great to know you are happy.. I have a 2014 volt and I have about 44k, I haven't had any issues yet. the brakes are still new and drives like when I bought it..
I've owned a 2017 Volt since March of 2016. Being an early production unit of a new model, I expected bugs. There have been none - zip, zero, nada. All the numbers in the video are accurate ... I get over 42mpg on regular gasoline, and the computer shows I'm getting 55-60 miles per full charge from the battery. My 'commute' is about 40 miles round trip, so I can make it without shifting to gasoline. When I do need to shift to gasoline, the "changeover' is so smooth that I still have trouble believing that a gas engine has started up -- I hear and feel nothing - I expected a little thump or jolt, but it is truly transparent -- I still don't know how they do that. My only "beef" is that the visibility when trying to park is poor. The driver sits low, the window frame is 'high' and I only get one good look at the parking lines before I try to park. Backing into a slot is (ironically) a little better because the backup camera is so good. But still, ease of parking is the only significant downside I can think of. The pickup is very good, which is nice when making a quick turn into traffic or accelerating to highway speed. I drove a 2016 model for a week, and the pickup on that car was marginal. Overall, this is the most fun and interesting car to drive I've ever owned. I've only bought 3 tankfuls of gas since I bought it since most of my driving is local. And even the gas I've used was mostly for highway speeds (where electric is less efficient) and to "exercise" the gas engine and use the gasoline before it goes "stale". I understand the Volt's computer will actually run the gas engine from time to time to avoid having stale gasoline in the tank, bu I've never noticed it to do that. If I should lose my Volt to an accident or theft (perish forbid), I'm going to buy another one -- for sure!
I've always thought the HOLD feature could be used on the highway so the gas gets used. I will try that is I get one but I just don't have the money, the lottery might not be a good plan. Happy volting.
Bought my Volt Premier in May 2016 and highly recommend it. In six months I've used 7 gal. of gasoline. Total range with both battery and gas is 420 miles before you need to stop for gas on a trip.
After driving 61,000 in my 2014, my lifetime mpg is 127 mpg. I drive a lot and don't always get to charge. After rebates and tax credits my car cost $22,195. Love this car. Basically no maintenance on this car because it's mainly an electric vehicle. I've only changed my oil because of time, not miles, basically changing it every two years.
@@johnmichalenko2727 my Volt now has 103,000 miles on it. Lifetime MPG is 174 mpg. Zero problems. It’s as fast as ever and the battery range is still 20% more than it was rated for. I’ll prolly have it for another 200,000.
Hey I'm about to purchase a 2017 volt and I live in apartments. I noticed you said you don't get to charge often, how often do you drive on electric and gas and what is your mpg? I really want this car but I'm only going to be charging it at stations because no access to home charging. I'm worried it might effect the mpg or battery life if I don't home charge it or have it 90-100% all the time @@voltecrules624
I still don't understand how anyone can have no faith in this car. Even if it wasn't a hybrid it'd still be highly competitive in the compact sedan segment, but the whole package makes it incredibly compelling.
GM not doing a lot of marketing for it outside of some areas like California, might have something to do with that. Many people simply aren't aware that the Volt exists, and many Chevy dealerships don't want to promote it very heavily. They'd rather just toss you into a Cruze and send you on your way so they can get to the next customer.
GM, Chevy and Chrystler are NOT commited to shifting us to a Sustainable future. 1900's GM had the Electric car and it got 100 miles on a Charge. today the Chevy Volt can only do 55 miles on an Electric charge and it still has to carry around gasoline and a ICE generator. see the problem ?
TrollBuster I think clear media bias early-on, was devastating. The ridiculous notion of fires was total bullshit....only in testing, and when the car was left vertical for a week, did fluid leak into the battery and start fire(s). What a crock of shit! It whoops ass on any other hybrid, or full electric car....it doesn't run out of a charge stranding you somewhere, do that awesome little gasoline engine, that kicks-in and drives a generator, continuing to provide power to the drive motor / wheels. I bought a new '19 Volt Premier, and love it to death. I don't listen to a damned thing the media says, as they've proven that they don't care about facts, but only their agenda. I did listen to facts, and people who own them, a couple of folks that I know personally. One guy liked his first one so much, that he bought another, giving the first one to his daughter. What a fantastic car.
Another very satisfied 2017 owner here. I've been getting way over the advertised 52 miles per charge, and also better than the advertised mpg on gas. Fun to drive, and I love the regenerative braking.
Great review. I have put 4500 miles on my 2017 in less than 2 months. My back didn't like Prius seats so I switched and the Volt is comfortable with no lumbar adjustment needed. It is also very quiet with superb handling. I am designing a custom dash accessory console for mine. The near zero maintenance is a plus compared to a hybrid.
if I had the money I would definitely buy this car, this is a awesome car and Chevy did a Awesome job with it. seriously I want this car really badly someday hopefully sooner then later I'll get one anyhow I'm a huge fan of this car. Awesome job Chevy
You could always look at a used Volt. Though they have less range than the new one, they're still pretty decent cars too if you need a cheap commuter car. You can find them in the $8-15k price range easily.
Thomas Gordon, I totally agree, and I finally just went out and got a brand-new '19 Volt Premier, on 6/3/19! I love it, and get lots of positive comments on it. It's a fantastic car!
Patrick Flohe Im thinking about getting one this early september. How much did you get it for? I have done research about this car and I really like it. The only thing that concern me is Chevy general poor reliability. Also it might have low depreciation since they stop producing this model
Let's all catch up! Thomas: Did you ever get one?? Patrick: 1 year later...how you loving the Volt Premier? You can do even faster charging on the 2019 now..and I love the seats in Premier..I might get a 2017 or 2018 used Premier Kriter Max: Did you ever get one that September? If ended up with a Volt, which one and how do you like it?
Update: my 2014 Volt still gets on average 42-44 miles per charge. I now have a Lifetime mpg of 143 mpg after 74,000 miles. No problems. Planning to get a 3rd oil change for $30 soon, or not. I could probably go another 20,000 miles, but it's been over a year so I feel I should change my oil. Try that in a Prius.
I bought this car its great! 7kmiles average 100 mpgs, road trips are about 45-50 mpgs! Day to day it will school a prius! Only issue was an oil leak, dealer installed new updated oil pan and that fixed it. Also two dash rattles, gm can ever seem to 100% rattle free. But great car other wise.
The seashell in the rear was to accommodate for Uber and Lyft. Chevy listened to the demands and complaints. Uber and Lyft requires seating and seat belts for 5.
You hit the nail squarely on the head at 2:47 to 2:52. I've owned hybrids from all three makers - Prius, Honda Civic hybrid and the Volt. The Volt is head and shoulders above the other two. That doesn't detract from their qualities, but the 2020 Prius Prime PHEV is inferior in electric capability to the 2012 Gen 1 Volt. The Gen 1 Volt pales in comparison to the 2017 and later Gen 2.
I had a gen 1 Volt - loved it. Now I have a Gen 2 2016 premier which is a nice improvement over the 1st generation. Great car. My average mileage is 178 mpg even with long distance trips included.
Rick Williams The Gen 2 is fantastic, with numerous improvements. Get that. I got a brand-new '19, and I'm in love with it. Get an '18 or '19, if you can. You won't regret it.
Bought my 2017 Volt LT recently, and after haggling with the dealer and taking into account the $7,500 federal tax credit I'll receive, the car came in new at just under $22K (exclusive of tax, title, and license). Also got 0.0% APR through GM financing. I have owned a lot of cars in my life, but this one is my favorite. I am not buying gas anymore, and have gotten my estimated all-electric range up to 75 miles/125 km by driving conservatively and using the regeneration paddle for braking. I also do not need to worry about range. The car drives and handles beautifully.
Tom W. I just bought a new '19 on June 3rd, and I'm in love with this car! I love the way it feels and drives. I drive about 48 miles each way, and it's saving me a ton of cash, in fuel.
