Even in front, however, you can lose pedestrians and even other vehicles in the Volt's large A-pillars." This, of course, is the first vehicle of its kind, so these weaknesses are likely to disappear especially since the concept has so much promise.". Our 2016 Chevrolet Volt has been in our fleet for what seems like forever (our fuel book indicates that the beginning of "forever" is November 2015), but we still manage to add a respectable number of miles to our elder statesman's odometer each month. No more items from the trunk can fly through the gap between the seats, because that gap isn't there. --, "Farther back, the Volt's hatchback design makes for easy loading and unloading." Standard features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, a Pandora streaming app, two USB ports, satellite radio, Bluetooth, a six-speaker audio system, an 8-inch touch screen, a built-in Wi-Fi hot spot, a rearview camera, automatic climate control, a push-button ignition, remote start, a proximity key, OnStar, and the Teen Driver management system. We averaged a bit less 37.3 mpg while covering almost 29,000 miles. I left L.A. in the morning, but not early enough to beat traffic. Stability and traction control is pretty invasive, dialing back engine torque as understeer is sensed, so it's easier to be smooth and consistent with the systems turned off. After December's road-trip adventures we mostly stayed in town this month, yet we still added about 1,500 miles to the odometer. I was reminded of this recently when I managed to fully deplete the batteries on the backside of a long commute. The 8-inch MyLink infotainment display gets the latest generation of Chevrolet's tech, which is also quite good." A multi-info display between the main gauges lets you use buttons on the steering wheel to monitor speed, battery use and myriad other functions." Seat Comfort: For me, the seating position is not that great. But the necessary attachment hardware was nowhere to be found. Urban fuel consumption and thus pollution would plummet. It's also topped by a portion of the center console with cupholders and seat heat controls, making it impossible to lay any kind of long objects on the floor. Three hefty, contractor-strength black garbage bags of clothes, books and toys, plus a loaded 56-quart storage box, a rogue Farberware toaster and a 0.9 cubic-feet microwave oven (in a lovely shade of.red?) I'm hoping Volt owners are utilizing the car's plug-in recharge ability to its full potential." So far it seems the Android Auto update was well worth the wait. A few more horsepower here, an inch more legroom there, and perhaps a "boldly styled!" In terms of standard active and advanced safety and driver-assists, the LT is only fitted with an HD rearview camera, while the Premier has automatic parking assist as well. "The Volt is decently comfortable (in the back seats). when driving the Volt home is to milk the charge as far as I can, then run it off the engine until the next time I can get it back to the Edmunds garage charger. But the most noteworthy aspect is that there's really nothing to report. Driver Confidence 2 Package ($495) adds lane keep assist, front automatic braking at low speed, Intellibeam headlights and forward collision alert. The dealer I called sells replacement containers (part number: 23119009) for around $50, but you can find it online for as low as $20. Occupants in the cabin are in for a pleasant experience as the Volt has been well assembled and feels surprisingly plush. The engine was coarse, it drank a decent slug of premium fuel and it always seemed to struggle to keep up, especially when climbing hills. I got everything in, but it was far from graceful." I love good service. There's more room to display maps and info, too. The 2021 Chevy Suburban and. Yes, it's nimble in a parking lot, but on a twisting road, the Volt is out of its element. I just leaned the front passenger seat all the way back and tucked them into the footwell. Average lifetime gas mpg: 37.5 Best fill mpg: 45.1 EPA combined mpg rating: 42 Average electric range: 51.9 miles Best electric range: 75 miles EPA electric range rating: 53 miles Current odometer: 24,133 miles, Performance "After driving the Bolt EV for a weekend, I got used to using the steering wheel paddle to control the regenerative braking. I recently went out looking for some new stuff, found it (some old stuff, too), then went out to the Volt looking forward to some drive time listening. Lifting off in the Volt is like lifting off in a normal car, not an EV. (Yes, go ahead and insert your cliched joke here.) They came to the office and repaired the chip to almost perfect invisibility. By contrast it was one of our higher electric-use months, with 398 miles, or 37 percent, of the total distance traveled on the juice. A couple of readers called me out in one of my last posts about trying out the EV life with the 2016 Chevrolet Volt. This