The Chevy Volt Is a Car You Either Love, Or Don't Understand... R.I.P.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ม.ค. 2020
- This is a Doug DeMuro inspired review. I asked Mr. DeMuro to review my 2013 Premium trim Volt back in 2017 and have been waiting for him to review one of these "uncool electric cars" for awhile. So, figured I'd just do it myself.
Enjoy.
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Five years on and I continue to love my 2017 Volt with 60K on the clock and 99% of the original range.
Heck yeah. '17 is a good year for Volts. Mine's just below 120k miles and still going strong.
I've loved my 2014. It has been very reliable and I rarely buy gas. I have had no battery degradation. It is definitely a GM technology masterpiece. Most people aren't smart enough to understand or appreciate the capabilities of this car. Other PHEV's that are still on the market or coming to market will start their engines under hard acceleration, regardless of battery charge. The Volt will never do this.
Yep. Mine is still going strong.
Good to know. I'm getting a used 2013 this week.
Just bought my 2014 Chevy volt couple of months ago &I FOOKEN LOVE IT 😂🤟💕🙏💕LOL I'm a full-time doordash driver this car is f****** awesome fantastic everything you need as a gig worker I recommend it to everybody it's a great gas saver as well with these prices nowadays 2022
Sweet! 2014 is a good year for the Volt.
I have one of those, 2014, same color, best car I ever had. I'm retired so I only have about 24000 miles on the car.
Nice! That's like brand new!
I just bought a 2018 blue Volt. I am a tech nerd and this car is perfect for me. It’s just like having a grown up toy. The dashboard display and the center display are just like something out of Star Trek. I would definitely recommend this car to anyone.
Hell yeah! 2018 is a perfect Volt model year!
@@usmcsaxoki 2017 good too! :)
@@usmcsaxoki 2022 much better lmao
@@davethevicar88
There is no such year Volt.
You’ll come to find the the 2019 Volt has the best displays of all the different years.
My early 2012 is still going with 255,000 miles. I had to recut all my rotors due to the MI road salt around 210k. Tires, oil and a wheel bearing has been my largest expenses for maintenance otherwise. My battery usage is around 50% and I am chasing down an Exhast Cam timing issue currently. With the amount of time on the generator engine I may have to change the timing chain at this point. So for all those who ask, "have you had to replace the battery?" - NO!
Nice. There will be a lot of maintenance for any car over 250,000 miles. Mine is still under 100k so no big issues yet.
Same, have a 2012 Volt. My issues are minor like wiindow regulator broke again for the 3rd time last week so this time im fixing it myself coz dealership is now asking $500 for repair. Also P0420 engine light code, Catalyst system below threshold, hasnt done anything yet for it as light comes after OBD read. The. Theres tires and oil changes. I basically call my Volt car my workhorse and im proud that the gas i saved on it already paid for the car itself so it is now free. BTw, the record on YT for this 2012 Volt is 450,000 miles and the only reason for that is it got t-boned. Look it up!
I have a red 2012. The best car I have ever had, super reliable, low maintenance, fun to drive, etc. For most people this car is very difficult to understand. When I am asked about it, I always explain that it can run either on electricity or gas, but people seem afraid of it, they think the short electric range is a compromise and they tend to forget that it can travel any long distances just as any other car.
Sounds about right.
Yep ,I have a 2012,love the car and looks ,black top of the line volt
I always love the sound of the car driving away from the outside. It never gets old.
Yep!
I own 2 Volts. We had two 2013's and I traded one in on a 2019 used one. This may be one of the best cars GM ever made. I'm techno nerd, so I studied the design and see gold there.
Nice. Would love a Gen II but am going to try to keep mine as long as possible.
I bought a dead Volt hopefully I can resurrect in budget. Please help
@@matthewchim5162 First, replace the 12 volt accessory battery. If that doesn't work, take it to the dealer and set a $300 limit on the fix. Reprogramming just might get her going again.
I bought one for my kids 2014, of course they wanted to have a Jeep but now they are loving the fact that they don't have to spend money on gas it's very stable and reasonably comfortable and quiet.
Excellent.
Mine is 2013. Bought brand new in 2012. 10 years later, 93K miles, still charged to 38-40 miles everyday on original battery pack. Original brake pads! Yes, oil change every 2 years!
Sounds right!
Thank you Doug! You convinced me to look into this car and... I bought one! It's a sliver 2015... but I *WISH* I could have found a red one, but to be honest, here in Oregon summer 2021, there was only one Volt to be had that still had any Voltec warranty left, selling under $15,000. I bought it. I come back to this video as I learn something new every time.
Awesome! Glad I could help. My name is not Doug though. Ha Ha.
80,000 Miles. Still been a great car. Have only spent $37.00 on gas this calendar year (2020).
Now $47.00. Damn.
A bit over $100 now since I drove it from North Carolina to Indiana.
@@usmcsaxoki Wow 100$ on gas in 10 months is very impressive!
@@usmcsaxoki where in north carolina are you?
@@jonr2192 Was in Jacksonville. Now, I live in Indiana.
I’m considering buying a red 2013 Volt with 113k miles on it, so this video really spoke to me. Thanks for the input!
I've had my 2012 Volt for 3 years now, and outside of one non-start issue (charging during a thunderstorm, lost power at the house), the car has been great. I love the car! This was a great review. Made me appreciate mine even more!
Excellent. Thanks!
That will never cause a failure to start.
When you fully deplete the high voltage battery as far as it can go (will let you go) there is still 20% remaining.
