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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  Better than my 540i - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By slapshot28 - February 8 - 7:19 pm

  I know the title is saying a lot, but I mean it sincerely. The Volt (VIN 541) is absolutely the best car Ive ever driven. Its quick, nimble, stylish, and simply incomparable from a technology standpoint. Electric driving is amazing. From a dead stop, its the best. And zipping around traffic on the highway is just as good. The Volts range extender is what makes this a practical primary vehicle--no range anxiety. Most days the car never burns a drop of gasoline (my commute is around 20 miles). But this past weekend, driving two hours and back (about 250 miles) was a piece of cake. I never even stopped for gas! Everyone who has been in my Volt has loved it--especially me!

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  Volt #0065 - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By microchip - February 8 - 4:41 pm

  I picked up the first Volt delivered in North Jersey on December 17th, and went 1020 miles over 47 days before I visited the pump. I couldve gone longer, but I was getting low on my first tank and there was an ice storm coming, so I filled up for safety, and havent used gas since filling up. Pretty amazing if you ask me.

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  Shazam! - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By wheresmyvolt - February 8 - 3:58 pm

  This is one great car! Fit, finish, ride, snow handling, zip, fun, and economical. I have a 72-mile round trip commute and am getting near 40 miles of that on battery and the rest on the gasoline generator. I am averaging just over 110 mpg in the generator mode. It is a car that was made with pride and meant to satisfy. I have the leather seats with seat warmers and the backup camera. Both are great additions. GM is very solicitous of my opinion and suggestions and the dealer gives red carpet treatment.

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  A SPORTY AND STYLISH GAME CHANGER - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By marclee - February 8 - 12:42 pm

  When I first read that GM was coming out with an EV and that it would only get 40 miles per charge and then use a gas engine generator after that I was very disappointed. I thought why bother? After all I had built a BEV in 2001 that had a 70 mile range. But as I continued to read about the Volt and think about what GM was trying to do with it, I realized this was an absolute brilliant interim solution to the current EV catch-22. Batteries are too expensive and performance too limited to make a pure EV viable, a pure EV won’t be viable until batteries are cheaper and performance is better. GM’s solution was to put just enough batteries to cover the daily commute of 80% of the people.

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  I Hate my Volt - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By ev_ - February 8 - 12:29 pm

  Well actually I Love my VOLT except for the climate control system. It takes 5 mintues for the heater to start putting out warm air and you have to run the fan durning that time or you will never get heat. As if that is not bad enough it runs the A/C during this time to dehumitify the air. When its 40 degrees in the car I dont want it to blow cold air and I certainly dont want the A/C on. The rest of the car is everthing I had hoped for. I have driven it over 1200 miles and my average is over 160mpg. I am still running off the gas that came with the car. I like to go fast, I dont drive like a Prius driver, I like to drive in Sport mode and it is extremelly fun to drive.

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  Levitation-like smoothness - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By revtwist - February 8 - 12:24 pm

  I have owned my red Chevrolet Volt for 20 days now. This car is mainly used for my work commute. Although I have taken two 70 mile drives to show the car to family. The odometer reads 990 miles total with just 2.1 gallons of gasoline burned. The Volt is driven by an electric motor all of the time. A small generator is available if travel over 35-40 miles battery is needed. It has been said that driving the Volt feels like flying. It really does. The low end acceleration is ample. The styling of the Volt rivals that of others cars I have owned. One of these being a 70s era Cobra II. My 19 year old son is thrilled to ride in our electric Volt. Full battery charge is 3.5 hours at 240V.

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  I love my Volt more then my Ferrari... - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By ponsv6 - February 8 - 10:50 am

  As an enthusiastic car lover/collector/enthusiast, the Volt is about the coolest car I have ever owned, I have VIN 772. This thing has exceeded all my expectations in Quality, Styling, Ride, Acceleration, Efficiency. Chose to lease it for $350 a month and will most likely buy it at the end of the lease. My Lifetime MPG is 137 with a little over a 1k miles driven so far, which includes two 150 mile trips. Free Onstar for 5 years with nav downloads and hands-free blue tooth, this car is better then my old E class Mercedes, rides about the same. Wife and I literally fight over who drives it. It really moves out from a stop light in "Sport Mode" due to the E motors 100% Torque at 0-RPM.

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  Fun and Practical - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By evil_attorney - February 8 - 10:47 am

  The Volt is a great mix of performance, technology and practicality. The electric motor provides substantial torque which makes the car feel more powerful and responsive than most cars on the road. On a single charge I am able to drive about 38 miles (mostly freeway driving). Thats enough to get me to and from work with a little juice left over. However, the gas engine is a great backup if I need to take a longer trip. I have driven almost 500 miles and only used 1.3 gallons of gas so far. Charging is so easy. The Volt comes with a charger you can plug into any standard electrical outlet.

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  Best car Ive ever leased. - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By gcool - February 8 - 10:18 am

  I get in and out of leases all the time. Ive had the S4, X5, 550i, 335 coupe, and a few others. Nothing compares to this car. The others handled better and were quicker (except the X5) but overall the Volt hangs just fine. If you put it in power mode - it will really move. And the fact that Ive yet to burn any gas... wow. Its an amazing feeling. Oh... and I didnt see any increase in my electrical bill compared to last year. So far its been the same....

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  The future of the Automobile - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By jreason - February 8 - 7:18 am

  I have had my Volt for one month and am impressed with this vehicle. It is more refined than I expected. The ride and handling is very good especially for a 3700 lb vehicle. The seats are very comfortable. I like this car so much that I have ordered a second one.