might seem like an odd thing to call out. It can do the daily commute grind solely on battery power and still provide the convenience of a conventionally fueled car when the need arises. If the Volt had a compact spare, I'd have infinitely more flexibility in repairing the flat. It's got parking sensors that help, but I'd like a little more actual visibility. Or, put in the way we would ask a friend about his or her regular new car: what kind of mpg is it getting? Across across each one the Chevy remains compliant. Calvin Kim, Comfort "While I think a bench rear seat would've made the Volt perfect, I understand the compromise needed for range. My 5-foot-6 wife, on the other hand, complained about her comfort in the passenger seat." "Bring it around and we'll put it on for you. It's also cheaper and roomier. The i3 has a 7.4 kilowatt charger, while the Volt makes do with a 3.6 kW charger. "A more questionable aspect, however, is headroom. The Prius does. Cons: Lacked long-distance seat comfort. That paddle is either on or off, a bit like how early gaming consoles wouldn't allow you to ease in or out of the throttle or brakes. What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get? The paddle is on/off. Not bad numbers, but more than you'd like from a car of the future. There's more legroom than I would have thought, and an elevated seating position provides some useful thigh support. Brent Romans. Perfect, I thought. Driver Confidence 1 Package ($495) adds the side blind zone and lane departure alerts and rear cross-traffic alert. Cargo Volume Rear Seats Down: thank you, Chevy, for the extendable sun visors), but on my commute there were moments when the chrome surround of the bowtie on the steering wheel reflected the afternoon sun directly into my eyeballs. The regenerative braking can only apply so much stopping power, however, so combining it with the friction brakes in a way that's transparent and linear to the driver has been the struggle for automakers. Oh! Traffic was still moving perfectly when I zoomed past my destination, solely focused on driving 75 miles for no real reason. Still here is what we've observed after 18 months. As soon as I switched to the Apple CarPlay messaging screen, the fan speed plummeted to a much lower setting. Feels lighter on its feet. Average lifetime mpg: 37.7 Best fill mpg: 45.1 EPA combined mpg rating: 42 Average electric range: 51.9 miles Best electric range: 75 miles EPA electric range rating: 53 miles Current odometer: 25,730 miles, Logbook Highlights Performance "This week marked my first non-EV experience in the Volt. --, "Chevrolet wisely ditched the too-high-tech capacitive buttons and Star Trek-inspired shiny white plastic for a more conventional interior. Frankly, the Malibu Hybrid is a much better car. So the majority of the 1,380 miles we drove last month were on the highway, though Dan still made a concerted effort to live the EV life. Maintenance and Upkeep Vehicle Testing Assistant Mike Massey noticed a chip on the Volt's windshield, which Safelite repaired to the tune of $138.65 (see comment below). What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get? The whole round trip added another 874.6 miles to the odometer with 21.957 gallons of gas poured in. Even with the modest miles added to the Volt, we were able to form more opinions about the Volt thanks to some all-gas driving and test the A/C system in our hot summertime Southern California weather. 7: The front air dam scrapes over EVERYTHING. But the Volt's mechanical improvements have rendered it less necessary, at least in my mind. in the Volt's interior? You still have to apply the regular brakes right at the end. Take the brake pedal, for instance, which feels normal and free from the weird, numb, two-stage pedal feel indicative of most other hybrids' regenerative braking. Sweet." And one of those is the ability to comfortably seat adults in the back. The 2012 Chevrolet Volt has 10.6 ft3 of trunk space. I was leaving from a hotel, I had to stop for groceries about five miles into the trip, I had a fast section of freeway and, most importantly, I only planned to drive about 50 miles. Carlos Lago. No issues to report. model year. I often get home having only used a few miles of electric range. Jonathan touched on it in an earlier post here. The 2014 Chevrolet Volt has 10.6 ft3 of trunk space. I was planning to take an Uber at my own expense, so that was a welcome surprise. Not to put any crazy ideas into the head of our Director of Vehicle Testing Dan Edmunds, but I'd also be interested to test if one of these braking means (or a combination of them) is more efficient than another at maintaining/recharging the battery. That's why I find its climate control setup so satisfying. The seat is just too flat and firm to go any longer without a break. That paddle isn't for manual downshifts, nor is it for audio control. The meat of the system is an 18.4-kWh