2013 Chevrolet Volt Range Extending EV / Plug In Hybrid Review
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- čas přidán 11. 07. 2013
- Join us as we take an in-depth look at General Motors' first plug-in hybrid which they prefer to call an EV with a range extender. We talk infotainment, drivetrain, batteries, charging, hop in the trunk and take it on the road.
The Chevrolet Volt may be the most maligned and least understood car on the market. After a week of strange questions and bipolar reactions to GM's plug-in hybrid, I came to a conclusion. GM's marketing of the Volt stinks. By calling the Volt an "Electric Vehicle (EV) with a range extender," a huge segment of the population can't get past "Electric" and immediately cross the Volt off their list. There is also [strangely] a segment of the population that says, "that's great but I want a hybrid." Guess what? The Volt is a hybrid.
Before we dive into the Volt, it's important to know how hybrid systems work. GM's Belt-Alternator-Starter, Mercedes' S400 Hybrid and Honda's IMA hybrids are all systems where the engine is always connected and even if the car is capable of "EV" mode, the engine is spinning. Porsche, VW, Infiniti and others use a pancake motor and clutch setup to disconnect the engine from the motor and transmission allowing a "pure EV" mode. Honda's new Accord has a 2-mode setup where the motor drives the wheels via a fixed ratio gearset, the engine drives a motor and above 45MPH a clutch engages, linking the engine and motor together at a ratio of roughly 1:1. Ford, Toyota and the Volt use a planetary gearset "power splitting" device. Yes, the Volt uses a hybrid system that although not identical, is thematically similar to Ford & Toyota's hybrid system.
Say what? I thought GM said it was a serial hybrid? Yes, GM did at some point say that and I think that has caused more confusion than anything else about the Volt. The bankrupt Fisker Karma is only a serial hybrid. The engine drives a generator, the generator powers the battery and the motor to move the car forward. At no point can the engine provide any motive power to the wheels except via the electrical connection.
The Volt's innovation is that it can operate like a Fisker Karma or like a Prius. It is therefore both a serial and a parallel hybrid. To do this, GM alters the power split device power flow VS the Ford/Toyota design. Then they add a clutch allowing the gasoline engine to be mechanically isolated from the wheels. And finally they add software with a whole new take on a hybrid system.
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And i have to say this has been the most comprehesive volt review ive found.
I have owned my volt now for 3 years. 2 tanks of gas a year is all I use.
I do agree with you that many people are confused about the mode of operation.
I did a demo on my channel showing the modes of operation, and how to squeeze the most range out of the battery pack using the "L" range to force regeneration when slowing down.
12voltvids Hi, would you mind sending me a link for this video?
My 2013 Volt got 154 MPG over 7 years with 7 mile commute and many Houston to Austin road trips at 34 to 44 MPG at up to 80 MPH! Awesome!
I've had my 2013 Volt now for 3 years... used just 26.3 gallons to drive 24,000 hard city miles.Yes.. that's over 900 mpg. I have a wattmeter on my charger.. I use $25 per month to charge the car. Total additional maintenance was one .. yes one oil change. The Volt is costing me less than 3 cents per mile for fuel and maintenance. I do not miss the 100 or so more trips to the gas station I would have made ... or the 8 or so oil changes.Not a single problem... and brakes look like new still.
Ive driven the Volt for 11 months, charge at home and work have completed 21500kms with a total cost of 500 dollars combined gas and electric, it is one amazing vehicle my life time mileage is 243mpg and thats after 5 months of the coldest winters we have had in a long while.
I have the 2012 Model. Same color. It is the BEST car I've ever owned.
As an enthusiastic Volt owner, I really don't recognize much of this video. It may well be that the average Volt owner uses EV mode 60% of the time, but a lot of us value the ability to run the car almost exclusively EV. I have a short commute (8 miles each way) and therefore plug the car in every night and have greater than 95% EV miles. This means I've had my Volt for 2.5 years and have put gas in it a total of four times. All those mode changes don't apply, as I always am running EV. 369 mpg.
Nice
297K miles on my 2013 Volt still awesome. Best vehicle ever for food delivery with the leather seats and the cup holder sleeves.
We have two 2013 Volts. Great, dependable cars! It grips pretty good in snow for it's size, probably because it's heavier and has more even weight distribution than most cars.