Personally I think they made a big mistake in stopping production of this car. I’d rather have this than the Bolt just because charging stations aren’t popular if I do want to travel. And volts are neat even though I prefer the first gen design
I'll have to go check out a 2016 or 2016 Volt to see about the 'nearly flat' back-seats-down position. I have a 2014 and the rear seat bottoms pop out easily (and without tools) if you want the cargo area floor to be *completely* flat. Most of the time, that's not necessary, but when you want a completely flat cargo area, it's a nice capability. I hope they didn't take that feature away, but I suspect it's just been overlooked here, because it's easy to miss. Anybody who knows if the removable rear seat bottoms have been discontinued, please speak up.
This is a nice looking car inside and out. If I were looking to buy a new car, this would definitely be high on my list to test drive. Have a couple of year old Chevy SUV and it has been trouble free and low maintenance.
There are different modes of operation and it can get complicated to explain it all. Generally speaking, though, if you run out of battery power, the car won't charge to 100%. It will more or less maintain the SOC (state of charge, which when "empty" is probably somewhere around 15%). It regularly dips into battery power and then recharges the battery, but keeps it right around 15%. If you are in mountain mode, the car will attempt to keep and hold 45% SOC, since the genset (gas engine) only has 101HP and 103 lb-ft of torque (the electric motors have 149HP and 294 lb-ft, so it needs them to get up and over mountains). If you are below 45% SOC, the car will run the genset nonstop and aggressively try to charge the battery to 45%. If you put it in hold mode, whatever SOC you are at, the car will attempt to maintain that. The only mode that doesn't charge the battery using genset power is when you are in ERDTT mode (engine running due to temperature). This mode is used to heat up the battery and passenger compartment when the electric heater can't do the job. The car is programmed to not put load on the gas genset when the engine is extremely cold, and ERDTT mode only happens when it's extremely cold, so the engine just idles. In any mode, you can charge the battery with regenerative braking here and there.
@Jeff Kubel With regards to ERDTT mode, if the engine is extremely cold (say winter in Vancouver, at least these days, can be -2 to -7 in the day) would the all-electric mode prevent the heaters from blowing warm air? When we were test-driving our soon-to-be 2017 Volt (picking it up this tomorrow!) the blower was FREEZING and we couldn't figure it out!! Eventually it warmed up but we weren't sure if it had to do with us pushing any buttons, aaaannddd then it got cold again XD
Not likely unfortunately. The first gen Volt, which I think was sold as the Ampera in Europe, didn't sell very well. I think you can get the Chevy Bolt though, which again I think is called the Ampera-e, which is a pure electric vehicle with a much higher range than the Volt though no gas engine.
"Some say if the Volt had been introduced by Honda or Toyota, the Volt's history might have been far better" -Also add "...by Cadillac" to that statement. Typically, the high-end is where i thought one was supposed to introduce your experimental "showcase" technologies to your more well-heeled users, then work your way down (a la Tesla?) - and Volt users, at least in my informal research, uniformly love the heck out of their Volts - and mid-high-30s would have been a super-sweet price point, though i'm sure it would be higher if badged as the "Cadillac Laser" or something.... (hint: you still could bring it back as a caddy...)
Great review I really appreciate your insights. As a hybrid plug-in owner of a Ford CMax and Toyota Prius plug-in, II can appreciate all of the features that you pointed out. Namely the fact that the electric motor consistently performs without the gas engine kicking in, that is something that drives me crazy in my plug-in Prius hybrid that requires the gas motor to kick in in cold environment between 40 and 60°F. I can only muster about 12 miles electricity only on the Prius plug-in and about 15 miles on the CMax. Getting upwards towards 50 miles electricity only sounds like a dream come true. Any idea on the total miles on one tank of gas you have achieved? As a commuter it’s nice to know if I can go consistently 500 to 800+ miles on one tank. I don’t particularly care to visit the gas station every 400 miles as I have to in my Prius plug-in, with an average commute of 75 miles round-trip.
See if you can charge at work, then the round trip is all electric. Never visit a gas station except on long trips. I didn't buy a Prius because my commute is 90% freeway and the engine would always be running. I have an older Gen 1 with 38 mile range. Charge at home and work and haven't bought gas in months.
Stephen, I get over 50 miles on the initial charge, and between 3-400 miles on the fuel tank. The engine doesn't kick-in until the charge is depleted, or it's very cold out. Even when you're only running on gasoline, you get over 40 MPG. I went two weeks on one tank of gasoline, and it's just under a ten gallon tank. I still had about 1.5-2 gallons remaining, when I filled it. I drive about 48 miles each way, to work. I usually arrive there with 4-10 miles remaining, on a charge. The trip home is made with the engine on gas, most of the time. I'm currently at 84 MPG, with a lifetime average of 85.9 MPG, and that's with me not resetting it, when I took delivery. -the test drives for myself and others, were made with an uncharged battery, and I took it away with only a half-charged battery pack. I think I'm doing pretty good. I don't drive the speed limit, either.....that has a detrimental effect on my mileage. I could definitely be doing better. I cannot say enough about this car.
Was a passenger in a '17 Volt today for about 1.5 hours, and I guess it drives okay, but being in the back seat is really not much fun. I'm not a large person, about 5'6" and 150lbs, but the seating position is weird, like too upright, without enough room on either side, and the arm/hand rests feel like they are too far back, while the "Oh shit handles" on the ceiling are too far forward to reach without leaning forward a bit. Road bumps are loud and can be surprisingly rough to the rear passengers. Also the entire doors in the rear are one slab of hard plastic. Everything has a very cheap plastic feel even in the front but at least it has some varied textures and softer plastic than the rear. The center screen is very bright and clear and my parents seem to like it so I guess it's not too horrible for the price. As noted in another video some of the seat adjustments feel very flimsy but I guess they do the job.
Can someone give me an update on their luck with this car now that its been out for awhile. I called Chevrolet and it costs 9k to replace the main battery. Just wondered how it is with 150k miles on it?
It is stated at 7:12 "competitive blended plug-in hybrids" is the subject. The i3 REx is not a blended PHEV, it is a REx, and your implication would otherwise be correct -- the $46,200 BMW stays in EV mode under full acceleration like the Volt. This video aims at mainstream folks who may just be discovering or learning about the Volt, and focuses on the PHEVs that could be equally interchanged between any internal combustion vehicles in terms of usability anywhere, any time, any how. The Volt and the blended PHEVs all have zero compromises in all drive modes and are priced sub-$40k before subsidies. They all can go coast to coast at full power, fueling at gas stations as they go, and that cannot be said of the REx which - though it could conceivably do so - has reduced power in range-extended (gas burning) mode. The BMW has a 2.4-gallon fuel tank so must stop much more frequently also, and its 2-cyl 600cc scooter-derived range extending engine is underpowered on hills, and highways with limited top speed. We know some people want to compare the i3 REx to the Volt, and they can if they wish, but it is not as apple-to-apple in usability in all use cases, only some. If you read the written review linked above, you'll see we do mention the i3 REx there. It is a fine car, and actually a marvel of advanced engineering -- maybe the most advanced available, with the CFRP, and etc. www.hybridcars.com/teardown-reveals-bmw-i3-is-most-advanced-vehicle-on-the-planet/ Regards.
i dont want to compare it to the volt as a day to day car but in the fact that the volt is not a pluging hybrid and like the I3 Rex it can run on the EV alone unlike the plugin hybrid where you need to be carefull not to start the ice when there is more acceleration needed. driving botj cars i do have to say the volt drives like a limo compared to the i3.
Nice review. We are thinking about moving away from our 2010 Prius into a Volt. Our routine daily drives are rather short distances, usually less than 25 miles. If the gasoline engine is rarely used, what are the effects on the fuel lines, gasoline engine, and fuel remaining unused in the tank? Obviously, we will be driving some trips in excess of the electric range, but most of the time we think we will be under the 50 mile (or so), electric driving range. Thanks for any help with this.
