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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  Great car poor dealership experience - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By Tom Spicer - October 4 - 11:36 am

  Love the car. Fun to drive. Zippy. Havent put any gas in it since I bought it 3 weeks ago. Doesnt stink up the garage like my wifes car when I start it. Usually recharges fully on 110 Volt circuit overnight. The bad. 2 weeks after getting the car the "service airbag" light came in. Took it to the Chevy dealership which was a super poor customer service experience and they told me that the passenger presence system had failed and to fix it would cost $775. No thank you. I will investigate other ways to fix it. The infotainment center is a nightmare and the stock sound system is pathetic. You can forget about finding or changing anything below the screen. Good luck trying to change the radio to usb too. For an almost $40 K new MSRP, they could have put some $12 speakers in instead of $2 ones. Perhaps the GM engineers should actually go out and listen to some music? Same thing for the seats. No lumbar support in a car of this value???? Come on. How long had GM made car seats? Have they learned anything??? No power drivers side seat adjustments either. Guess they skimped to save money. Too bad.

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  36,000 End of Lease Report - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By Pete - May 3 - 3:10 pm

  Overall, a really nice car, one of the best I ever drove. When you can charge at home and have a work commute less than 40 miles, you can go months without buying gas. Having a car pool lane sticker is great too. We had to move and cant charge at home anymore and my work makes you pay to charge at 3x the rate I was able to charge at home. It is actually cheaper to run the car in ICE mode and use gas. That is why Im not choosing to purchase it or buy another EV car. In EV mode, the instant torque was a blast and is probably the thing I miss the most. The car handled well and was comfortable for long trips. Not sure why we almost never see a Volt on the open road. It gets almost 40 mpg on the highway and can almost go 400 miles on a single tank if I keep it around 65 mph. The trunk space is fine for two people but, with the seats folded down, you can carry a decent amount. Ive been driving purely in ICE mode for the past year and a half and have been averaging about 33 to 35 mpg. The things I wont miss are: only two seats in the back, the front A pillars that reduce visibility, rear visibility not so great either, weak climate control system that drains the battery if you are try to run it full blast, lack of a real cargo cover, rear windshield is like a sunroof so the car can get hot, no spare tire, not so intuitive controls on center console, range-extending ICE engine is really loud, and quirky bluetooth and usb audio functionality.

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  Great 2 person car! - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By David Wells - September 14 - 7:31 pm

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  RIP combustion engine - 2016 Chevrolet Volt
  By Alex - May 22 - 1:48 pm

  I switched from BMW 328 to this car and never looked back! The concept of a plug-in hybrid car is absolutely a great idea. And Volt 2016 is an excellent implementation of this car category. When it runs on EV mode (for about 40+ miles), you get a fantastic feeling of speed and serenity. When it switches to hybrid, it drives just like ordinary car. My last gasoline fill-up was 1500 miles earlier. I use ordinary 110/120 outlet to charge it. Since my commute does not deplete the battery completely, I get a full overnight charge. But if the battery is completely empty, it takes about 10+ hours to charge on 110/120 volts outlet. I have a higher level trip so the car comes with all sort of electronics. All around sensors and backup camera work perfect. The acceleration is pretty good (but not at Tesla level), however it does give you a good sensation of high electric engine torque. Coming from BMW, this was one of the important selling points for me. I don’t have quality problem so far. I cannot judge this aspect of the car yet. But I assume since the combustion engine rarely kicks in, at least in the engine department, it should be trouble free. My wish list for improving the car includes rear window wipers, better visibility through A pillar (a major design oversight) and electric seat adjustment.