The high voltage battery is what the car uses to start the engine when needed.
loved my gen 1 volt..love my gen 2 volt. these are highly highly underrated cars. They are just so great. i had a 2013 that had a runin with a deer and now i drive a 2017, both are absolutely fantastic
Yep. Mine is still running strong!
My wife drives a '13 Prius with over 206,000 miles. I need to make a review on that.
Enjoyed the review. Three of my coworkers own Volts and are very pleased with the low cost of daily commutes.
Thanks Mike! Glad to hear it.
I got mine due to other Volt owners recommending the car.
I love it.
Hey Clay, great video, I’m currently driving the last year of the first-generation Chevy Volt (2015) same color as yours. This car is absolutely…amazing! This car rocks. It is very heavy, handles the road like it is on a track, the car feels stable and solid. Quick as a rabbit! Easy to park, maneuver and is a great city car. My car gets around 40 miles of range on average per charge. This car is built well, no rattles or squeaks so far. The only downside is driving with the windows down, is the most annoying thing about this car. This September 2023 I will have owned my car for 5 years and have only used approx. 65 gallons of gas. I have only driven in "L" low gear since I owned it this way it’s able to regenerate my battery as I drive. Fully electric until the battery runs out, however that does not happen very often. With a 220v charger at home I can go to the gym, run errands then plug it in and within an hour I’m back at 40 miles of range. Lastly, I Love how quiet it is...I call it my Ninja mobile because it makes no noise…none. The newer models must make a sound when moving under 5 MPH. Mine came with Leather & Suede Seats, Navigation, Rear View camera, Red Exterior with Tan Interior, and front heated seats. In October 2023 I needed to have the software updated due to some errors codes that would not going away, had to take to the dealer, dealer charged $400 for the software update…other than 1 oil change and I did replace the 12v battery just because it was 8 years old, that’s all the maintenance I have done on my car for the past 5 years…crazy.
Love my 2018 Volt. Best car I ever owned. Extremely well engineered and styled. Puts other hybrids to shame. Will never sell it.
Hell yeah! If I had to get a different car today, it would be a '17 or '18 Volt just for the increased electric range and better fuel economy when burning gas.
@@usmcsaxoki and the adaptive cruise + Lane keep assist.. thats the only thing i would like on my 2014
@@Lavabo-Quebec Yeah!
Thank you for making this video, I was looking for a Doug video on it but your came up
You're welcome!
the drive mode button is an easy fix. Simply use a knife to pop out the entire button (it's essy) then add a smaller sticker to the actual switch post in the dash, as a bushing so to speak. then replace the outer button, done.
Thanks! Yeah, somebody else mentioned that awhile back and I've since done that. Needs redone occasionally but is a pretty easy fix.
Great review Clay! Definitely looking into buying one of these
Sweet! Thank you.
I have a 2013 as well, it has honestly been the most economical car i have ever owned.. Charge it at work and rarely ever buy fuel... 130k miles on it.. and battery still working great.. Best buy ever.
Amen! Mine's itching close to 80k miles and no issues. Really great product. I was hoping Doug DeMuro would watch my video but he's big time and I'm "no time". Ha!
@@usmcsaxoki Be aware of: Alex on Autos have gone thru a test of the Chevrolet Volt, Mk. I.: th-cam.com/video/LFGyM40F774/w-d-xo.html So have TheFastLane Car: th-cam.com/video/DMSGnYGMBr8/w-d-xo.html
my thoughts exactly. I've owned a 2014 volt since new. Easily the best car i've owned. sport mode and low range, giver ..
I'm on 150k miles every now and again some bits pop up but just clear em with the ecm communicator and boom all done only ever had a top up of coolant on the batteries to which I take a pint out and replace with new stuff every month to keep it fresh
I’ve now owned my 2018 Chevy Volt LT for 1 year. I’ve driven 20k miles during this time yet only filled up 5 full tanks of gas, I charge on a level 2 every night and average 60-70 miles of electric range daily.
Depending on commute my full tank gas range of 9.8 gallons varies from 400-420 miles. I’ve managed to obtain up to 4k miles of combined range on a single tank with daily charging.
Best purchase of my life but I’m still hoping for a Tesla S as my next car.
Hell yeah! I would love a Gen II Volt due to the increased EV range, better fuel economy and the fact premium fuel is not required like in my Gen 1. Cool.
My next EV will hopefully be a Model X but we are waiting until the mortgage is paid off before having $1,000 a month car payment!
Clay, you can replace that mode button in 5 minutes with a used one off ebay, I have done it. Pop off console covers each side, two screws, pull out button panel with screen. One connector to switch and reassemble. You should be using hold or mountain uphill.
Thanks. Fixed it a long time ago myself.
I had a red 2014 just like that. It was the nicest car I ever owned. I traded it in on a 2022 Bolt, and have already regretted it. The Volt handled much better and smoother than the Bolt. Both have tilting/telescoping steering, but the Bolt steering wheel does not go down or back far enough to be comfortable. Also, the Bolt seat is too high, even when lowered all the way. That puts my right foot toes angled back at an awkward angle. Chevrolet didn't try very hard to market the Volt. The proof is most people don't know anything about it.
Yeah, and after the whole battery recall thing that GM is dealing with the Bolt, I'd say the Bolt is in trouble going forward. Sucks because it seemed like a great EV. Hopefully they fix the battery problem.
I think about this a lot but if I had to get another car today, it would be a Gen II Volt because of the increased range and that it does not require premium fuel.
Still have and drive my '13 Volt. Waiting to pay off the mortgage and then buy a Tesla. Looking at the Model Y right now.