The engine starts in engine maintenance mode about every 45 days for about 10 min. The car also has fuel maintenance mode and will run the engine to burn enough gas so you can top off with fresh fuel every 11 months. GM Totally thought of everything with this car.
It pressurizes the gas tank to keep the gas fresh for much longer. Also, if you are always in EV mode it will burn the fuel after a certain amount of time to keep the fuel from going bad.
Delos Johnson These are so much better than a prius, and look good too. I'd rather die than be caught in a prius, but hey...I wouldn't even consider going to look at one. I see folks have mentioned the car's programming / ability to run the engine now and then, to keep the gasoline from going bad. -But honestly, if you take a short trip every now and then, outside your commuting routine, you'll use the gas up before it goes bad. For your case, I'd buy ethanol-free fuel. Unfortunately, not every station has it. Ethanol-free fuel stays stable longer, and doesn't introduce water into the fuel the way ethanol blended fuels do. I'd recommend using stabil in your gasoline, to keep it fresh longer.
By the way, I got a new '19 Volt Premier, and truly love the car. I drive about 48 miles to work (assuming no stops), each way. I do the entire trip there on the initial batter charge, with 4-10 miles usually remaining on the battery charge when I get there. The balance is using gasoline, on the way home. This car makes excellent use of regenerative braking, to create additional range. May I ask what kind of mileage you get with the prius? A guy from work said they don't get that great of mileage with theirs, but didn't say what they get. Every one I know who has a Volt, or have written about it, absolutely loves it.
Put stabil in the tank at every fill up (about 4 oz.). That should keep the gas from breaking down between fill-ups. Or you could take a long "Sunday drive" and enjoy some scenery.
Actually it's probably closer to 15 kWh when you account for charging losses. 240v is also more efficient than 120v charging, though not by significantly much more.
Love my 2017 Volt...so many improvements over my wife;s 2012. Its been mine since July 2016 and has 16.784 miles, each one of which has been a joy! Maybe a Tesla is better...maybe but in my way of thinking not much better!
That is not line buzz, those are the locusts surrounding us in all the trees where we shot here in Pennsylvania. We asked them to be quiet, but they declined. :)
Oops. The Dec . 2016 Consumer Reports magazine just rated the 2016 Chevy Volt reliability at a miserable 15. (At least they beat the Tesla model X (12), but this is bottom of the barrel quality. The batteries have been OK, but so much for the idea that the Volt is to be bought because GM made THIS car with quality. Looks like it's the Prius Prime, or wait for the PHEV's to continue to improve, IMO.
misamisatv: Do you have ANYTHING to back that up? They're the most unbiased source out there because they take no ad revenue. Also, they use hundreds of thousands of real world surveys. They report the data as it is, not how they want to spin it. The "never trust CR" line is usually from a UAW shill who can't stand the fact that the Americans can't compete with, say, the Japanese, in car reliability.
Roger Geyer Well of course I know of a time when CR was biased. In around 1999 for the reviews of the Chevy Prism and the Toyota Corolla CR magazine gave higher scores to the Toyota, unaware that they were both manufactured in the exact same plant with the exact same parts. The only difference was the badge applied at the end of the assembly line. An embarrassing folly. Defensive much? Before you start spouting assumptions and accusations you should know that I exclusively own Japanese cars only. I don't blame CR for their bias because it's understandable but I do know that once in a while a decent American car might come along once in a while. It's that bias that prevents me from trusting CR as a credible reviewer.
Sigh. As I said, for the reliability data, Consumer Reports just honestly states what the numbers tell them from what the consumers replied in the surveys. So apparently GM's poor quality reputation vs. Toyota's great quality reputation caused a halo effect for Toyota in this case. That doesn't make Consumer Reports "biased", even if it made the car owners / survey takers misinformed. But if you don't like Consumer Reports, then by all means, let's pretend like this one case makes them biased... And I never said there were no good American cars. Sadly, overall though, their quality reputation is far beneath Toyota, Honda, and even Nissan.
If CR readers are biased, and CR bases their recommendations on reader surveys, CR is biased. The argument that CR's methodology is flawed is generally accepted. Their readers aren't representative of all buyers. They tend to be well represented among wealthy and college educated, and this demographic tends to not buy certain brands. They also have poor sample sizes (some as low as 100), and they even admit that their survey data is noisy (data varies widely year to year despite no changes being made at the factory). But with that said, there have been many complaints on the 2016 and to a lesser degree 2017, mostly surrounding the gas engine.
Just wished it became larger than a compact size. That's why I lean more on purchasing a Hyundai Sonata Hybrid...sorry America. But then again there's the Tesla Model 3. I can wait a little longer for it.No hurry.
Kimi Jong Highball It is actually a pretty good size, as a commuter car, which is what it's intended for. I'm 6'3, and treasure my leg room. This car isn't bad, on legroom, I get what you mean though, and wish they made a larger car too. -I would've bought it. I drove a new Malibu, and really liked that. If you insist on a larger car, the Ford Fusion is a bit bigger but actually has less trunk space. I have a friend who owns one, and it's been a great and reliable car....it's a '14, and has been trouble-free. I ask you to just go see one, and drive it. I fell in love with it, driving two of them at different dealers. I bought a '19 Volt Premier, and it's been a fabulous car for me, so far. I LOVE this car, and so does everyone I know, who has one. Just try it out!
I think Chevy is still paying the price for GM's very ill-advised crushing of the EV-1. Also, compared to the Tesla, manufacturers are bringing EVs to market that in ugliness, rival the Pontiac Aztek. Most people see that big manufacturers hate the idea of electric cars and lack any real enthusiasm to make them a success.
The charge rate is mostly limited by the grid, not the batteries. It can charge in only 4 hours from a 240V outlet. Most houses can't deliver more than that. I bought this same car (Premier, in red) two weeks ago. Love it! It's completely silent and goes 50 miles on $1 of electricity. Electric direct-drive torque means instant strong acceleration like a manual transmission that's always in the correct gear. Volt goes 24 months between oil changes. No brake wear because the drive motors also slow the car down. It recharges every night while I'm sleeping, so gasoline stops are rarely needed. So far, I've driven it 500 miles using just $10 of electricity. If most people knew all this, the Volt would sell like hot-cakes.
How much time do I spend charging? NONE. The car charges when I'm not with it. I'm asleep or at my desk or sitting in a movie (The theater has a free charger). I don't spend any time detouring to a gas station and waiting in line. Saves me 20 min a week fueling. I can still drive cross country on gas but day to day is all electric. Almost 9000 miles and used just over 3 gallons of gas.
What do you mean "versus"? If you don't want to charge it, you don't have to. Just go to the gas station every 10 or 12 days like you do now (you must have something super fuel efficient or not drive much to pull that off, my Suburban and G8GT are filling up at least 2x a week, sometimes 3x). Even if all you do is charge it at night, you're still reducing your fuel consumption by quite a bit over a normal car. If you work 50 miles away, your entire commute to work is done on battery, cutting your daily fuel consumption in half because you're only driving one way using gas (and still getting 40+ mpg).
I need at least a charge that can last up to 600 miles, because I wouldn't mind charging once a week, but there is noooo way I'm gonna charge a car up every night.
What a ridiculous comment, and stupid. The people in hell want ice water, too. Your name says it all. Go toke another joint and sit in stupor for awhile longer. My Volt is saving lots of money in fuel costs, and it takes so little effort to plug it in at night. Even if you don't plug it in, you can still get over 40 mpg....
For real? Why? It literally takes 10 seconds to open the charge door and plug in the charger, and another 10 seconds to disconnect the charger and close the door. I spend more time adding the proper amount of Stanadyne lubricity formula to my diesel after fueling my 2500HD than I do hooking up the charger to my Volt, lol.
