![]() I've had issues with Chevy's MyLink, which came with my upgrade ($895), but I had to spend more time with it and program it to maximize its utility. The front cabin is roomy and everything is within reach without having to change position in your seat. The center armrest in the backseat was big enough that the kids didn't think to fight about it. The Volt seats only 4 but it does so comfortably and spaciously. Heated leather front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a rear seat removable armrest cost $1,395 and were well worth it, upping the sportiness and the interior versatility.īoth back seats fold down and, with the armrest out, add about 4.5 more cubic feet to a max cargo load of 15 total cubic feet of flat space to transport anything but people. The other goodies on the premium trim package were on the interior. My test car had $5,000 in upgrades, including the sharp crystal red paint job. Factor in the $7,500 federal tax credit and state rebates like the $4,000 offered in Illinois(at 10 percent of purchase price), and the Volt can be had for about $23,000 (plus destination). In August, Chevy dropped the price $5,000 to $34,185. ![]() Though there is more body roll than I expected, the Volt is a smooth, sporty enough drive that is competitively priced. It's responsive and nimble when passing at cruising speeds, which is impressive since it weighs 3,781 pounds, about 500 pounds more than the Leaf. Chevy says the 273 pound-feet of torque can get it to 0-60 in 8.9 seconds but it doesn't feel fast. It gets an EPA-estimated 37 mpg on gas only, which is on the higher end of fuel economy for gas engines. Chevy estimates that Volt owners average 900 miles between fill ups. With the range-extending generator, you don't really need it. The Volt is not compatible with DC fast charging and a Volt spokesperson confirmed that Chevy has no plans to announce it, though the Spark EV will be DC compatible in the winter. The connection needs a firm snap and it won't do that unless you're lined up, so I'm sure you'd be able to plug in blind after a week or two of doing it every night.Ĭharging at work is an awesome way to guarantee you won't have to use any gas. Since you'll mostly be charging at night and overhead garage lights might not reach the port that faces the wall, it'd be nice if the door lit up so you could clearly see it. One thing I would've liked is illumination on the port. Once charged, it flashes green if hooked up improperly, it's a dull orange. There is a quarter-sized bubble light in the center where the dash meets the windshield that turns green when you plug in, so you can see it from outside and inside. Chevy developed a Volt-specific app as well (it requires OnStar subscription). Plug Share is a user-based resource of available chargers - even home chargers - and reviews. Apps for electric charging, especially if you're using Charge Point public chargers, can tell you all that. My charge beat estimates every time, though I can't say by how much. The readout estimates eight hours to charge on 120V, and four hours to charge on a 240V outlet. I plugged into a standard 120-volt outlet in my garage nightly and had a full charge by morning. Charging is recommended each night, however. And if you're driving through Wyoming or some other unpopulated area you just need to refill the generator with gas to keep going. At lower speeds, there is a slight vibration when the generator switches on but you really have to be anticipating it to feel it. The only change is on the energy readout on the dash, when it switches from a battery symbol to a gas pump symbol. This switch happens without any interruption to the driver at 70 mph or 20 mph. (The Leaf has a 24 kWh battery and a correspondingly greater range.) Once the battery dies the 9.3 gallon 1.4-liter range-extending gas generator kicks on to power the motor for another 300 plus miles. The Volt's 16.5 kWh lithium ion battery by itself gets an EPA-estimated 38-mile range, though I was averaging just shy of 48 miles per charge.
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