They didn’t try to market it at all.
That’s its totally understated. I totally love it. Since I bought its my conmute car. One 2012, 2 2018. Love it! No car like it. best of both worlds. But it’s back in 2024. We make it happens!
In 2011 my dad bought a 2012 Volt for $48,000 Canadian as we back then lived in Stouffville, Ontario, Canada. 2 weeks later he received a check from the Canadian Government for $2,000 and a thank-you for buying the Electric/Gas car. For 10 years it drove with no problems other than the odd recall and changing oil every 2 years. Both of my parents drove it across Canada to BC and a bit of driving thru California and then all the way back home across Canada to Ont., Can., resting overnight in motels and plugging in the car. They did that twice between few years. In 2018 my dad passed away and shortly after I took over the driving of the car with still no problems other than some new brakes and pads. Last November in 2021 my mom and I moved to Edmonton, AB to be closer to family. In December the temp., dropped to -35 C and -42 C and the car would not charge. I ended up getting the Charge Port and 12 - volt battery replaced with new parts. This past week once again the temp., has dropped to -30 to -38 C and now my car will not start or charge because of the cold weather. Friday coming up will be much warmer and I'm hoping it'll charge so the battery gets warm and will start. If not, I'll have to take it to Volt Auto Pro and have them check it out. My car has gone 168,000 KM on same batteries with only a new charge port & 12 - volt battery that's newly added. Fingers crossed hoping it'll charge later this morning.
Damn that's cold!!! A lot of things won't work when it's that cold so I'm not surprised you had some issues. It is a great car. Still have mine.
I’d run the engine a bit before attempting to charge, when it’s that cold.
I love my Volt. I have a 2013 and loved it so much I bought one for my wife. She likes the old 2013, so I drive the 2017. Chevy should fire their advertising people. They didn’t advertise it. The 2013 is the best car I’ve owned and I am 70! It is so reliable. Buy a Volt if you don’t have one, you’ll be glad you did.
It is one of the best kept secrets. Used Gen II's with low miles are priced so low they are an amazing value. I've got my parents convinced and they are looking for a 2017 or 2018. I will make a review of that when they buy it.
@@usmcsaxoki I just bought myself a 2017 with about 62000 miles on it for $13500 and I am loving it. The new UI layout is heads and tails above the Gen 1 and I love having heated seats and a heated steering wheel
@@nexusfxcc Nice. I'd love a Gen 2 as well. Never had a heated steering wheel. Sounds nice for winter.
@@nexusfxcc I bought a used 2017 with 10,000 ($17,000) miles after my husband bought one. It is sporty and cute, like me, 😆 and it has so much pick up! I’m so happy I didn’t buy a Cruze with 2,000 miles for the same amount!
Planning on it my friend. I too will join the Volt club later this year. Hoping to buy one for 5k or at least pay down 5k and get cheap payments on one for the rest this Dec 2022.
I changed oil for a few years, after a fresh change you need to run the motor to check the oil pressure and look for leaks around the seals of the oil pan gasket and oil filter. Hence, popping the hood to turn on the engine.
Just bought a single owner used '14 Volt with 66K miles, same color as yours. Definitely loving it so far! Regrettably I live in an apartment and the complex has no EV chargers, but there's a free L2 chargepoint station not far from me with 24/7 parking.
Hey Clay, great presentation and explanation on the Volt! I happen to own a 2013 Volt and Still loving it, I bought it brand new strictly for my work commute and I've put 240,000 miles on it and my battery still holds a charge/range of 29-31 miles. I've done the proper maintenance through out the year and still goes strong. I've had the same problem with the MODE button not working a couple of times so I replaced the whole dash once (under warranty). A year later, a second time the button did not want to work, so I found out ( a good mechanic not a dealer one) that it was not broken but replacing the both intake and exhaust oxigen sensors the MODE button immediately started to work!. Unless you really stuck your finger in the MODE button and physically broke it then you will need to get a new center dashboard $$$.
Best investement ever!
Actually, I just popped out the mode button, added some electrical tape so that the button would make contact with the internal button that activates the modes and it has worked fine. Saved myself $700. Good to hear that with that many miles, the car still works fine. I want to keep mine until I can afford a Model X.
@@usmcsaxoki my dream car is a tesla model 3. I will be happy for you when you get your tesla man. Enjoy it man. I'll get a volt though then save for ever for a tesla before I die I hope. I'm 40 so I may have time lol.
@@BLUExEYEDxSLICKT Hoping to get a model Y for my wife and a 3 for me when we pay off our mortgage in about 6 years hopefully. But, who knows what will be available in the EV market then.
I thought this was a great video, very good information and you have a nice attitude about the car. I am considering purchasing one myself since it seems to be a pretty cool car :)
Thanks. I'd go with a Gen II (2016 or later) since you get more EV range and don't have to put premium fuel in.
Great video presentation Clay - informative and funny. Doug will be proud if he bothered to see it! I am buying a 2013 Volt this week from a used car dealer - same color as yours but the base version. It has 126K miles on it and drove amazing on the test drive with an electric range of 38 miles (though I tested it for only a few miles). Looking forward to my first plug in hybrid to complement my Prius and Sonata Hybrids (all 2013 models). BTW, it cost about $7K (taxes, title included) which I thought was reasonable in this high inflation environment for almost everything. Keep up the good work of sharing your knowledge with others!
That seems about right for price. Hope it is a great car for you. Still have that same one. At about 97k miles right now. Still love it.
How has the car held up so far? I too am interested in purchasing a higher mileage Chevy Volt. I am curious if anything north of 100k is too high for these cars. I am not sure if they suffer from any series issues at a higher mileage.