Mark Plott The Volt isn't the same thing, and is better, in that you can actually go on a trip or otherwise out of range, and NOT have to alter your plans / route, stop and charge, at all. You keep driving, as you would with a normal car. It's a great design, that hasn't been matched. You shouldn't have to beat up another car that is good at what it does, to promote your favorite. They aren't the same animal, and can do what the tesla cannot. Each car has it's good points.
Where can I buy a top of the line used Tesla for $14k that's under 40k miles and still in CPO warranty? The price of the Volt cannot be matched by any Tesla. Great cars, but you're comparing apples to spaceships, bro.
The older Chevy Volt looks a lot lot better than the new version. So much cooler, more futuristic. The new volt looks like a car made at the end of the 90s... the back looks like a shitty copy of Mercedes.
Unless by "futuristic" you mean something from the movie "Back to the Future" I don't think the older one looked modern at all. The older one looked to me like a car from the 80's trying to look futuristic. The new one is much sleeker and refined. I hate that all the manufactures have an obsession with making their electric cars look weird and funky. The new Volt is the only car that went away from that and I'm happy they did.
I prefer the looks of the first gen as well (and the interior), which is why I bought my 2015 instead of the 2017 I was also looking at. While I don't think the 2nd Gen looks bad, I just don't like it as much, just kinda blends in more with other nameless cars on the road.
as of 2020 the volt has been dead for a year, the Malibu hybrid killed and there are zero hybrids and plug in hybrids available. The only electric vehicle is the Bolt which is basically a electric Sonic subcompact hatchback which isn't bad but isn't selling because Chevy wants way too much money for them. Chevy isn't serious about EV.
You forgot to mention gas is also less than $2/gal for most of the country. Trucks, suv's, and crossovers are what's in demand right now. Gas prices will eventually rise, and so too will the demand for EV's again. Can't expect them to dump money into making vehicles people don't want. Now is a great time to buy a used Volt, I just got a 2015 Premier last week for $13.9k, had 34k on it, basically brand new still. Plenty of them out there for those of us who want one.
$2-$3 per day to charge the battery from dead! My electric bill went up $60. Love poaching power at hotels, just run an extension cord into my hotel rooms!
Mark Plott What a ridiculous comment. What's your point? It's a fantastic and highly capable car, so what are you basing your comments on? Do you own one? Have you driven one? Tell me what you know about it.... I did get one, and it's a great car. It's far better than a prius or a leaf. When you run out of the initial charge, the economical gasoline engine kicks in, and continues to generate electricity, that powers the drive motor and therefore, wheels. You don't get stuck until it recharges, like a tesla or leaf does. You just keep going. The engine doesn't keep kicking in, like a ugly ass prius does.....you can't stop it in a prius. It's just a great car. That's why I bought one.
quote, "People wanting to see oil independence and cleaner air have looked at the Chevrolet Volt as more than just a car. To them it's a cause." You almost lost me right there. Who shops for a car based on this criteria? I think Tesla have a better idea. Dazzle them with style, performance and technology. Then add, "Oh by the way, it's also green if you care about that sort of thing." quote, "The Volt was purpose-built as an electrified car; it is not converted from a hybrid, it is not converted from a gasoline-powered car. It was designed as an extended range electric vehicle." Nnnn... It's not a direct conversion (like a bunch of compliance cars we've seen), but it is built on the GM Delta II platform, same as the Chevy Cruze and streaming off the same assembly line. quote, "...it is an electric car with extended range. ... General Motors has caught flak for being a marketer about that term, but it's true." No. It is not true. An electric car is a BEV. An extended range electric car is a BEV with a bigger battery. A Tesla Model 3 Long Range version that can go over 300 miles on a charge is an extended range electric car. The Volt is not. It's a PHEV. GM didn't invent the PHEV, but they did pioneer it with the Volt. They brought the first (and I'd argue still the best) production PHEV to market, which was a remarkably engineering feat, but for some reason they don't want to take credit for that? They want to confuse everyone by conflating it with actual electric cars? It's like they're ashamed of their creation.
To be honest I couldn't watch anymore of this video after I saw him do "air quotes" wrong. I can't take any advice from someone who can't do proper air quotes...
t burns Who the hell needs a sun roof? They were trying to keep the weight down, just the same reason for manual seats. All that does is add weight, give another possibility of leaks & such, and reduces headroom in most cases.
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Volt is definetly world's best plugin hybrid
Had my 1st gen for 5 years now, 104,000 miles. No trouble, not a single problem other than I have worn out my tires. Can't wait to get the new one.
great to know you are happy.. I have a 2014 volt and I have about 44k, I haven't had any issues yet. the brakes are still new and drives like when I bought it..
The greatest advantage of an 'Electric Car" is far less moving parts. Electric components will outlast the car.
I made A video on how to extend battery life. It can also restore the capacity of older batteries.
I just got me a white 2017 Chevy Volt, I love it. Well rounded car. This morning on a full charge it got me 60 miles.
How about now, how many miles in total and how many on battery
I've owned a 2017 Volt since March of 2016. Being an early production unit of a new model, I expected bugs. There have been none - zip, zero, nada. All the numbers in the video are accurate ... I get over 42mpg on regular gasoline, and the computer shows I'm getting 55-60 miles per full charge from the battery. My 'commute' is about 40 miles round trip, so I can make it without shifting to gasoline. When I do need to shift to gasoline, the "changeover' is so smooth that I still have trouble believing that a gas engine has started up -- I hear and feel nothing - I expected a little thump or jolt, but it is truly transparent -- I still don't know how they do that.
My only "beef" is that the visibility when trying to park is poor. The driver sits low, the window frame is 'high' and I only get one good look at the parking lines before I try to park. Backing into a slot is (ironically) a little better because the backup camera is so good. But still, ease of parking is the only significant downside I can think of. The pickup is very good, which is nice when making a quick turn into traffic or accelerating to highway speed. I drove a 2016 model for a week, and the pickup on that car was marginal.
Overall, this is the most fun and interesting car to drive I've ever owned. I've only bought 3 tankfuls of gas since I bought it since most of my driving is local. And even the gas I've used was mostly for highway speeds (where electric is less efficient) and to "exercise" the gas engine and use the gasoline before it goes "stale". I understand the Volt's computer will actually run the gas engine from time to time to avoid having stale gasoline in the tank, bu I've never noticed it to do that.
If I should lose my Volt to an accident or theft (perish forbid), I'm going to buy another one -- for sure!
I've always thought the HOLD feature could be used on the highway so the gas gets used. I will try that is I get one but I just don't have the money, the lottery might not be a good plan. Happy volting.
Bought my Volt Premier in May 2016 and highly recommend it. In six months I've used 7 gal. of gasoline. Total range with both battery and gas is 420 miles before you need to stop for gas on a trip.
My wife and I have a used 2012 Volt and love it. About 98% of our driving is electric. Can't imagine going back to a regular gas-burning vehicle.
After driving 61,000 in my 2014, my lifetime mpg is 127 mpg. I drive a lot and don't always get to charge. After rebates and tax credits my car cost $22,195. Love this car. Basically no maintenance on this car because it's mainly an electric vehicle. I've only changed my oil because of time, not miles, basically changing it every two years.
I love all Gm vehicles but 2018 volt
@@johnmichalenko2727 my Volt now has 103,000 miles on it. Lifetime MPG is 174 mpg. Zero problems. It’s as fast as ever and the battery range is still 20% more than it was rated for. I’ll prolly have it for another 200,000.
