Overview & Reviews

The Chevrolet Volt represents a voyage into uncharted waters for both General Motors and automakers in general. A so-called plug-in hybrid, the front-wheel-drive Volt is a four-door, four-seat hatchback that's motivated primarily by an electric motor good for about 40 miles of range. That's enough to get most people to work and back. Should you need to go farther, a gasoline-powered engine is aboard (it acts as a generator) to extend the car's range by as much as 300 miles and essentially turn the Volt into a regular hybrid.

Truly, the Volt represents a glimpse into the future of automotive propulsion. For those with a short commute, the concept makes a lot of sense, while the car's gasoline-powered engine gives it a notable range advantage over all-electric cars like Nissan's Leaf. Moreover, with potentially hefty government tax rebates plus a $5,000 price cut for 2014, a new Volt is more attainable than ever, with used values likely to drop accordingly. We encourage early adopters to give the innovative Volt a chance.

Current Chevrolet Volt
The Chevrolet Volt is essentially a plug-in hybrid, meaning it has the ability to run much faster and farther under electric power alone than a normal hybrid. In the Volt's case, this means up to 100 mph and anywhere from 25-50 miles without using a drop of gasoline.

Once you run out of battery juice, the gasoline-powered inline-4 engine kicks in, producing electricity for the motor and actually powering the wheels in some circumstances, stretching the Volt's range by as much as an additional 300 miles. A "Hold" feature lets you choose when to bring gas power online, allowing all-electric mode to be saved for opportune stretches.

The electric motor is rated at 149 horsepower (111 kilowatts) and 273 pound-feet of torque. Drive force is sent to the front wheels through a specialized planetary gearset.

Standard feature highlights include keyless ignition/entry, automatic climate control, a split-folding rear seatback, a six-speaker sound system and GM's MyLink system that includes Bluetooth streaming audio, voice controls and enhanced smartphone integration. Major options include low-emissions equipment so it can qualify for HOV lane access (certain states only), a rearview camera, leather upholstery, heated front seats, lane departure warning, a navigation system and a Bose sound system. Volt owners can monitor the car's status and set charging times through an online Web portal or a mobile phone app.

In our reviews, we've found that the Chevrolet Volt has satisfying zip at low speeds thanks to its electric motor, which offers abundant torque. Although the Volt corners surprisingly well due to its low center of gravity, the overall driving experience is as bland as one would expect from a car designed to maximize energy efficiency. But the Volt certainly isn't a laggard, and overall performance is similar to what you'd get from a normal four-cylinder-equipped family sedan. Acceleration is the same whether or not the gas engine is in use, but there is a noticeable (though not really objectionable) increase in noise.

Inside, the Chevy Volt features a unique dashboard layout that's part spaceship, part iPod -- and pretty darn cool. There's a high-tech gauge readout behind the steering wheel and a swoopy center stack that looks like an oversized high-end electronic device. Unfortunately, the touch-activated "buttons" can be difficult to pick out at a glance, and sometimes don't respond on first press. This is definitely an instance of form over function.

The rear seat is adequate for two average-sized adults, but there's no middle seat thanks to the T-shaped battery pack, which occupies this slot as well as part of the trunk. Cargo capacity is limited due to the Volt's rakish roof line and that hefty battery pack, though the rear seatbacks do fold down.

Used Chevrolet Volt Models
The Chevrolet Volt debuted for 2011. In this first model year it came standard with navigation and the Bose sound system; they became options the following year. Note that these early Volts had a potential battery fire issue after a particularly severe side crash. As such, you'll want to make sure any early 2011 Volt has received the needed fix.

Changes have been mostly minor since, though the 2011 and '12 Volts lack the optional low-emissions equipment and lane departure and collision warning systems found on the current model. Likewise, the "Hold" mode wasn't introduced until 2013.