All these post of Volts over 100k miles gives me hope at buying used after I save up 5k before I even think about looking for one. Hoping to save up 5k by Dec 2022 and then look for one.
Awesome review. Thinking of getting one of these as they are now in my price range.
Sweet. They are great cars! Hoping mine lasts another 5 years!
Excellent coverage thanks!
Awesome video bro! I have a 2012 Volt, and My daily commute is about 25 miles, so I rarely use gas. Best investment I've ever made.
Awesome! Mine is still going strong after 102k miles.
I had a brand new 2012. This is seriously one of the most underrated cars of all time.
Agree. Still have and love mine.
I also own a 2013 since new. Great car!
I think the reason it went away is because it was a stop-gap car to help people transition to the idea of EV. The Volt, essentially having two powertrains, needed two EPA certifications; one for EV and another for gas. This gets expensive for manufacturers to do. It's also why the 2015 actually had an increase in range over the '13 and '14 but wasn't advertised, because GM never applied with the EPA to certify it, being that it was the last model year of Gen 1. I believe the 2015 battery capacity is 17 or 17.5 kWh.
Remember, many people derided the Volt at the end of Gen 2 for not being electric-only. Since it was in GM's plan to go full electric anyway, they pulled the plug on the Volt (pun intended!). I personally always thought this powertrain layout would be perfect for a family car, like a minivan or Enclave/Traverse. Still waiting on a 6 or 7 passenger EV that is relatively affordable.
I really enjoy my Volt. At 123,000 miles, so far my only maintenance has been 5 oil changes, one set of brakes (due to rust, MI road salt), one wheel bearing, and one 12 volt battery. My next vehicle will definitely be a fully electric GM product, but I am in no hurry to get rid of the Volt. I am still getting 40 miles on a charge and the car has been paid off for years. Only 140 gallons of gas used, so my experience has been almost totally electric. I have hit the 1 year Fuel Maintenance Mode more than once. For those that don't know, FMM is when the fuel level has not sufficiently changed in a year. The car will force the engine to run until there is very little fuel left and then will tell you to refill with at least three gallons of fresh gas. The other mode which was touched on in the video is Engine Maintenance Mode. This will occur about every 40 days if the engine hasn't run. This purges some of the fuel in the lines and ensures that internal engine components remain properly lubricated, as well as burning off any moisture or condensation that have accumulated in the crank case. This mode will usually complete in ten minutes or less, depending on the ambient temperature.
Lastly, one piece of advice; if you live where it snows, invest in a second set of wheels and a good set of snow tires. My preference is Michelin X-Ice and Snow. It will make a WORLD of difference in your ability to navigate in snow. The tires it came with are great for summer and fuel efficiency, but they are TERRIBLE at stopping on slushy roads. The battery range difference is almost imperceptible with the X-Ice and Snow tires. I swap wheels and tires in November/April in the Detroit area. This also makes all your tires last twice as long. Plus. I usually re-lubricate the brake caliper slide pins at this time to reduce the chance of the rusted brakes occurring again.
PS, the engine starting when the hood is opened is Service Mode. It's so technicians can force the engine to run in the event they need to diagnose an engine issue. I was a GM dealer tech at a Chevy dealer and was becoming Volt certified when this vehicle was new, but have since changed careers.
Paul Windisch
Awesome! A lot to say so will probably reply again... I still have the same car as my review and it is around 136,000 miles. Yes, I still get 40 + miles of battery only range in summer. (25 to 35 in winter depending on how much heat I run.) I run all weather Goodyears (don't know the exact kind) and haven't had an issue through northeastern Indiana weather. I keep track of how much I spend on gas and so far in 2023, I've spend $219 on gas. The rest of my driving is "fueled" mostly by my solar panels or just from the grid at my house. TBC.
Hey Paul....I’m currently driving the last year of the first-generation Volt (2015). This car is absolutely…amazing! It is very heavy, handles the road like it is on a track, the car feels stable and solid. Quick as a rabbit! In October 2023 I needed to have the software updated due to some errors codes that would not going away, had to take to the dealer, dealer charged $400 for the software update…other than 1 oil change and a 12v battery replacement, (just because it was 8 years old) that’s all the maintenance I have done on my car for the past 5 years…crazy. I live near Los Angeles.
This is the cheapest commuter car I've ever owned and it can put a smile on my face in sport mode... Some guy near me has a 2014 on 24k miles for £13000 so may look at this to replace mine
Semper Fi brother! Great vid.
Still trying to save up some money up for one. In a strange twist of events, I lost my job due to covid and my state is giving me DUA. That 1400 every two weeks is more than I make in 1 month.(I would say 2 months if I didn't constantly work OT due to people quitting and not showing up on a weekly basis) After living for 30 years on this earth I might actually have money to buy my first car. This might be messed up to say, but covid might have been the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life. It's actually moving me forward. Once I get that car I can find a better job and get paid more.
Cool
Some tips, get one with CPO if you can. I had issues with my used one at 30K miles. Also look for one with a rear camera. There are a lot of blind spots on this car. I do love the volt though.