Hey I'm about to purchase a 2017 volt and I live in apartments. I noticed you said you don't get to charge often, how often do you drive on electric and gas and what is your mpg? I really want this car but I'm only going to be charging it at stations because no access to home charging. I'm worried it might effect the mpg or battery life if I don't home charge it or have it 90-100% all the time @@voltecrules624
I still don't understand how anyone can have no faith in this car. Even if it wasn't a hybrid it'd still be highly competitive in the compact sedan segment, but the whole package makes it incredibly compelling.
GM not doing a lot of marketing for it outside of some areas like California, might have something to do with that. Many people simply aren't aware that the Volt exists, and many Chevy dealerships don't want to promote it very heavily. They'd rather just toss you into a Cruze and send you on your way so they can get to the next customer.
GM, Chevy and Chrystler are NOT commited to shifting us to a Sustainable future. 1900's GM had the Electric car and it got 100 miles on a Charge. today the Chevy Volt can only do 55 miles on an Electric charge and it still has to carry around gasoline and a ICE generator. see the problem ?
TrollBuster
I think clear media bias early-on, was devastating.
The ridiculous notion of fires was total bullshit....only in testing, and when the car was left vertical for a week, did fluid leak into the battery and start fire(s).
What a crock of shit!
It whoops ass on any other hybrid, or full electric car....it doesn't run out of a charge stranding you somewhere, do that awesome little gasoline engine, that kicks-in and drives a generator, continuing to provide power to the drive motor / wheels.
I bought a new '19 Volt Premier, and love it to death.
I don't listen to a damned thing the media says, as they've proven that they don't care about facts, but only their agenda.
I did listen to facts, and people who own them, a couple of folks that I know personally.
One guy liked his first one so much, that he bought another, giving the first one to his daughter.
What a fantastic car.
Another very satisfied 2017 owner here. I've been getting way over the advertised 52 miles per charge, and also better than the advertised mpg on gas. Fun to drive, and I love the regenerative braking.
Great review. I have put 4500 miles on my 2017 in less than 2 months. My back didn't like Prius seats so I switched and the Volt is comfortable with no lumbar adjustment needed. It is also very quiet with superb handling. I am designing a custom dash accessory console for mine. The near zero maintenance is a plus compared to a hybrid.
if I had the money I would definitely buy this car, this is a awesome car and Chevy did a Awesome job with it. seriously I want this car really badly someday hopefully sooner then later I'll get one anyhow I'm a huge fan of this car. Awesome job Chevy
You could always look at a used Volt. Though they have less range than the new one, they're still pretty decent cars too if you need a cheap commuter car. You can find them in the $8-15k price range easily.
Thomas Gordon,
I totally agree, and I finally just went out and got a brand-new '19 Volt Premier, on 6/3/19!
I love it, and get lots of positive comments on it.
It's a fantastic car!
Patrick Flohe Im thinking about getting one this early september. How much did you get it for? I have done research about this car and I really like it. The only thing that concern me is Chevy general poor reliability. Also it might have low depreciation since they stop producing this model
Let's all catch up!
Thomas: Did you ever get one??
Patrick: 1 year later...how you loving the Volt Premier? You can do even faster charging on the 2019 now..and I love the seats in Premier..I might get a 2017 or 2018 used Premier
Kriter Max: Did you ever get one that September? If ended up with a Volt, which one and how do you like it?
Update: my 2014 Volt still gets on average 42-44 miles per charge. I now have a Lifetime mpg of 143 mpg after 74,000 miles. No problems. Planning to get a 3rd oil change for $30 soon, or not. I could probably go another 20,000 miles, but it's been over a year so I feel I should change my oil. Try that in a Prius.
I bought this car its great! 7kmiles average 100 mpgs, road trips are about 45-50 mpgs! Day to day it will school a prius! Only issue was an oil leak, dealer installed new updated oil pan and that fixed it. Also two dash rattles, gm can ever seem to 100% rattle free. But great car other wise.
I replaced my s60r with one and love it. Tremendous car. I get at least 53 miles on a charge and 44-46 mpg on gasoline.
Cory Stansbury
What's an S60R?
The seashell in the rear was to accommodate for Uber and Lyft. Chevy listened to the demands and complaints. Uber and Lyft requires seating and seat belts for 5.
my 2018 Volt is saving me a lot of $ as I drive past all gas pumps
I really liked your quote "Full sized americans"
kuhne I loled at that
Terrific presentation filled with details on the 2017 Chevy Volt. Many thanks!
Looks like a great car. The reviews by the owners here is really helpful. The review made by the author is impressive.
It doesn’t sell because they don’t market it. I have not seen one commercial on TV, radio, online. Not one.
You hit the nail squarely on the head at 2:47 to 2:52. I've owned hybrids from all three makers - Prius, Honda Civic hybrid and the Volt. The Volt is head and shoulders above the other two. That doesn't detract from their qualities, but the 2020 Prius Prime PHEV is inferior in electric capability to the 2012 Gen 1 Volt. The Gen 1 Volt pales in comparison to the 2017 and later Gen 2.
I had a gen 1 Volt - loved it. Now I have a Gen 2 2016 premier which is a nice improvement over the 1st generation. Great car. My average mileage is 178 mpg even with long distance trips included.
Do you still like the gen 2? I'm debating between gen 1 and 2 used
Rick Williams
The Gen 2 is fantastic, with numerous improvements.
Get that.
I got a brand-new '19, and I'm in love with it.
Get an '18 or '19, if you can.
You won't regret it.
Sorry, that comment was meant for FrozonNinja...
Bought my 2017 Volt LT recently, and after haggling with the dealer and taking into account the $7,500 federal tax credit I'll receive, the car came in new at just under $22K (exclusive of tax, title, and license). Also got 0.0% APR through GM financing. I have owned a lot of cars in my life, but this one is my favorite. I am not buying gas anymore, and have gotten my estimated all-electric range up to 75 miles/125 km by driving conservatively and using the regeneration paddle for braking. I also do not need to worry about range. The car drives and handles beautifully.
Tom W.
I just bought a new '19 on June 3rd, and I'm in love with this car!
I love the way it feels and drives.
I drive about 48 miles each way, and it's saving me a ton of cash, in fuel.
Personally I think they made a big mistake in stopping production of this car. I’d rather have this than the Bolt just because charging stations aren’t popular if I do want to travel. And volts are neat even though I prefer the first gen design
I'll have to go check out a 2016 or 2016 Volt to see about the 'nearly flat' back-seats-down position. I have a 2014 and the rear seat bottoms pop out easily (and without tools) if you want the cargo area floor to be *completely* flat. Most of the time, that's not necessary, but when you want a completely flat cargo area, it's a nice capability.
I hope they didn't take that feature away, but I suspect it's just been overlooked here, because it's easy to miss. Anybody who knows if the removable rear seat bottoms have been discontinued, please speak up.
I had no idea. Thanks for the tip.
floobertuber
You got me to thinking.....I've got a brand-new '19, which I LOVE, and I honestly don't know.
I'll have to check!
Where did you find one with that gorgeous tan interior? I have only found the ugly cloth or plain black leather.
I had a C300 Mercedes and the Volt is better in every way.
This is a nice looking car inside and out. If I were looking to buy a new car, this would definitely be high on my list to test drive. Have a couple of year old Chevy SUV and it has been trouble free and low maintenance.
Good looking car with a decent ev range. Way ahead of the competition. Sadly not available in the UK. And now discontinued - very shortsighted of GM.
I love my 17 volt, but keep having to take it in due to oil pan leaks! Really annoying! Have 10k with 100 mpg lifetime! Awesome!
I haven't seen it on mine yet, but that's a recurring complaint. Fortunately, it is apparently fixable.
Does it charge battery when the engine is running??
V8 monster I believe you can while breaking. It is mentioned in the video
krlosv18
but not by engine alternator ??
don't know that.
There are different modes of operation and it can get complicated to explain it all. Generally speaking, though, if you run out of battery power, the car won't charge to 100%. It will more or less maintain the SOC (state of charge, which when "empty" is probably somewhere around 15%). It regularly dips into battery power and then recharges the battery, but keeps it right around 15%.