I bought my 2015 Volt in May 2019, two years ago. I found one for sale at a Chevy dealership about 60 miles from my house. On a whim, I went to test drive it. Yep, I bought it. There was no pressure, the price was half of what was on the original sticker, folded in the glovebox. The car was flawless, with only 21k miles. So far, it has been one of the best decisions I've made in a car purchase, for a daily driver. It is still fun to drive and handles like it's on rails. I like sport mode, which changes the throttle response a lot, but the mileage is a bit less. I get about 34mpg in normal mode, on my 170 mile routine trips, depending on climate. In the winter it is less, because the heater and the heated seats use more power than the A/C alone. It now has a little over 42k miles. I've only had to change the oil one time and it is not due for the next one yet. My lifetime MPG is 41.2, but currently, almost all of my driving is on gasoline. I also use the Chevy EV vehicle status app, which wasn't mentioned in the video. If I had it to do over again...I most definitely would!
What is mpg? I know nothing about electric vechiles and just found a good price for this volt
@@amyamarie9615 On gasoline only, on long trips, you can expect 34mpg. If you keep it on charge at home, when you are not using it, and your trips are less than 38 miles or so, you will use NO gasoline. At that point, the MPG indicator will show 250+mpg. If you deplete the charge, the engine starts and the mpg drops a little. I've managed to get over 100mpg on a 9 gallon tank of gas, because I was doing a lot of local driving. It took 6 months to burn that 9 gallons. This is now April, 2023 and I've owned it 4 years. I now have 51K miles. Still the best daily driver car decision ever. Still love it.
PS read all the comments on here. You will be convinced that you need one.
This is by far the best review of the VOLT , to bad GM is not listening
8 years and this is the video that keeps on giving!!! Just bought a Gen1 and I am so excited. Thanks for all the detail brother!!!! God Bless
Hows your range and what year did ya buy? I'm going to save up this year and try to find one later this year and want a 2019 cause of it taking regular unleaded gas unlike the 1st gen having to take premium gas and the 2nd gen doubling the electric range of it's battery than gen 1. But I bet Gen 1 is a lot cheaper to buy and just as good as gen 2. How you liking yours so far?
@@BLUExEYEDxSLICKT Although I haven't owned this Volt that long, I would put it near the top of every car I have ever owned going back as far as the mid-70s when my first car was a Renault R16...which I loved as well. Not a pretty car but it was my first and it was so practical and easy to drive for a manual transmission. If you read my comment before responding to your reply comment, you will see that I can't keep this car because I am moving out of the country. I didn't come here to sell my car but since you mentioned you are planning to purchase a Volt...well, mine is available.
I've driven a Volt to 100 mph once it's an amazing little car.
note that base MSRP has dropped to about 35K$ now, and there is a federal tax refund of $7500 for purchasing a Volt. Consumer Reports repeatedly shows that Volt owners are one of the most highly satisfied groups compared to other cars. also the reliability in their ratings is above average. Good job Alex on covering lots of details in a few minutes. I found your explanations of the drive train very interesting.
Thanks for finally clearing up how the electric & gas motors work (namely that the gas engine can power the drivetrain as well as generate electricity for the battery)! The fact that Chevy does not explain this on their own web site is a bit insulting to their customers (assuming that they think people can't handle the details). However they are not alone in this thinking since this is the only video or article out the 10 or so they I have viewed that actually bothers to mention this. Most of the info out there on the volt gives the impression that the gas engine is only used as a generator. The other rather huge mistake that GM made is to not clarify the fact that there is no range limit to this car if you want to take a road trip without worrying about plugging in. By posting a range limit and saying that it's an electric car with a gas generator, the implication is that you can't use it like a regular gas powered car (unless the generator is enough to keep the battery going indefinitely which is also not at all clear). I'm looking at a used 2013 Volt since they are available for around $15,000 depending on the mileage. The battery life is reportedly worth it.
Well, that's a tricky question because it depends greatly on what you compare it to. If you compare it to something like a Chevy Cruze, then it will take a while, but if you compare it to a regular Prius it would take a small eternity. I don't think that "saving" is the primary goal however, buyers need to either have a desire to "save the world" or value that carpool lane access. For me, the HOV lane stickers seal the deal as it would save me 30 minutes a day.