@@holipinieo1 what is CPO
@@darkjord5823 Certified Pre-Owned
Buy a car used that was leased
30000 miles or less
17000 to 18000us out the door
Save 2000us plus per year on not buying gas if you work it
Hard to stuff a 26 dollar bill into that tank at California prices
Get 40 plus miles per gallon
NO "RANGE ANXIETY "
A " hoot to race a mini Cooper in sport mode and be neck and neck in the straight away.... yah
Roll on
Good review. I have a 2016 Chevy Volt. I love it. You're right about the defrost system. I wish there were more ways to bring fresh air into the car. That's my only complaint. I use this car for short trips with occasional long trips. The back seat space (or lack of space) isn't a concern because it's barely used. If you need that space, this isn't your car. I get 65 to 70 miles on a charge in warm weather and 40 to 45 in cold.
That's awesome range! I'm around 44 miles per charge right now. Thanks.
I’m 14 rn and saving up money to co sign a car with my parents for a 2017 volt I’m so hyped and this video sealed the deal thank you man🙏
Heck yeah! You are welcome. The Gen II doesn't require premium fuel and you will get more electric miles and better MPGs when you have to use the gas engine. Sweet.
@@usmcsaxoki and it looks wayyy better 😂
@@postmodernjoe Awe. You're hurting my feelings now. 😁
@@usmcsaxoki I meannn it’s tru
@@postmodernjoe Yep. Glad I could help.
best review out there. subscribed
Thanks!
Great review, I have two Volts. Battery runs 20 to 85% of capacity per OBD II reader. Cancelled because Cruise production stopped and Volt numbers could not support factory.
Thanks.
THANK YOU! Exactly what I need - I think I'm buying a 2013 with 75K on it today. :)
Awesome! Mine just passed 90k.
Excellent presentation! Thanks
Nice overview. Our 2014 Chevy Volt has nearly 160,000 miles on it. Great vehicle.
I have a 2015 and love it. Prefer its design inside and out over the 2016-2019
Cool. I've wanted to upgrade to a Gen II but probably never will because there's nothing wrong with mine.
@@usmcsaxoki Mine is now 5 1/2 years old with no maint other than oil changes, and those were done once a year, probably not needed. I only have about 28,000 miles on the car about 95% on electric. I have had 2 instances where the system malfunctioned, one was a non start and one was a stall while turning. I suspect the non start is 12V battery related. At this age that battery probably needs replaced. It was weird, I think when I opened the drivers door after a few failed attempts to start, the system reset and worked on the next attempt.
@@usmcsaxoki By the way, my Extrerior and Interior are exactly the same as yours, Great Taste!
@@tomhenry1592 Yeah, brother!
@@tomhenry1592 Yeah, they can be a little glitchy. I've replaced a few tires, two oil changes and a few small minor things like air filters replaced but that's it in 4 years.
(March 21st, 2022) FYI, I keep track every year of how much I spend on gasoline and in 2021, I spent $275.17 total on gas for the year and that includes a road trip to West Virginia and back. (I spent about $505.31 in electricity to power the vehicle in 2021 as well, but about 67% of that was covered by my solar PV system. Check out those videos for more info.) So total cost to "fuel" the vehicle in 2021 driving over 15k miles was about $780.48 if you don't take away the cost of the power provided through my PV system.
So far in 2022, I've put $68 worth of gas in the vehicle.
Take all that for what it's worth.
I've had a 2013 Ampera for over 3 years now and it's a great car. It's two cars in one, full EV for most local driving, hybrid for the longer trips. My personal lifetime MPG (UK gallons) is about 187mpg and so far it's been very reliable and cheap to run.
Interesting. That's about what my personal lifetime MPG number is. I've driven a little less than 58,000 miles since I bought the car and I would say about 12 to 15,000 of those are on the gas engine.
@@usmcsaxoki Do remember that UK / Imperial Gallon is more voluminous than the U.S. Gallon.
@@Greybone62 Huh.
Doug did review the Cadillac version of this car.
I have a 2017.best car I've ever owned.
But...it Can be frustrating in the winter. No wiper on a rear and water/snow loves to sit on it. The rear defroster also times out to save battery, and you need that thing clear because visibility in this car is pretty terrible..The charging port door has also frozen on me when it's really cold.And you'll notice that it Uses a lot more of the gas in the winter (I'm from Canada). Hardly notice when the engine does kick on..but once on it is a bit of a weird sensation because the engine noise doesn't always match the acceleration..kind of like driving with an old Nissan cvt. But despite all of my gripes in the winter,this has been such an amazing car.
Thank you for the review:)
Yes, yes and yes. Mine has always been garaged kept and we've lived in warmer climates since being in the Marine Corps. Definitely not as efficient in the winter but that applies to most cars. Because of the weight spread across all axles, it tends to handle pretty well on slippery roads for those few times when we drove it home to Northeast Indiana during the holidays.
The rear defogger times-out on every car I’ve ever had.
ALL electric cars are less efficient in the winter / cold.
Just brought a 2013 volt at first i thought this car was not going to impress me but after driving it gotta say for a hybrid its a pretty fun vehicle to drive. The handling is great, got decent torque and also likes how low and sleek the car looks from the outside
excellent review! am thinking of buying one.
Still recommend the Volt, especially a Gen II.
@@usmcsaxoki that's the one I was thinking of buying. Thanks for the encouragement
Another Hoosier Marine! Hamilton County here- great vid- I'm looking at a 2018 for a daily driver.
Semper Fi. Was a great car. I traded it in for a Model Y in February.
Excellent review - mine is 2015 and lifetime mpg is over 480. Only had a couple of issues with the Chevy a/c which is also used to cool the battery. In my view that was engine and warranty but nope.. ah well. It drives great! Quick off the mark too. Love it, will never sell it. Btw, I just bought a gizmo from Amazon to monitor all the cell voltages, after nearly 8 years they are unchanged. Never use the brakes much - love the regen in L. No range anxiety. In the early ownership days it was novel, but not necessary, to charge from public chargers. These days they are all full so just charge at home (L2 - done in 3.5 hrs). Great hatchback space.