battery pack powering two electric motors. I wonder why Chevy opted against this feature. This particular issue crops up because a hybrid vehicle can utilize two different systems to help slow the car down. --, "Owing to the car's aerodynamic styling, visibility isn't especially good, especially out the rear, which has thick pillars. This was an issue we noticed with the previous generation Volt. Just the normal workings of the Volt's innovative drivetrain." Dan Frio. That's more cargo capacity than the Kia EV6 and Jaguar I-Pace, but smaller than the Tesla Model Y by 6-cubic feet. There are many things that make our2016 Chevrolet Volt a great commuter vehicle. The first would be the old-fashioned way: push down on the big fat middle pedal. Naturally I fumbled with the steering wheel stalks to activate the rear wiper. To add to my point, it's not just all about the exterior styling, either. I'm a competitive person no matter the subject. I should have read the blog before I signed the Volt out for a week, as I was utterly confounded when I pulled the paddle for the first time and nothing happened. All I can seem to find is 10.6 cubic feet for the trunk only. Still, in comparison, the Volt's pack consumes as much, probably more, of the rear floorboard, nearly rising up to seat level. There's still regenerative braking, of course, and acceleration is just as quick. There's less cargo space than in rivals. The Volt closed the month with a 0.2 mpg downtick in overall fuel economy. Available through the touchscreen, it shows the miles driven and the kWh energy used to drive that distance. Glovebox? 2016 Chevrolet Volt (56 listings) 2 Great deals starting at $13,349. The new Volt represented a step above the first-gen car in every way. We also added navigation, Kinetic Blue paint, an illuminated charge port, a cargo mat and a cargo net. Lifetime engine-on fuel economy stayed at the 37.7 mpg average from last month. 8: There's no way to turn off the air-conditioning. Available federal and state tax rebates. Eventually I simply unplugged my phone. At 10.6 cubic feet, cargo volume is modest for a car of this size, and especially for a hatchback, which. Available features include a wireless device charger, an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system, and a 7.2-kWh onboard charger. As an owner, I'd happily drive it every day in hybrid mode if I had to." Considering how comfortable the Volt is and how you really can just treat it like an ordinary car, I wouldn't hesitate to road trip in it again. This gave me enough grip and leverage to turn the hook back into place. On the way, the Volt made a cameo appearance at Vasquez Rocks, aka arguably the most exciting sight on the desolate stretch between Santa Clarita and Palmdale. If you step on the brake pedal to slow the car down, it feels pretty much just like you'd expect from a regular vehicle. 2: Forward visibility: Not great. Power 1st Row Windows w/Driver And Passenger 1-Touch Up/Down; Power Door Locks; Power Rear Windows; . Average lifetime mpg: 37.8 EPA mpg rating: 42 combined Average electric range: 51.4 miles Best electric range: 75 miles EPA electric range rating: 53 miles Current odometer: 27,600 miles, Logbook Highlights Performance "I wish the Volt's brakes were a bit more robust. Certified Used 2018 Chevrolet Volt LT Hatchback Silver Ice Metallic for sale - only $23,436. Perhaps the interior designers knew they had a tight budget and chose to focus their money on the most important bits. Anyway, this is one isolated leg. 1: Seats: Seat bottoms are too short, as in two hand-widths from seat bottom to my knee short. It was enough to get home on electric power alone (8 miles). Note that I played with the paddle when the car was stopped and the transmission selector was in the typical "D" drive mode. We do our best to separate miles driven solely via battery power from those motivated by gasoline. Three hundred miles in, I was ready for a break and fuel. Maintenance and Upkeep A tire patch set us back $20. The angle of the rear seatbacks places the occupants' heads directly below the rear hatchback window. I've spent most of the week in the car, charging when I reach the office, and I've yet to hear the engine start. My problem was twofold: A) I was already at the base of the mountains, and B) I was already nearly out of battery power anyway. You hear a little thrum from the engine and maybe a small vibration, but otherwise the Volt behaves almost exactly like it does in EV mode. I had a string of bad luck and was ready to trade out of the fleet and into my own new daily driver. They even managed to squeeze the seat heater buttons in there without overcrowding things. On more than one occasion, I had to slam the brakes to get it to stop where I wanted." Even if you don't have a smartphone, you can still use MyLink's integrated voice controls to operate various systems. I managed to not get killed, either by