All three are very quiet vehicles. In pure EV mode the Volt is extremely quiet but in range extending mode the drivetrain transmits more engine noise into the cabin than the Ford or Toyota hybrids.
Super cool that you've been doing this for so long. Very helpful for comparing your thoughts on my current car versus the one I'm looking at.
We've had our Volt since June 2013 and find it an excellent car. In 6 months we've put on almost 15000 miles. Our average gas equivalent mileage is still at 66 mpg! It would be much higher if we didn't take long trips. Plus my wife drives it 70 miles round trip m-f.
Our best distance using just the battery was 55 miles! Current electric miles is 28 due to the cold weather in Illinois.
At a cost of 41K minus a state rebate check of 4K and a federal tax credit of $7500, it is in the same price range of other hybrids.
did you know that you are the only channel on youtube that provides detailed entertaining car reviews (20+ mins every time)? thank you!
The tests in the Volt, Prius Plug-In and C-Max were on the same road, same speeds, same traffic flow. As I say in all my reviews, the average is in mixed traffic and a commute that involves mountain driving as well. My gasoline-only average is substantially similar to what other reviews have noted as well.
Just a note, the Volt does provide control over the modes. There is a button called "DRIVE MODE" that allows you to choose from 4 different modes
1. NORMAL 2. SPORT. 3. MOUNTAIN and 4. HOLD. The last one is the most unique since it allows the driver to turn on the ICE engine to provide power - I'd say 98% of the time. It's a great feature for long distance highway driviing wherein you can expect over 40 mpg. (Owner by the way). SPORT mode provides noticeable increased low end torque.
I own a Volt (2014) and this review is, by far, the best Volt review I've ever seen. You literally got nothing wrong. I have a long commute (39 miles each way) so I usually use a tiny bit of gas on the way (up hill slightly), but since getting access to a 6-50 welding plug at work, I've been able to charge all the way during the day and make it all the way home on free electrons. I'm averaging 80MPGe now and go 1800 miles between fill ups. Besides the disorganized center console, the only other thing I've not been happy about is the OEM tires. They are loud. I am going to replace them with Pirelli Cinturato P7s.
Yes, keep the details coming. If i wanted a cursory review I would go somewhere else, but Alex is the king of detail and nuance in the CZcams car review world. Nice job, as always.
The tricky part about the Volt is you can't really tell if you are in serial or hybrid mode. GM tells us that it will use whichever mode is most efficient at the time for the task. Anecdotally we are told that serial mode is used about 60% of the time. So if you drive around with a depleted battery in a Volt then you are likely using both modes on most trips. In parallel mode the Volt operates essentially the same as a Prius.
I had no idea the Volt had a range extender. Now that I know it's basically a plug in hybrid, it's on a short list for my wife's next car.
Excellent review as always, keep it up.
It's ALSO a Plug-in Hybrid. It's an EV. It's a serial Plug-in Hybrid as well. Let me put it this way: It's an EV with a gas generator - that little thing a Tesla is missing and that's why the Tesla needs a huge battery pack. You don't need its capacity everyday and that's the point: Most people commute within +/- 40 mi / day, therefore there is no need for an expensive 85 kW/h-Battery pack (which costs a lot). Depends on what you need for your drive. Or: Do you drive 300 mi / day? If so, the Tesla might be the choice for you. You need to know YOUR driving pattern, then you'll find the right car.
manoman0
The Tesla isn't a choice for me as it is like $100K and very problematic. My wife's commute is ~20 miles each way and she works for a power company that gives free charging and free parking for EVs. Used Volts are getting into the ~$15K range. I think it's a better choice for us.
Ray Gellenbeck yeah, sure. As it stands there, with two power devices, yes. In use it's an EV, a serial plug-in hybrid and seldomly a parallel hybrid. In fact, how it's called isn't so much of importance. It's how it works in reality. I just summed it up for you - and I didn't say I disagree with you.
future62 If your commute is around 20mi / day I'd even say you could go for an pure EV. If it's going to be your only car, then you better go for a Volt. Get a fully loaded one. I don't know if a Tesla is problematic. What I have heard so far is that it runs well and strong if you don't floor the pedal all the time.