If you are in mountain mode, the car will attempt to keep and hold 45% SOC, since the genset (gas engine) only has 101HP and 103 lb-ft of torque (the electric motors have 149HP and 294 lb-ft, so it needs them to get up and over mountains). If you are below 45% SOC, the car will run the genset nonstop and aggressively try to charge the battery to 45%.
If you put it in hold mode, whatever SOC you are at, the car will attempt to maintain that.
The only mode that doesn't charge the battery using genset power is when you are in ERDTT mode (engine running due to temperature). This mode is used to heat up the battery and passenger compartment when the electric heater can't do the job. The car is programmed to not put load on the gas genset when the engine is extremely cold, and ERDTT mode only happens when it's extremely cold, so the engine just idles.
In any mode, you can charge the battery with regenerative braking here and there.
@Jeff Kubel With regards to ERDTT mode, if the engine is extremely cold (say winter in Vancouver, at least these days, can be -2 to -7 in the day) would the all-electric mode prevent the heaters from blowing warm air? When we were test-driving our soon-to-be 2017 Volt (picking it up this tomorrow!) the blower was FREEZING and we couldn't figure it out!! Eventually it warmed up but we weren't sure if it had to do with us pushing any buttons, aaaannddd then it got cold again XD
We now know that the Volt or extended range electric isn't the future, but it should be.
I would love to have one of these with a 90kwh battery and a combustion turbine instead of piston engine.
Love that metallic red color =)
Adrian Hetmanski
Me too!
I went ahead and bought a new red one, on 6/3.
I'm totally in love with this car.
this will be my next car
Just one Question ... Will it come to Europe too?
Not likely unfortunately. The first gen Volt, which I think was sold as the Ampera in Europe, didn't sell very well. I think you can get the Chevy Bolt though, which again I think is called the Ampera-e, which is a pure electric vehicle with a much higher range than the Volt though no gas engine.
ha ha ha, Europe is outright Banning Diesel cars from being sold, what do you think is next......every ICE car and Hybrid cars with ICE generators.
"Some say if the Volt had been introduced by Honda or Toyota, the Volt's history might have been far better" -Also add "...by Cadillac" to that statement. Typically, the high-end is where i thought one was supposed to introduce your experimental "showcase" technologies to your more well-heeled users, then work your way down (a la Tesla?) - and Volt users, at least in my informal research, uniformly love the heck out of their Volts - and mid-high-30s would have been a super-sweet price point, though i'm sure it would be higher if badged as the "Cadillac Laser" or something....
(hint: you still could bring it back as a caddy...)
bzert281 .Cadillac did have this in the ELR. It was a colossal failure.
MAX speed?
Great review I really appreciate your insights. As a hybrid plug-in owner of a Ford CMax and Toyota Prius plug-in, II can appreciate all of the features that you pointed out. Namely the fact that the electric motor consistently performs without the gas engine kicking in, that is something that drives me crazy in my plug-in Prius hybrid that requires the gas motor to kick in in cold environment between 40 and 60°F. I can only muster about 12 miles electricity only on the Prius plug-in and about 15 miles on the CMax. Getting upwards towards 50 miles electricity only sounds like a dream come true. Any idea on the total miles on one tank of gas you have achieved? As a commuter it’s nice to know if I can go consistently 500 to 800+ miles on one tank. I don’t particularly care to visit the gas station every 400 miles as I have to in my Prius plug-in, with an average commute of 75 miles round-trip.
See if you can charge at work, then the round trip is all electric. Never visit a gas station except on long trips. I didn't buy a Prius because my commute is 90% freeway and the engine would always be running. I have an older Gen 1 with 38 mile range. Charge at home and work and haven't bought gas in months.
Stephen,
I get over 50 miles on the initial charge, and between 3-400 miles on the fuel tank.
The engine doesn't kick-in until the charge is depleted, or it's very cold out.
Even when you're only running on gasoline, you get over 40 MPG.
I went two weeks on one tank of gasoline, and it's just under a ten gallon tank.
I still had about 1.5-2 gallons remaining, when I filled it.
I drive about 48 miles each way, to work.
I usually arrive there with 4-10 miles remaining, on a charge. The trip home is made with the engine on gas, most of the time.
I'm currently at 84 MPG, with a lifetime average of 85.9 MPG, and that's with me not resetting it, when I took delivery.
-the test drives for myself and others, were made with an uncharged battery, and I took it away with only a half-charged battery pack.
I think I'm doing pretty good.
I don't drive the speed limit, either.....that has a detrimental effect on my mileage.
I could definitely be doing better.
I cannot say enough about this car.
If I had a Volt I could go to all my normal stops without any gas. I don't have a car cause even 2 gallons a day is to much for me.
7:40. not true. fisker karma was like that. and that one afaik didnt couple the engine to the drivetrain at all
Huge improvements, still gonna be a tough road ahead for chevy with the Tesla model 3 just couple grand extra. Volt vs model 3 tough fight.
Was a passenger in a '17 Volt today for about 1.5 hours, and I guess it drives okay, but being in the back seat is really not much fun. I'm not a large person, about 5'6" and 150lbs, but the seating position is weird, like too upright, without enough room on either side, and the arm/hand rests feel like they are too far back, while the "Oh shit handles" on the ceiling are too far forward to reach without leaning forward a bit. Road bumps are loud and can be surprisingly rough to the rear passengers. Also the entire doors in the rear are one slab of hard plastic. Everything has a very cheap plastic feel even in the front but at least it has some varied textures and softer plastic than the rear. The center screen is very bright and clear and my parents seem to like it so I guess it's not too horrible for the price. As noted in another video some of the seat adjustments feel very flimsy but I guess they do the job.
Can someone give me an update on their luck with this car now that its been out for awhile. I called Chevrolet and it costs 9k to replace the main battery. Just wondered how it is with 150k miles on it?
7:37 the bmw i3 rex???
It is stated at 7:12 "competitive blended plug-in hybrids" is the subject. The i3 REx is not a blended PHEV, it is a REx, and your implication would otherwise be correct -- the $46,200 BMW stays in EV mode under full acceleration like the Volt.
This video aims at mainstream folks who may just be discovering or learning about the Volt, and focuses on the PHEVs that could be equally interchanged between any internal combustion vehicles in terms of usability anywhere, any time, any how.
The Volt and the blended PHEVs all have zero compromises in all drive modes and are priced sub-$40k before subsidies. They all can go coast to coast at full power, fueling at gas stations as they go, and that cannot be said of the REx which - though it could conceivably do so - has reduced power in range-extended (gas burning) mode.
The BMW has a 2.4-gallon fuel tank so must stop much more frequently also, and its 2-cyl 600cc scooter-derived range extending engine is underpowered on hills, and highways with limited top speed. We know some people want to compare the i3 REx to the Volt, and they can if they wish, but it is not as apple-to-apple in usability in all use cases, only some.
If you read the written review linked above, you'll see we do mention the i3 REx there. It is a fine car, and actually a marvel of advanced engineering -- maybe the most advanced available, with the CFRP, and etc.
www.hybridcars.com/teardown-reveals-bmw-i3-is-most-advanced-vehicle-on-the-planet/
Regards.
i dont want to compare it to the volt as a day to day car but in the fact that the volt is not a pluging hybrid and like the I3 Rex it can run on the EV alone unlike the plugin hybrid where you need to be carefull not to start the ice when there is more acceleration needed.
driving botj cars i do have to say the volt drives like a limo compared to the i3.
I love my 2017 Volt. A shame that GM killed it.
Very impressive!
You said you had a 6'3" guy sitting in the front seat. Was the front seat adjusted for him when you were in the back behind that seat?
Mike Stoddart I'm 6'3", but I only ride in the front of my car.
My seat is all the way back, at all times.
