on electricity until it’s 70 percent depleted then, a 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine kicks in to power the electric motor. The 435-pound battery has its own heating and cooling system to operate efficiently in extremes of temperature. It’s powered by a T-shaped lithium-ion battery mounted under the center console and rear seat. Safety Package 2 includes front park assist, forward collision alert and lane departure warning.Īt the heart of the Chevrolet Volt is a 111-kilowatt electric motor that puts out the equivalent of 149 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The optional Safety Package 1 includes an auto-dimming rearview mirror, rear park assist and rearview camera. A Comfort Package includes heated front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Options include a moderately priced navigation system that uses Chevrolet’s MyLink interface, as well as a low-emissions package that gives Volt drivers in California and New York access to carpool and HOV lanes when driving alone. After that, the engine kicks in and you’re driving a regular gasoline-powered car. The Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA-estimated range of up to 38 miles running on the battery alone. This can help maximize electric range in stop-and-go city driving.
For 2014, however, the price was lowered about $5,000.įor 2013, a new Hold button allowed the driver to manually choose whether to use the Volt’s available electric power immediately, or save it for later use.
However, its initial sticker price made it a pricey investment, even after federal and state tax credits. From the start, we found the Chevrolet Volt fun to drive. Volt’s four-seat, hatchback design makes it a very good all-purpose vehicle, and its electrified powertrain makes for very low operating costs.
Unlike fully electric cars, it won’t leave you on the side of the road wishing for an extension cord.
The Volt can run on pure electricity, but it carries its own gas-powered generator so when it runs out of juice, it can keep going. Plug-in hybrids such as the Chevrolet Volt offer the efficiency of an electric car and the certainty of a gasoline engine.