Well we would want to use the car for other things too. So in that regard the Volt is pretty much perfect. Initially I wrote it off because I thought it was a pure EV, but its true dual fuel system makes it a really nice all-rounder.
Hopefully GM can get its price down under 30K next go round.
Great job, Alex, on dispelling some myths and also on highlighting the transmission/hybrid modes. @23:55 you use 31 - 35 as the mpg figure for the Volt operating on gas. No doubt that is what your result in a short test showed. I've never seen under 40 mpg in my Volt while operating in gas mode. Thousands of other Volt owners who keep track of such things will tell you the same. Same goes for the lifetime mpg on your test vehicle. Only one other time have I ever seen a Volt with under 70 mpg lifetime number, though I've read of fleet cars which were seldom charged and otherwise treated cavalierly getting lower numbers.
Dave Riley I get 36-42 mpg in gas mode as I'm trying to get down to only 3 gallons in my tank. 4K miles combined electric and 4.2 gallons (27 miles both ways home/work). I've drove home at 1am and the engine turned on when outside temp was under 40°F.
I have a Volt now, but I did have a Prius plug-in. That Prius plug-in got an electrical range of 15 miles, not 11 miles.
I've owned a Volt 6 weeks now. To date, 1800 miles and only used 3 gallons of the original tank, but that was all during the first week and now I charge at work.
Label it a hybrid or not, the Volt and the I3 are the only cars currently produced that you can lock the gas cap, throw away the key and the car will continue to operate to it's full capability as long as you charge it. The Prius, Ford, Honda, etc all require gas. The Volt and I3 are always an electric car, the others must use gas to operate to their full capability.
Outstanding review Alex. Thanks to reviews like yours, I bought one of these cars the other day.
My 2013 Volt has >480mpg after nearly 17k miles, but my 50mi commute is all-electric. The Michelin Primacy MXV is a really nice tire for Volts, in terms of grip, noise and comfort, for maybe 2mi range loss on an average charge. If your commute distance between charges is
Loved the video. Shopping for a Volt for my son and this told me EVERYTHING I needed to know.
That was a pretty good review. I bought my Volt about 7 months ago. I never thought I would purchase a Chevy. I have never seen a Chevrolet that has interested me to buy it. I need a car for a relatively short time and this car seemed very interesting. A little over $8,000 later and I am pretty much in love with this car. Sure there are some things I find a bit irritating like the soft-touch council and the loud 4-cylinder engine that kicks in when the battery charge is gone, but the car keeps going, so what the hay. I once owned a Mercedes C230 Coupe which for me is very close in comparison to this Volt. The C230 was much faster but overall I would say the two cars are very similar in handling, style funness in driving. As I purchased this car just to have something to drive until I move out of the US, I don't want to let it go. Unfortunately, the country I am moving to makes it nearly impossible to import used cars.
Mechanically powering the wheels is the most efficient method at moderate speeds. Generating power and then powering a motor is somewhere around 85% efficient while the mechanical path inside the power split device is over 95% efficient. At lower speeds and higher speeds this changes, which is why even the "serial" hybrid Accord locks a clutch pack to drive the wheels mechanically over 45 MPH. Efficiency is king.
thanks for this excellent review. I just bought a Volt, and i learned more here than reading the boring manual
@secret Hey, just watched this video. I've had my used volt for 3 years or so now. It has 82k miles. All I've done is software updates due to recalls. I've only changed the oil maybe twice. replaced the tires. haven't needed brakes. the lifetime mpg is up to 202 mpg now.
Thank you very much for u our review of the Chevy Volt. We are planning on purchasing a used Volt and so have been extensively researching. Your video has been the most detailed I have watched. In fact, you have given me more information than some articles I have read. Thanks again.
It really depends on how you drive it. Toyota quotes an EV range of 11 miles based on the EPA cycle. More is possible depending on your terrain and weather conditions.
I just bought this car, and your video was very helpful and informative. Thanks!
Great Job Alex keep up the great reviews can't wait until you do a review on the 2016 Volt!
Alex, this is the best Volt review on CZcams!
At last, someone who calls the Volt a hybrid!!
It has always been called a hybrid. Difference is ... it's a series hybrid. You can't go 4 months without buying gas in a Prius like you can in a Volt.