Nice review. We are thinking about moving away from our 2010 Prius into a Volt. Our routine daily drives are rather short distances, usually less than 25 miles. If the gasoline engine is rarely used, what are the effects on the fuel lines, gasoline engine, and fuel remaining unused in the tank? Obviously, we will be driving some trips in excess of the electric range, but most of the time we think we will be under the 50 mile (or so), electric driving range. Thanks for any help with this.
The engine starts in engine maintenance mode about every 45 days for about 10 min. The car also has fuel maintenance mode and will run the engine to burn enough gas so you can top off with fresh fuel every 11 months. GM Totally thought of everything with this car.
It pressurizes the gas tank to keep the gas fresh for much longer. Also, if you are always in EV mode it will burn the fuel after a certain amount of time to keep the fuel from going bad.
Delos Johnson
These are so much better than a prius, and look good too.
I'd rather die than be caught in a prius, but hey...I wouldn't even consider going to look at one.
I see folks have mentioned the car's programming / ability to run the engine now and then, to keep the gasoline from going bad.
-But honestly, if you take a short trip every now and then, outside your commuting routine, you'll use the gas up before it goes bad.
For your case, I'd buy ethanol-free fuel. Unfortunately, not every station has it.
Ethanol-free fuel stays stable longer, and doesn't introduce water into the fuel the way ethanol blended fuels do.
I'd recommend using stabil in your gasoline, to keep it fresh longer.
By the way, I got a new '19 Volt Premier, and truly love the car.
I drive about 48 miles to work (assuming no stops), each way. I do the entire trip there on the initial batter charge, with 4-10 miles usually remaining on the battery charge when I get there.
The balance is using gasoline, on the way home.
This car makes excellent use of regenerative braking, to create additional range.
May I ask what kind of mileage you get with the prius?
A guy from work said they don't get that great of mileage with theirs, but didn't say what they get.
Every one I know who has a Volt, or have written about it, absolutely loves it.
Put stabil in the tank at every fill up (about 4 oz.). That should keep the gas from breaking down between fill-ups. Or you could take a long "Sunday drive" and enjoy some scenery.
how much electricity does it use to charge the volt battery from zero to fully charge?
~14kWh.
Actually it's probably closer to 15 kWh when you account for charging losses. 240v is also more efficient than 120v charging, though not by significantly much more.
hktmc300
I've been told it costs about a buck or so a night, to charge the Volt.
It obviously depends upon you electric rates, where you live.
If I want to buy one but I don’t have access to a plug in spot most of the time, can I drive this as a regular hybrid?
Yes. I lost the charging cord to my Volt 2 years ago, but I can still drive it on gas alone.
Yhanks for this great and objective review.
Go GM....hope they sell as many of them as they can make....now if we can get em to make battery walls to
Love my 2017 Volt...so many improvements over my wife;s 2012. Its been mine since July 2016 and has 16.784 miles, each one of which has been a joy! Maybe a Tesla is better...maybe but in my way of thinking not much better!
Great Review!
Great video!!
You do some great reviews
It's a shame the car isn't available in Right hand drive markets...
The Volt was sold in the UK as the Vauxhall Ampera and sales were poor
so much buzz at normal volume!! check it iut
That is not line buzz, those are the locusts surrounding us in all the trees where we shot here in Pennsylvania. We asked them to be quiet, but they declined. :)
No sunroof???
Jamaal Phillips I don't think they can't fit a sunroof in a hatchback
They did it with the 2015
a) I H-A-T-E sunroofs
b) who needs electric seats?? WHO?
Michigan, nuff said.
Oops. The Dec . 2016 Consumer Reports magazine just rated the 2016 Chevy Volt reliability at a miserable 15. (At least they beat the Tesla model X (12), but this is bottom of the barrel quality.
The batteries have been OK, but so much for the idea that the Volt is to be bought because GM made THIS car with quality.
Looks like it's the Prius Prime, or wait for the PHEV's to continue to improve, IMO.
Never trust CR, ever
misamisatv: Do you have ANYTHING to back that up? They're the most unbiased source out there because they take no ad revenue. Also, they use hundreds of thousands of real world surveys. They report the data as it is, not how they want to spin it.
The "never trust CR" line is usually from a UAW shill who can't stand the fact that the Americans can't compete with, say, the Japanese, in car reliability.
Roger Geyer Well of course I know of a time when CR was biased. In around 1999 for the reviews of the Chevy Prism and the Toyota Corolla CR magazine gave higher scores to the Toyota, unaware that they were both manufactured in the exact same plant with the exact same parts. The only difference was the badge applied at the end of the assembly line. An embarrassing folly.
Defensive much? Before you start spouting assumptions and accusations you should know that I exclusively own Japanese cars only. I don't blame CR for their bias because it's understandable but I do know that once in a while a decent American car might come along once in a while. It's that bias that prevents me from trusting CR as a credible reviewer.
Sigh. As I said, for the reliability data, Consumer Reports just honestly states what the numbers tell them from what the consumers replied in the surveys.
So apparently GM's poor quality reputation vs. Toyota's great quality reputation caused a halo effect for Toyota in this case.
That doesn't make Consumer Reports "biased", even if it made the car owners / survey takers misinformed.
But if you don't like Consumer Reports, then by all means, let's pretend like this one case makes them biased...
And I never said there were no good American cars. Sadly, overall though, their quality reputation is far beneath Toyota, Honda, and even Nissan.
If CR readers are biased, and CR bases their recommendations on reader surveys, CR is biased. The argument that CR's methodology is flawed is generally accepted. Their readers aren't representative of all buyers. They tend to be well represented among wealthy and college educated, and this demographic tends to not buy certain brands. They also have poor sample sizes (some as low as 100), and they even admit that their survey data is noisy (data varies widely year to year despite no changes being made at the factory).
But with that said, there have been many complaints on the 2016 and to a lesser degree 2017, mostly surrounding the gas engine.
Biggest mistake was that the made it on the Cruze platform. .Terrible idea. This should have been on the Malibu platform with a bigger battery.
Just wished it became larger than a compact size.
That's why I lean more on purchasing a Hyundai Sonata Hybrid...sorry America.
But then again there's the Tesla Model 3. I can wait a little longer for it.No hurry.
Kimi Jong Highball
It is actually a pretty good size, as a commuter car, which is what it's intended for.
I'm 6'3, and treasure my leg room. This car isn't bad, on legroom,
I get what you mean though, and wish they made a larger car too.
-I would've bought it.
I drove a new Malibu, and really liked that.
If you insist on a larger car, the Ford Fusion is a bit bigger but actually has less trunk space.
I have a friend who owns one, and it's been a great and reliable car....it's a '14, and has been trouble-free.
I ask you to just go see one, and drive it.
I fell in love with it, driving two of them at different dealers.
I bought a '19 Volt Premier, and it's been a fabulous car for me, so far.
I LOVE this car, and so does everyone I know, who has one.
Just try it out!
I think Chevy is still paying the price for GM's very ill-advised crushing of the EV-1. Also, compared to the Tesla, manufacturers are bringing EVs to market that in ugliness, rival the Pontiac Aztek. Most people see that big manufacturers hate the idea of electric cars and lack any real enthusiasm to make them a success.
13 hours charging before each use versus going to a gas station once every 10 or 12 days. Battery technology still not there.
The charge rate is mostly limited by the grid, not the batteries. It can charge in only 4 hours from a 240V outlet. Most houses can't deliver more than that. I bought this same car (Premier, in red) two weeks ago. Love it! It's completely silent and goes 50 miles on $1 of electricity. Electric direct-drive torque means instant strong acceleration like a manual transmission that's always in the correct gear. Volt goes 24 months between oil changes. No brake wear because the drive motors also slow the car down. It recharges every night while I'm sleeping, so gasoline stops are rarely needed. So far, I've driven it 500 miles using just $10 of electricity. If most people knew all this, the Volt would sell like hot-cakes.