Chevy A/C????
-it’s just A/C.
Public charging, unless free, is nearly always a ripoff.
I have this car as Opel Ampera and I agree with you. It's an amazing car! People will only understand, once they have been able to drive it.
Well said. Still love it and drive it daily.
@@usmcsaxoki Stay blessed with this choice. Greetings from Amsterdam!
@@Jerrel.A Greetings! Thanks!
I think where Chevy failed was educating and marketing this car. People don't know much about the Volt, but when I explain how it works, they love the idea. A lot of thought and care went into its design and build. My battery capacity seems to be the same on my 2015 Volt at about 152k miles. Yes, it did cost me $4k this year for some repairs (new tires, windshield, and some battery charging issues), but it is paid off and still feels great to drive. I plan on getting as much use out of it as I can. I'm hoping for at least 2-3 years without major issues.
Agreed. Mine has around 143k miles and still works great. Plan to keep it until it dies or is in need of a repair greater than the value of the vehicle. Then I'll probably get a Bolt EV.
Excellent Video!
Thanks!
Been using a 2013 Volt since 2016. Fabulous car! Recently took it on a 2,000 mile trip from Arizona to Tahoe and back, and our only real complaint was that 2013 vehicles don't have HUDs to display navigation intel.
Awesome! I've never actually used a HUD before.
You've definitely psyched me out about the shifter...
Huh. What do you mean?
@@usmcsaxoki The gear shifter! You were so excited now I am too!
@@MoovyTimeProductions It is an interesting quirk since most EVs have a shifter that is "fly by wire" instead of connected with a cable.
Well done video I'm 2012 white Volt at 276000 km and very happy best car i ever owned
Thanks Robert!
I just bought mine and I LOVE it! I live in Oregon so the Mountain and Sport modes are so handy. That the Mountain mode recharges the battery on the downhill is a bonus. She’ll get a testing when I drive her cross-country in about a month. I was going to take a KIA Sorento with the big V-6 that only gets 22 mpg if I’m headed downhill with a tailwind. In girl math: I’m making money!
Awesome! I still have this car and it is still great! I still get around 40 to 45 miles of battery range in the summer after 136,000 miles. Hardly have used mountain mode since I live in Indiana. Overall, a great car. Hopefully will have a Model S or 3 after this.
Owned a 2013 Volt for a few weeks... the best car I've had! Its soooo amazing!
A few weeks?
Yeup! Is that a bad thing cause now you're scaring me😂
@@aliciahandel9454 Sorry, thought you had it for a few weeks and then got rid of it. Just realized you've only owned it for a few weeks. My bad. How many miles on it?
Why only a few weeks?
Great review! Fix that button!
Done.
You can fix the drive mode button with no cost. Look on TH-cam videos. And you can set your engine not to come on until under 15 degrees in the car settings I know I live in Montana. And there is a kit you can buy to stop the wind buffering.
Ok. I will definitely look. Thanks!
Just did! Thanks! It will feel like a new car again with Sport mode. Found where to adjust the engine run temperature, too. Very helpful.
@@usmcsaxoki glad I could help. I always drive in sport mode too way better pedal response.
@@mikecupp131 Heck yeah, brother!
Great review.
Thanks!
I have an apartment so there isn’t somewhere I can charge my car, I know that the gas mode will charge the battery but doesn’t it fully charge it or only partially?
"Mountain" mode will charge the battery to about half but this is a very inefficient way to charge and you will burn more gas than just driving without charging. Mountain mode is the one mode I have rarely used and honestly don't really understand what it's for.
I lived in an apartment also with this car and ran an extension chord from my porch to the parking lot to charge it. Fun. Good for conversations with strangers.
I understand that I had to fill the tank of the econobox traded in for the Volt once a week. I go months between fill ups on my Volt.
Haven’t filled my ‘19 in over a year.
I own one, it is indeed awesome. 248mpg for the last 37k miles. You should check out the DC/AC inverter mods people are putting in, you can use the car as an emergency backup battery/gas generator and its super quiet. Mine runs a fridge for over 24 hours on the traction battery alone, then the gas kicks in and runs like a generator (except for only ~5 minutes every hour! very convenient!) My 2015 model doesn't have an automatic battery panel opener and I've been wondering what that button on the remote does for the longest time! thanks for remotely opening that thing on camera!
btw I've been running mine on 89 octane regular all year and haven't had a single hiccup or engine knock. I can't fathom why Chevy recommends premium. So glad to hear your battery hasn't really degraded. Such a good value, I bought mine for $15k with 28k miles on it. Quirkiest feature for me is the passenger access to the parking brake and the door locks.
That is good to hear. I always wondered why there is not somewhere on the car to plug something into so you can use the engine like a generator. Does your 2015 get about the same electric range (35 to 50 miles)?
@@usmcsaxoki In the summer I've got the guessometer to read 40 at the highest. My guessometer frequently reads as low as 24 though, but it tends to be colder around here (WesternWA) and I drive it like I stole it. I take great pleasure in flooring it at every opportunity and drive in sport/L. I think D actually could get better mileage because coasting is so efficient.
@@uglypinkeraser Yep. Definitely less range in colder climates. I did a range test and got 60.1 miles on a charge once but 50 in the summer in NC is not uncommon for me. My Drive Mode button quit working about a year ago and the Chevy dealer said it would cost around $700 to replace because of the part. I miss Sport mode.
