If you keep to a routine, you can program the Volt to charge during the most economical electricity rate hours from your utility. Plugging the car in overnight will charge it from empty in about four hours on a 240-volt dedicated charger, or in eight to 10 hours on a standard household 120-volt outlet. My time with the 2014 came in the middle of one of the coldest winters in Michigan history, however, which did affect my observed performance. The reason to buy a Volt is fuel economy, and it performs as advertised. Drive it like a commuter car, not a race car, and the Volt feels docile, user-friendly and comfortable for front-seat occupants. That means driving calmly and smoothly, with no rapid acceleration or aggressive moves. The Volt is no sport sedan, but it’s not trying to be the Volt’s mission is to maximize your efficiency, especially in electric mode. It’s one of the few Sport modes on the market that actually makes the car quicker when selected. Acceleration is surprisingly quick, especially when the car is in Sport mode, which remaps accelerator input to make for quicker response. The overly boosted electric power steering does nothing to improve the handling situation, as it is quite numb in terms of feel and feedback. The Volt rides like a luxury car but leans and pushes in turns as its low-rolling-resistance tires try to handle the changing momentum. It also, however, comes with the penalty of less-than-athletic handling. All that weight in the battery pack contributes to the impressive heft that comes through in a smooth ride, a well-damped suspension and vaultlike build quality. We’re happy to report that the Chevy Volt drives pretty much as the Volt always has. The idea, though, is to try to get to a plug instead of another gas station, as driving the car on electricity is cheaper and more efficient. And as long as you keep filling the tank with premium gas, you can keep going, averaging about 37 mpg on that gas engine. The result, however, is this: You get to drive 38 miles (the actual range depends on weather and driving style) before the gas engine kicks in to get you considerably further the Volt’s range is more than 300 miles in total. It’s actually far more complicated than this - GM’s Voltec powertrain is an amazingly complex combined transmission-motor-generator unit. When the Volt’s batteries reach a certain state (not empty the Volt’s batteries are never truly “empty”), usually after an average of about 38 miles of driving, the gas engine kicks in to keep the batteries at a certain level and get you to the next charging station. The 2014 model is basically the same car GM introduced back for the 2011 model year compare the 20 models here.Ī quick refresher on how the Volt works: An electric drivetrain, consisting of a 16.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and a 149-horsepower electric motor, is augmented by a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that acts primarily as a generator. The biggest news lately was a price drop for 2014, when Chevrolet slashed $5,000 off the car’s sticker price to try to boost sales in the wake of new competition. It’s a novel hatchback that debuted to mixed reviews from the press and public a few years ago, and in that time the Volt has received only a few minor updates - things like achieving another 3 miles of electric-only range due to deeper use of the lithium-ion batteries, a few new colors, a rear armrest for the backseat passengers - and not much else.
It’s been a while since we got a close look at the Chevrolet Volt, General Motors’ original plug-in EV hybrid electric car. Although the Chevrolet Volt has received a big price cut, it still retains its novel extended-range electric car abilities - as well as its poor visibility, questionable touch-sensitive panels and cramped interior.
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