How much time do I spend charging? NONE. The car charges when I'm not with it. I'm asleep or at my desk or sitting in a movie (The theater has a free charger). I don't spend any time detouring to a gas station and waiting in line. Saves me 20 min a week fueling. I can still drive cross country on gas but day to day is all electric. Almost 9000 miles and used just over 3 gallons of gas.
What do you mean "versus"? If you don't want to charge it, you don't have to. Just go to the gas station every 10 or 12 days like you do now (you must have something super fuel efficient or not drive much to pull that off, my Suburban and G8GT are filling up at least 2x a week, sometimes 3x).
Even if all you do is charge it at night, you're still reducing your fuel consumption by quite a bit over a normal car. If you work 50 miles away, your entire commute to work is done on battery, cutting your daily fuel consumption in half because you're only driving one way using gas (and still getting 40+ mpg).
nice
I need at least a charge that can last up to 600 miles, because I wouldn't mind charging once a week, but there is noooo way I'm gonna charge a car up every night.
What a ridiculous comment, and stupid.
The people in hell want ice water, too.
Your name says it all.
Go toke another joint and sit in stupor for awhile longer.
My Volt is saving lots of money in fuel costs, and it takes so little effort to plug it in at night.
Even if you don't plug it in, you can still get over 40 mpg....
For real? Why? It literally takes 10 seconds to open the charge door and plug in the charger, and another 10 seconds to disconnect the charger and close the door. I spend more time adding the proper amount of Stanadyne lubricity formula to my diesel after fueling my 2500HD than I do hooking up the charger to my Volt, lol.
FACT : the Tesla cars give an average of 7c / Kwh on Pure Electric, hat cannot be matched my GM or Chevy others.
Mark Plott
The Volt isn't the same thing, and is better, in that you can actually go on a trip or otherwise out of range, and NOT have to alter your plans / route, stop and charge, at all.
You keep driving, as you would with a normal car.
It's a great design, that hasn't been matched.
You shouldn't have to beat up another car that is good at what it does, to promote your favorite.
They aren't the same animal, and can do what the tesla cannot.
Each car has it's good points.
Where can I buy a top of the line used Tesla for $14k that's under 40k miles and still in CPO warranty? The price of the Volt cannot be matched by any Tesla. Great cars, but you're comparing apples to spaceships, bro.
The older Chevy Volt looks a lot lot better than the new version. So much cooler, more futuristic.
The new volt looks like a car made at the end of the 90s... the back looks like a shitty copy of Mercedes.
I like the looks of my Gen I better as well the but the Gen II is starting to grow on me.
Unless by "futuristic" you mean something from the movie "Back to the Future" I don't think the older one looked modern at all. The older one looked to me like a car from the 80's trying to look futuristic. The new one is much sleeker and refined. I hate that all the manufactures have an obsession with making their electric cars look weird and funky. The new Volt is the only car that went away from that and I'm happy they did.
I prefer the looks of the first gen as well (and the interior), which is why I bought my 2015 instead of the 2017 I was also looking at. While I don't think the 2nd Gen looks bad, I just don't like it as much, just kinda blends in more with other nameless cars on the road.
@@GrandPrix46 Yes exactely. The 2nd generation just looks like one out of 1000 cars on the street. Nothing special.
Door opening is too small. I had to cock my head just to get in. Why gm designed it this way? I never bought one because of this.
as of 2020 the volt has been dead for a year, the Malibu hybrid killed and there are zero hybrids and plug in hybrids available. The only electric vehicle is the Bolt which is basically a electric Sonic subcompact hatchback which isn't bad but isn't selling because Chevy wants way too much money for them. Chevy isn't serious about EV.
You forgot to mention gas is also less than $2/gal for most of the country. Trucks, suv's, and crossovers are what's in demand right now. Gas prices will eventually rise, and so too will the demand for EV's again. Can't expect them to dump money into making vehicles people don't want.
Now is a great time to buy a used Volt, I just got a 2015 Premier last week for $13.9k, had 34k on it, basically brand new still. Plenty of them out there for those of us who want one.
tesla is fully electric and I would buy tesla. But that bloody car is too expensive for an average person to buy.
$2-$3 per day to charge the battery from dead! My electric bill went up $60. Love poaching power at hotels, just run an extension cord into my hotel rooms!
crsp76691 u will spend more then 60 on gas in a month.. plus u waste gas to get gas..
crsp76691
You should be able to charge yours for less than 2-3 bucks per day.
How much is electricity, where you live?
You'll not charge a gen 2 Volt in under 13 hours, with only an extension cord from a 120 volt receptacle.
They have a big battery.
Hybridcars,com - Chevy would sell Hybrid cars that ran on COAL if they could get away with it.
Mark Plott
What a ridiculous comment.
What's your point?
It's a fantastic and highly capable car, so what are you basing your comments on?
Do you own one?
Have you driven one?
Tell me what you know about it....
I did get one, and it's a great car.
It's far better than a prius or a leaf.
When you run out of the initial charge, the economical gasoline engine kicks in, and continues to generate electricity, that powers the drive motor and therefore, wheels.
You don't get stuck until it recharges, like a tesla or leaf does.
You just keep going.
The engine doesn't keep kicking in, like a ugly ass prius does.....you can't stop it in a prius.
It's just a great car.
That's why I bought one.
Mark, you seem to be hateful person. I hope you will be a better person in the future.
wait a minute is it hybrid?... nooooo!
The first two sentences uttered don't make any sense.
quote, "People wanting to see oil independence and cleaner air have looked at the Chevrolet Volt as more than just a car. To them it's a cause." You almost lost me right there. Who shops for a car based on this criteria? I think Tesla have a better idea. Dazzle them with style, performance and technology. Then add, "Oh by the way, it's also green if you care about that sort of thing."
quote, "The Volt was purpose-built as an electrified car; it is not converted from a hybrid, it is not converted from a gasoline-powered car. It was designed as an extended range electric vehicle." Nnnn... It's not a direct conversion (like a bunch of compliance cars we've seen), but it is built on the GM Delta II platform, same as the Chevy Cruze and streaming off the same assembly line.
quote, "...it is an electric car with extended range. ... General Motors has caught flak for being a marketer about that term, but it's true." No. It is not true. An electric car is a BEV. An extended range electric car is a BEV with a bigger battery. A Tesla Model 3 Long Range version that can go over 300 miles on a charge is an extended range electric car. The Volt is not. It's a PHEV. GM didn't invent the PHEV, but they did pioneer it with the Volt. They brought the first (and I'd argue still the best) production PHEV to market, which was a remarkably engineering feat, but for some reason they don't want to take credit for that? They want to confuse everyone by conflating it with actual electric cars? It's like they're ashamed of their creation.
To be honest I couldn't watch anymore of this video after I saw him do "air quotes" wrong. I can't take any advice from someone who can't do proper air quotes...
Hyundai Ioniq is a better car in reality.
I don't see how.
Anti Petrolhead
Based upon what?
Better? Only 1/2 the electric range. And not available in most of the country.
Holy Christ !... I drive 53 miles just to get to work! 53 miles is nothing
...so, charge at work and use zero gas! Lots of happy Volt commuters do.
I drive 48 miles to work, and it's saving me a ton of money on fuel.
Sadly, my employer doesn't give us the ability to charge at work.
Sounds like an anti volt video.
Tesla
Hugo Perez tesla catches fire...junk
Tesla isn't that great, and you have to stop to charge it somewhere, and wait.
You don't have to do that, with a Volt.
How come no sunroof?!
Probably would've added extra costs, and they were trying to reduce it to get the price down.
t burns
Who the hell needs a sun roof?
They were trying to keep the weight down, just the same reason for manual seats.
All that does is add weight, give another possibility of leaks & such, and reduces headroom in most cases.