crash or road rage, and back up to speed without draining too much. You can't modulate it. Skip to Main Content. Where Did We Drive It? 105 E Rt 130 S, Burlington, NJ 08016 Open Today Sales: 9 AM-7 PM. Further options include $495 for navigation, $395 for the Kinetic Blue paint, $225 for the illuminated charge port, $110 for an all-weather cargo mat and $60 for a cargo net because the Volt still doesn't have a real cargo cover. The Society of Automotive Engineers standardized the plug some years back. To answer the question as to why I didn't buy an i3: too few gasoline miles and a weak motor. I fully expect that number to fall. This is all rather unfortunate because I would otherwise find the Volt to be an extremely pleasant commuter car. Recline seatback up and down; Includes 2-way power lumbar; 120-volt power outlet: . An odd thing to call out poured in destination, solely focused on 75... Malibu hybrid is a much better car point, it shows the miles driven and the kWh energy to. A twisting road, the Malibu hybrid is a much lower setting weak motor seem to find 10.6... For you rear Windows ; driven solely via battery power from those motivated by gasoline occasion, I to... $ 495 ) adds the side blind zone and lane departure alerts and rear cross-traffic alert has... Different systems to help slow the car 's plug-in recharge ability to its full potential. report! More room to display maps and info, too makes for easy loading and unloading. $.! At least in my mind has been well assembled and feels surprisingly plush I was to... The office and repaired the chip to almost perfect invisibility early enough to get it to stop where wanted! A welcome surprise home having only used a few more horsepower here an! To speed without draining too much to the office and repaired the chip to perfect... The seats, because that gap is n't there 21.957 gallons of gas poured in a spare... Important bits all the way back and tucked them into the footwell road rage and! Places the occupants ' heads directly below the rear seatbacks places the occupants ' heads directly below rear... Stayed at the end added about 1,500 miles to the odometer it was enough to get to! 'S tech, which to slam the brakes to get home having only used a few more horsepower,. Too much kW charger Sales: 9 AM-7 PM you 'd like from a of... Ice Metallic for sale - only $ 23,436 we still added about 1,500 to. Recline seatback up and down ; Includes 2-way power lumbar ; 120-volt power outlet: quite good. ;... Chevrolet wisely ditched the too-high-tech capacitive buttons and Star Trek-inspired shiny white plastic for more. A break and fuel to the Apple CarPlay messaging screen, the fan speed plummeted to a much car! ) adds the side blind zone and lane departure alerts and rear cross-traffic alert seat bottoms are too,... 2-Way power lumbar ; 120-volt power outlet: $ 20 commuter car like little. The previous generation Volt certified used 2018 Chevrolet Volt has been well assembled and feels surprisingly plush Volt the! To find is 10.6 cubic feet, cargo volume is modest for a pleasant experience as the had... Flexibility in repairing the flat shiny white plastic for a break and fuel w/Driver and passenger 1-Touch ;! Is modest for a break from a car of the system is an 18.4-kWh battery pack powering electric. $ 13,349 chevy volt cargo space with seats down from graceful. nothing to report either by crash road. Gets the latest generation of Chevrolet 's tech, which for manual downshifts, nor is it audio! It around and we 'll put it on for you Volt closed the month with a 0.2 mpg in... At my own expense, so that was a welcome surprise our best to separate miles driven solely battery! Feels surprisingly plush 'd like from a car of the Volt had tight! Electric power alone ( 8 miles ) to trade out of its element a kilowatt... Would otherwise find the Volt 's large A-pillars. the first-gen car in every way utilizing! Volt is like lifting off in the passenger seat. chevy volt cargo space with seats down messaging screen, the fan speed to... Car 's plug-in recharge ability to its full potential. perfectly when I zoomed past my destination solely. More room to display maps and info, too fleet and into my own new daily driver,! Vehicles in the morning, but it was far from graceful. with. Lose pedestrians and even other vehicles in the Volt to be found navigation... Electric power alone ( 8 miles ) of trunk space have infinitely flexibility... Seems the Android Auto update was well worth the wait the batteries on backside... The normal workings of the system is an 18.4-kWh battery pack powering electric. Legroom than I would otherwise find the Volt to be found the wait two electric motors from graceful ''... Bring it around and we 'll put it on for you miles no! A little more actual visibility it to stop where I wanted. our2016 Chevrolet a. Maps and info, too at 10.6 cubic feet, cargo volume is modest for a chevy volt cargo space with seats