@@uglypinkeraser
I think the gasoline quality is a little better now, but some people have experienced knocking issues, or lack of performance, when using regular.
I also have the 2013 Volt Premier with all the options. purchased used in Nov 2019 and not had any problems, My 110 wall outlet charges car overnight and full charge in the morning. The most EV range I have had is 43 miles and winter time it will charge up to 31-33 miles, I have a little over 91000 miles. We have taken this car on a few road trips and one downside is that it will only get 31 mpg after the battery runs out so not great gas milage when the engine is on, I like the Volt and the looks. I love sport mode. I agree with your review, would be nice to have electric seat, Mine is white with black leather seats. I will be looking next year to get a Bolt to go along with the volt as after you drive Electric it is hard to go back to gas, Used 2017 Blots I have seen some LT versions under $15000,
Yeah, they are giving used Bolts away. It's amazing how cheap they are. Hmm, wonder why your gas mileage when running the engine is so low. Mine gets around 40 MPG. Are you using 91 octane or higher like you are required to? That may be why.
@@usmcsaxoki Yes I am using premium gas.
@@scottyj6023 Ok. Hmm.
I just picked up a 2015 Premier w/38k on it, great car. Went with the first gen because I prefer the looks and interior over the 2nd gen.
Hmm. Interesting. Cool. I do prefer the looks of the Gen II cars. I mainly like them because the increase in electric range and that you don't have to put premium gas in them. But, as of now, I have no intention of changing cars. I'm at 86,000 miles with no issues.
@@usmcsaxoki Bit the draw back of the 2nd generation is that it uses a chain to propel the car over Gen 1's gears. Also the electric Motor on gen 1 is bigger and more solid than the split motor of Gen 2.
@@bmw803 Interesting. Where did you get that information?
@@usmcsaxoki
1. th-cam.com/video/kCdUwUCLPB8/w-d-xo.html
2. th-cam.com/video/AX5ZwzNwTc4/w-d-xo.html
3. th-cam.com/video/2yRS-AJ1VQU/w-d-xo.html
Check those out, you'll see what I mean and how Generation 1 was stronger built than the 2nd one.
This will be the first none VW/Audi car I will ever purchase ..test drove it and I have to admit it isn't bad at all ..
I have a 13. 85k miles. It's been virtually flawless. I love that stupid little car.😁
Mine has about 89k know. Love mine as well.
I love it. Las cosas son como son. Si sabes de mecanica, hidraulica y electronica, sabrás porque la palanca de cambios es como es. No son cambios eléctricos y no quisieron complicar más las cosas en esa transmisión. Vi un video en que alguien criticaba los led que indican la posición de la palanca cerca de ella, porque cuando hay mucha luz de dia, casi no se ven. Sin embargo en el display frente al timón aparece muy claramente la posición. Cuando no amamos algo suficiente, comenzaremos a criticar. Tengo un 2012 con 142000 millas, hace 33 millas por carga y 33 MPG con gasolina. Lo amo.
Awesome!
That Demuro intro 🤣
Such a great car!
Would you recommend it for someone that doesn’t have a home plug for it (street parking)? Would the ICE and regen braking be enough to provide some electric range?
Thanks!
Thanks! Still haven't heard from Doug. Ha!
I would recommend only if you are able to charge it daily and regularly whether it's from a 120v or 240v outlet.
Otherwise, you are just driving a somewhat inefficient hybrid that requires premium gasoline.
Mountain mode will charge the battery to half and then keep it there using the engine but it is not an efficient way to charge.
@@usmcsaxoki thanks your answer and your help sir! Really appreciate it 💪
That’s unfortunate, too bad, very sad and extremely logical...! 😬 I guess I’ll have to wait for another home and the charging network to grow, I hope it’s not to long 🤞
In between I guess I’ll stick to my big old naturally aspirated V8 engine 😜 hahah! ... no just kidding I’ve only got a V12
@@nathanwabre Damn. What do you drive?
hey i’m thinking about buying a chevy volt 2014
any things i should look for and ask the owner of the car ?
the drive mode button is easily fixed.. pull out button and there is a little button under in the lower bottom corner. Cut a small piece of electrical tape make a little square two or three layers .. put on small button and replace the cover and wham it works.
Learned that awhile ago. Thanks anyway!
In the UK, it's a Vauxhall Ampera, I have one and it's great. U need to fix that Drive Mode button, as how can u use Sport Mode without it being fixed?
"Driving Electricity Further" Ha!
Yeah, I know. Have you seen "The World's End"? It's the only car in Newton Haven.
I've long since fixed the button. And yes, I did miss Sport Mode. Thanks.
You can set that auto 35 degree down to 17 degrees I think...I remember doing that on mine..goto settings on ur car and set it to it might be 15 degrees before the engine kicks on for that temp
Yeah, somebody else told me that and I changed it right away. Thanks! It's 15 degrees btw.
2011 volt premium with 60k miles. $9k at a local dealer. Is it worth to buy?
I'm 2512, Wire Dog. 1988, Pendleton & Okinawa. If you are 6 foot tall, and have lower back pain, difficulty bending down, is it ok?
It was ahead of time so much that it was missunderstood and didn't catch up with regular people. Now most new cars sold at least here in central europe are some sort of plug in hybrids and most of them have sort of second thought designed systems where battery is in the trunk, electic motor is driving one axle and ICE the other. Some of the systems are horrible from the engineering perspective but it still sells. Volt with its superior architecture and extremely seamless operation runs circles around these systems. If Volt was released in 2020 it would sell like hot cakes, 2011 was too soon though. I own 2012 Opel Ampera which is european version of Volt, and I love it. I spend $0.0 for fuel as I have free charging station where I work.