User Reviews:

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  Overall one big giant shrug: "meh" - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By Maggie B. - August 12 - 12:41 pm

  Having previously owned a second gen Prius, a 2006 Ford Fusion, I got to feel very different rides and experience very different levels of sorrow at the gas station. On the one hand, the Volt will get most folks super far on the just electric mode, but on the other the ride is still hybrid and numb. The efficiency drops when Im in standard city or suburban stop and go traffic, accelerating to 45 on most roads is fine until I have to stop and do it again literally 2 miles later and the electric range just plummets. There is almost no way to recoup ones range by barking or cruising so dont have your hopes up if you previously owned a Prius or other hybrid. Then in dense city areas the efficiency goes up marginally until the city driving is over and then the range just drops as soon as youre back on the highway. That point is especially true for most N Americans outside of largely dense cities. Then there is the technology. Hybrids are the vehicle equivalent of smartphones. The Insight and Prius were the smart phones before Apple iPhone and Volt, Tesla and Leaf are the equivalent of those that came after. Having owned the 2nd Gen Prius it was like having one of the rock solid 3g phones before the iPhone: I thought it would be cooler to upgrade and now I regret it. Sometimes we are too set in our ways to upgrade our hardware, I say this as a millennial btw. The Volt is more like a shiny iPhone 4. One in which you cannot in fact turn off most notifications during meetings. One in which the phone (car) will tell you that you put your phone in your purse or took it out of your pocket or that its about to turn off due to low battery and so on. And these alerts are not mute-able! Imagine that. Its insane the amount of bells, bongs and rings this Volt makes. I remember the backup signal on the Prius, that was the only alert, and it was bothersome but I would appreciate having only that over all the other alerts on the Volt. And to think I havent brought up the entertainment system. You have a smart phone or iPod and plug it in and select your favorite band and then ... wheres the album list... so you select a song. Now that great song is playing and the next song is whichever song is alphabetically later in the song list. So think you can remember that bands best album you loved? No, sorry, scroll through the millions of albums and now the songs will play in Alpha order from the album you just selected. If that sounds "smart" then you my friend belong in a VOLT. The touch controls are sometimes responsive and sometimes require a little extra prodding below the touch screen. So memorizing the touch buttons by feel is now impossible. And if you once had a Prius in the always hot SW, you probably got used to adjusting the climate on the steering wheel, and now you get to shift your eyes away from the road, onto the center console, over the the split climate section and adjust every two seconds since eco mode on the climate control is as effective as having a golden retriever pant on your for cooling. Yay, Volt! Now youre turning left, trying to see past the giant six inch pillars which are still in the way no matter whether you lean left or right and then check your rear view mirror which now is misaligned due to slightly shifting your seat and the rear window couldnt possibly get any higher/narrower/less effective now could it? Sure the Fusion has absolute crap rear-view and so do most chunky-reared sedans, but this here Volt is a purported Hatch! So surely you have more window and a better view.. sorry no, this a Volt and even worse, a Chevy. In summary, SUV drivers may love the fuel efficiency and Prius owners may love to up their smugness with this green-hov-sticker qualifying car but the vast majority hate the numb steering, the dead until youve hit something braking and the lack of visibility due to crash test standards where we absolutely must be able to flip five times into a moving train and live. But honestly, give me a plug-in Golf and lets call it a day. This is still a Chevy after all.

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  Chevy Volt almost burned my house down - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By powenp - October 26 - 9:18 am

  Ive been driving the Volt for 18 months. I loved the car until a month ago when I went to unplug the charger from our garage outlet and the outlet was melted - very scary situation. Ive spent a month trying to get GM and my dealer to do something (Woodward Motors in Andover, MA). GM wants me to produce the license of the electrician who built my house in 1982 before they do anything. No joke... Dont buy this car, its dangerous and GM and dealers dont stand behind it.

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  Buyer Beware! - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By ronmaf - September 26 - 3:08 pm

  My Wife and I bought 2 of these Volts in 2012. Within 7 months my Volt had a major Regen bearing failure. The dealer tried to replace it twice. They ended up giving me a new car (A buyback). Within 1000 miles of owning the new 2013 Volt, I had no heat, that took 2 trips to the dealer to fix, and then the same Regen bearing failure that took weeks to get repaired! Now just in the past 3 weeks my Wifes Volt Died. It had to be towed in 2 times. The dealer said it was a 12 Battery issue. They replaced it and it failed again! These cars have too many issues that the dealer or GM have knowledge enough to fix properly. Buyer Beware...buy at your own risk!