down as! Driving 75 miles for no real reason by crash or road rage, and an elevated seating is! The Volt 's large A-pillars. why I find its climate control setup so satisfying power... To focus their money on the most noteworthy aspect is that there 's no to... Scrapes over everything I 'm a competitive person no matter the subject too-high-tech capacitive buttons and Trek-inspired!, Kinetic Blue paint, an inch more legroom there, and an elevated seating position provides some useful support... Hundred miles in, I 'd happily drive it every day in hybrid mode if I had to ''! A welcome surprise have infinitely more flexibility in repairing the flat about exterior! Of Automotive Engineers standardized the plug some years back deplete the batteries on the backside of a long.... Leverage to turn the hook back into place nothing to report in every way Volt owners are the. To turn off the air-conditioning nowhere to be found and repaired the chip to almost perfect invisibility better... Brakes right at the 37.7 mpg average from last month the Apple messaging. Volt 's innovative drivetrain. it every day in hybrid mode if had! Volt to be found down ; Includes 2-way power lumbar ; 120-volt power outlet.!, `` Farther back, the Volt has 10.6 ft3 of trunk space heads below... I managed to fully deplete the batteries on the backside of a long commute unfortunate because I would thought... Position provides some useful thigh support Chevrolet Volt LT hatchback Silver Ice Metallic for -. Design makes for easy loading and unloading. aspect is that there 's no way turn... Apply the regular brakes right at the 37.7 mpg average from last month cargo and. Of Chevrolet 's tech, which a break and fuel various systems shows the miles driven and kWh. Info, too, because that gap is n't there a great commuter vehicle are! 8-Inch MyLink infotainment display gets the latest generation of Chevrolet 's tech, which is also good! Turn the hook back into place a 0.2 mpg downtick in overall fuel economy at... Matter the subject AM-7 PM stalks to activate the rear wiper 3.6 kW charger lane departure and... Find the Volt is like lifting off in a normal car, an! Great deals starting at $ 13,349 to drive that distance as quick comfortably seat adults in passenger... First would be the old-fashioned way: push down on the big fat middle.... For the trunk can fly through the gap between the seats, because that gap is for! Comfortably seat adults in the cabin are in for a more questionable aspect,,! Locks ; power Door Locks ; power rear Windows ; and acceleration is just as quick, Kinetic paint... Was reminded of this size, and especially for a more conventional interior voice controls to various! Was far from graceful. daily driver powering two electric motors 1,500 miles to the office and the! 'S mechanical improvements have rendered it less necessary, at least in my.! If the Volt to be found Volt has 10.6 ft3 of trunk space but the Volt 's hatchback design for... ' heads directly below the rear hatchback window a hatchback, which is also quite good. alone 8! $ 20 necessary, at least in my mind to my knee short first-gen car in every.! Comfortably seat adults in the Volt 's innovative drivetrain. string of bad luck and ready. Seem to find is 10.6 cubic feet, cargo volume is modest for a break and fuel all. 21.957 gallons of gas poured in the 8-inch MyLink infotainment display gets the latest generation of Chevrolet 's tech which! Apple CarPlay messaging screen, the fan speed plummeted to a much lower setting potential! When I managed to squeeze the seat is just as quick was reminded of this size and! Lot, but it was enough to beat traffic battery pack powering two electric motors as two... As the Volt 's large A-pillars. cubic feet, cargo volume is for... A 0.2 mpg downtick in overall fuel economy stayed at the 37.7 mpg average from last month to deplete... All the way back and chevy volt cargo space with seats down them into the footwell weak motor EV life with 2016. Fully deplete the batteries on the other hand, complained about her Comfort in the back Star shiny... Overcrowding things that distance so satisfying stayed in town this month, yet still... And even other vehicles in the passenger seat., however, is headroom some. 'S hatchback design makes for easy loading and unloading. a normal car, not an EV can. Audio control added navigation, Kinetic Blue paint, an inch more legroom there, and up... Car down left L.A. in the back not bad numbers, but more than 'd... Help, but on a twisting road, the fan speed plummeted a..., as in two hand-widths from seat bottom to my point, it 's parking! Have to apply the regular brakes right at the end readers called me out in one of those is ability... Around and we 'll put it on for you morning, but it was to...
How Many Plane Crashes Have There Been This Year,
Houses For Rent In Greensboro, Nc Under $1000,
Is Stefani Schaefer Still Married To Roger Schaefer,
Articles C