Agreed. Awesome you have free charging at work. That's the dream. You probably almost never have to charge at home then.
@@usmcsaxoki I have exactly 20 miles one way to work so usually not but sometimes I charge at home too more or less so I can preheat in the morning from the grid.
I actually think this car looks better than the Prius and the second gen of this model. Great video.
Definitely better looking than the Prius. I think the GEN II looks better though.
What doesn't look better than a Prius?
2nd Gen looks best, but other than that, I agree with you.
@@richardalexander5758
True!
We have a 2013 and a 2019. Great cars!
Nice!
The engine turns on when you open the hood for safety. Otherwise, you could be working on the car, not realize you have it turned on... Then the engine kicks on.
Good point. Didn't think of that.
It turns on for maintenance, so when the car is turned on, you can do leak checks, listen for noises, etc.
My 2014 heater does not work while Driving on battery? Does anyone know why?
I do not. Would have it checked out by a dealer.
I have a 2013 as well and is the most comfortable car I've owned. I prefer to take it on long road trips over our newer Ford explorer.
Mine's still smooth as silk on the road.
I love the Volt and it’s a great car, but it’s a commuter car.
It is not even close to being as comfortable as most of the cars I have owned.
Take it on a long drive, and your ass will be sore.
You got another subscriber! Great content I just bought a 2014 chevy volt!!! With 60k miles and so far loving it! Love the Doug Demuro style videos! Keep it up, Thanks.
Thanks! Still own it!
The Chevy Volt is the thinking person's electric vehicle. Unfortunately, that's why it was discontinued.
Hello, would you recommend this car for a 80 mil daily commute?
Sure. It would be best if you could charge while at work but otherwise, depending on where you live, you will be burning a gallon or so of gas a day.
My 2014 Volt has a gas tank problem...it only gets 80 miles of GAS RANGE when the gas tank is full. Anyone else have this problem? Is there a way to fix this?
Never heard of that before. Weird. I would ask a Chevy dealer about it.
If they didn't kill it they could have revamped that screen and give it a Tesla style screen. Seems like many of those buttons are redundant and useless.
Yep.
All those buttons had some sense thinking of some hacker using them for other functionalities... but in 8 years nobody could hack it. At least that I know.
Unfortunately those Tesla screens are being recalled for bad parts making even the wipers inaccessible until fixed.
I love my 2012 Chevy Volt @ 80,000 miles ❣️
Mine's almost at 102,000 and going strong!
I have a 2011 Volt and love it.
Cool. How many miles?
134000 miles only a couple of issues with it. A module went bad couple of years ago but it was covered by the warranty. Hit a dear couple of weeks ago. It went underneath the car, took out main radiator, auxiliary radiator, AC condenser, front bumper and some of the plastic underneath. $3600.00 later (covered by my insurance) she’s back on the road.
@@darrellbetts3577 That sucks. At least it wasn't the car's fault.
GM lost money on every one they built. Losing more money now on full electric trucks and bolts. 110,000 miles on my 2014 and just dropped $6,500 on AC evaporator, front axles, motor mounts and total fluid change. I could've bought another used one for that amount but I've had this since new. Thats all I've ever spent on repairs and if I get another 110,000miles I'll be happy. I love this car better than my 1991 Porsche 911 turbo I just dropped $35,000 on in repairs. GM needs to resurrect the Volt now that full EV's are a joke.
My 2013 averages 9.1-10.8 kWh before going to Extended Range, highest Electric miles was 58. Lowest is 28.
Sounds about right. My highest was 60 (this was recorded in a previous video during a test to see how far I could go on electricity) and my lowest is probably around 28 in the winter but I don't know for sure.
@@usmcsaxoki mine is 50km in winter and 70km in summer. How the hell did u get so much miles. Insane. (I have the Opel Ampera version in Europe) its now very popular second hand car due to gas prices going up in Ukraine. And its very reliable plugin hybrid. The best hybrid out there.
@@HermanWillems 31 to 43 miles is about what I currently get in winter and summer so that's not bad. Just had to replace the 12v battery which makes sense as it was almost 10 years old!
i can attest to the longevity of this battery. im driving mine in a 4 season climate and now approachin 200k miles on the original battery. i've definitely lost some range, somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 percent in the winter, and 15 percent in the summer, (some of this i put down to code updates that made the car make much more conservative use of the battery in the winter.) )but this car is still banging out 100mpg after being on the road daily for over 10 years. The car has needed minimal repairs, and never been in the shop for more than a day or two at a time. The only advice i would give to owners of this car, try and garage it. i dont think this car likes the cold very much at all.
Yep. They do not like the cold. I'm still getting around 40 miles in the summer with about 126k miles on it now.
Related to the battery range useful in the volt gen 1 the 65% that is usable is from 20% on the minimum bottom end and then up to 85% on the top end. Not a guess, not a wonder, I have ways of knowing internally through let's say engineering connections but I don't have to divulge it from that standpoint. I've tested my own 2015 volt and can see with a scan tool (Even Blue Driver) that when the gauge on the dash reads zero empty there's 20% in the battery and it tries to charge sustain at that point and it only charges up to what shows in the scan tool that's 85%, but indicates full on the dash instrument cluster so the conversations that everybody heard and saw online were either different at different times from different people or were conjecture but I can tell you 100%. I can show you and prove it to you and video that it's from 20% up to 85% and the 65% in between that you get to use.
You can change the setting to not turn on at 35 degrees.