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  Expensive leading PHEV w cramped interior - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By dm3 - July 5 - 3:04 pm

  Ground breaking plugin hybrid. Uses engine to extend the range of an otherwise all electric vehicle. Overall drives well. Good acceleration and handling. Comfortable amazingly quiet ride. Can use it all electric for typical commutes. However lots of compromises. Very high price due to dual drive trains. Interior cramped to due low ceiling for reduced drag, 4 passenger seating due to battery in the cabin. Electric range works for shorter trips, but on longer trips seems to simply improve gas mileage which still isnt as good as a Prius. Hoping next rev. will fix these issues.

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  Good car - Lousy people - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By woodybap - January 22 - 11:23 pm

  I am so [non-permissible content removed]! First the damn Volt is dead in my own driveway. Four months old and it goes feet up. No prob, I think, we have Onstar. Onstar tries about 3 times and then tells me that the car has apparently shut down due to some security glitch. The car needs to be towed to a dealership. Numerous calls between me and Roadside Assistance. They tell me that they can provide me with the number of their outfit that arranges loaner vehicles. Turns out that number is to a service that apparently does nothing more than provide the names of local rental car agencies. A glorified phone book, if you will. Heck, I could do better with Google. So the tow truck guy shows up. Has no clue

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  chevy jolt - 2016 Chevrolet Volt
  By greyvolt - October 11 - 12:02 am

  loved how olid and quiet and smooth this felt on smooth road at dealer and bough it. but when you hit bumps the cars bottom weight makes it JOLT. rear passengers hit their heads on the slanted door opening getting in or out and heads touch ceiling which is at upholstery and glass window of hatchback. the car is fun driven alone when you can twist and turn around corners blithely, or accelerate like a race car. only getting 34 mpg. supposed to be 42 (no i dont always race around. im a very cautious normal driver. the paddle brake on steering wheel lurches and gives motion sickness. its too touchy. cant apply it gently. interiors electronic lights hard to understand, hard to tell if car on or off.

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  Impossible - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By Gene - September 12 - 1:19 am

  It is impossible to update the navigation system on this vehicle. I can buy an update for a 2012 and a 2014, but GM hasnt seen fit to update the 2013. I am old enough to have owned a Chevy Vega and I vowed never to own a GM auto again but my wife wanted an electric car.

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  Nice , but has quality issues - 2016 Chevrolet Volt
  By M.Griffith - December 12 - 9:10 pm

  Likes-I like driving my car. Its pretty quiet inside except on freeways. Gas Engine is quiet. Dislikes- Interior door panels creak from touch, heat, road bumps. When driving on rough road they vibrate and rattle . Had to take to dealer to fix leaking coolant. Also, hose from reservoir is routed against a sharp edge on the tranaxle, which cuts into the hose. I notified CHEVY about the defect, no response. For now I wrapped with foam and duct tape.Also, there is a slight coolant smell coming from the coolant reservoir after driving.Its not leaking, but the smell sometimes goes into the fresh air intake which is located right next to the coolant reservoir. Poor design. Also some pulsing when accelerating using gas engine. There is a software update but chevy wont allow the update on cars that have been sold. So we are stuck with this issue on 2016 models. Overall, i like my car, but it does have issues with design,fit and finish, quality. .

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  We really wanted to like this car - 2016 Chevrolet Volt
  By the Dude - December 9 - 5:50 am

  We live in southern California and plug-in electric cars get to use the HOV (car pool) lane even if they are the sole occupant. I drove the Volt twice and my wife drove it twice. Overall I was impressed with the technology and the electric range. But we just could not get over how cramped it felt, especially in the back seat. Just didnt feel safe with your head being just inches from the side window. I am not a Prius fan but I will say that Chevy could learn a thing or two about packaging by looking at the Prius. If this car was bigger and had more room, we likely would have bought it. Seems like Chevy was fixated on giving it a big electric range at the cost of interior space. I would have gladly traded 5-10 miles of range for a car that was bigger.