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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  High Praise for Volt - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By volt_me - January 7 - 11:34 pm

  I have only had my Volt for a couple weeks so far, but have had a wonderful time driving it and passing the gas station on by. The fit and finish is great. The acceleration is great, seems to do even better than my mustang did because of the instant torque.

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  Everything I expected and more - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By nyvolt - January 6 - 11:58 pm

  Not using gas makes me happy. Not being limited by the battery makes the car practical. The car does exactly what GM says it will do.

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  Best Vehicle I have ever owned. - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By ghendrick456 - January 6 - 6:51 pm

  My 2012 Chevy Volt is by far the best car I have ever owned. (And I have owned 10 new cars in my life.) This vehicle has impressed me in so many ways. nothing can compare with the smoothness, quiet refined ride and tight responsive handling. The acceleration is very satisfying and completely free of shifting. Its just what you wish every car could do. I especially like the fact that I can drive most of my trips without using a drop of gasoline while maintaining the flexibility to do a cross country drive on gas if I need to. (Seems like no other car offers this flexibility.) Most days I am spending less than 30 cents to recharge. (And I have the electric bills to prove it.

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  Battery Memory - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By drydoc - December 31 - 9:11 pm

  In love, at first, several trips to the dealer during the first six weeks for "unexplained" engine error messages", almost made me invoke the "Lemon Law". Life settled down after a computer upgrade...until early in the 5th month that I owned the car. At that point, a full charge became less and less miles. I began at 38 - 40 miles ev per charge and now I am at best, 23 -24 miles ev. The Chevy Volt team and my local dealer state that it is the weather and the way that I drive it. First of all...the way I drive it should not change the battery capacity. Secondly, it is not even cold yet...average temp approx. 42 degrees. Thirdly, I charge it in a heated garage.

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  Cold Weather Issues - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By voltguy - December 28 - 11:39 pm

  This car has great potential and I really like it, but reconsider getting one if you live in an area with cold weather. When I first got the car in the first week in November I was getting the 35 miles GM claims. As it got colder I now only get 25 miles on a full charge. GM is telling me this is normal. At 25 miles, Im actually only getting about 17-20 since I have to run heat. I have been doing the math and with amount of electric it takes to charge for just 17-20 actual miles, it costs more than burring gas. The dealer has told me there is nothing they can do about the issue. I hope GM gets this issues fixed.

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  Exceeds Expectations - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By firebirdbandit - December 21 - 10:33 am

  I had extremely high expectations for this car and it has exceeded them. I previously drove a Pontiac Firebird Formula V8 350 LT1 engine and the Volt is way more fun to drive. It is very well built, comfortable and drives awesome. Feels like I went into the future. I am trying to find all kinds of excuses to go driving. The car is also a great value. It seems expensive but when you compare it to the 5 year cost to own, it is below many other popular cars including the Taurus, Camaro and Maxima.

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  My first American car - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By quartz3 - December 18 - 10:09 am

  I have been driving this car as I normally would for a little over 6 months now. I have used 22 gallons to cover 6500 miles, which included routes that are 50 miles each way. Sometimes I am too busy with my life and not plugging it in as I should. So there is a reason for me to believe I could have used less fuel. This car driving dynamic is surprisingly good compared to the BMW I traded in. This car feels notability more powerful than Leaf and Prius, also feels as having more torque than Sonata hybrid. The interior is not what you would call luxury in a traditional sense however, there are lots of little interactions with the systems that will make you pleasantly surprised. And those

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  Amazing Economic Sportscar - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By l4kmttnt - December 8 - 7:25 pm

  Outstanding experience thus far! I am an integration manager for a large company traveling 40+ wks out of the year. This has given me the opportunity to drive many, many makes and models of vehicles as I must rent a car every week for work. When my wife and I decided to purchase a new car last month -we specifically went to our local Chevy dealer in search of a Chevy Cruze as I felt it was the BEST sporty and economical car of choice. HOWEVER, we had the chance to drive a Volt and immediately fell in love with the performance, comfort, long-range savings opportunity and overall sportiness of the car. We are 100% happy thus far and look forward to many satisfying miles as we pass by the pump.

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  Problem after only 2000 miles - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By dsylvestre - December 2 - 2:26 pm

  Developed an error message after only 2,000 miles. Apparently, the antenna was defective.

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  Will this be what most people drive in the future? - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By masterofnone2 - November 30 - 8:41 am

  What a car! They did a marvelous job. I can only compare this to the Prius I previously owned. The Volt is far more comfortable and much smoother. I have to admit I got tired of the Prius shaking when the engine shut down and hessitating when the engine started. There is no shaking or shuddering or studdering when the volt engine starts and stops. In fact you cant hardly hear the engine. The prius was a little quieter inside than the volt. There is a little wind noise in the rear of the volt. Not much difference though. After federal tax credit, the Volt costs about the same as a Buick. Great car. Im proud to do my part in reducing the amount of foreign oil we use.