There are several types of hybrids. The Prius is a parallel. Even their plug in is a parallel hybrid. It can not go over a certain speed without reverting to gas.
The Volt can go 100 mph in full electric. until the battery depletes completely before switching to gas.
In a parallel hybrid, either the gas motor or the electric motor are propelling the car. In a series hybrid like the Volt, only the Electric motor propels the car. The gas engine is a generator. When in gas mode, it creates electricity, sends it to the battery which in turn sends it to the electric propulsion motor which spins the wheels.
That is why it is called a range extended electric car.
ra5928 Remember that the Volt is also a parallel hybrid. When you are running in gas mode the system operates in parallel hybrid mode quite often and, depending on your speed may operate most of the time in parallel hybrid mode. The drivetrain is very similar to a Prius drivetrain with the addition of clutch packs that allow the system to be forced into a serial hybrid mode.
ra5928 I already know all of that (thanks for the clarification, all the same). What I meant was that it's nice to hear someone call it what it really is: a HYBRID.
Just about all the other reviews I've ever seen of this car, people have ALWAYS referred to it as an EREV. They've often gone so far as to say that it's NOT a hybrid, when in fact, those of us that know better, know that it IS a HYBRID.
ra5928 To be completely technically correct, the Prius can also travel at any speed on just electricity-- it just has an efficiency caveat that it has to drag along the gas engine using the battery once it gets over about 40-43 MPH, which consumes an extra roughly 2kW of electricity. And it will only do that with relatively little throttle, and only if the charge level of the hybrid battery is over something like 54.5%.
+babybirdhome I just bought a 2014 with 26 k on clock if battery goes bad can the car function as a regular gas car??
We just purchased a 2013 Volt, used only 12,100 miles on it. Looking forward to driving it.
How do you like the car after a month? How much did you pay for it?
Love it so far. Great for local/city driving under 50 miles because the engine doesn't run, just electric.
The dealer filled the gas tank (about 9+ gallons) when we purchased it about 5 weeks ago and I still have 3/4 of a tank.
Well built car, very heavy due to batteries which makes the car feel more well built. I would recommend it. We paid 15,500 for it.
@@Michael_in_Vt That's the price range or cheaper I hope to find one when I try to get one later this year. Planning on saving 5k or more for a down payment and finance one for 15k or less. Maybe even trade in a few vehicles to help lower it's price as well. I don't need Extra gas vehicles if I have a volt.
I watched the whole video! Great review. I'm about to pull the plug on purchasing a Volt. Seems like the perfect time to buy one in light of the massive depreciation the 2012/13s have seen.
That is control over the drive modes, not the four transmission modes. There is no way to force the Volt into parallel hybrid mode vs serial hybrid mode, or from since motor EV to dual motor EV.
Just a shout out very much enjoy your reviews of electric and hybrid cars! Keep up the good work
I watch a lot of car reviews for my job, and I just have to say that this one is particularly well done. A bit lengthy at 25 minutes, but it does clear up any ambiguity about the powertrain and infotainment system.
As always, the best reviews in the business. I really could never see myself in this type of vehicle, but for information's sake the review was extremely enlightening.
Hi, Normal is all electric until the battery is seen as depleted and then it goes into a Hybrid mode. Hold is another Hybrid mode but will utilize the ice on demand regardless of whether there is 100% or 1% battery level. It will also maintain the current battery level at the moment you switch. It is a hybrid mode that uses the electric motors for added torque when needed, and then shuts them off and utilizes the ice for cruising.
The Chevy Volt should get about 37MPG if you never plug it in, pretty good for a ~3700 pound car,,.
You know the line, "closed road, do not attempt at home" :)
Great review as always. I've had a Volt since February and the lifetime mpg is now at 176mpg. My commute is 18 miles each way. It's all about plugging it in. I'd love to see you review the Spark EV as well. Thanks!
*most* modes are electric if you're looking at it that way, however the parallel hybrid mode is not because the gasoline engine is providing up to 80% of so of the power to drive the wheels via a mechanical path rather than the serial mode which is 100% electric.
Alex that was a great (and very informative) review. I agree with what you said about how GM has marketed the Volt. Many people out there have probably ruled it out because they hear the words "Electric Vehicle" with a range extender. I think people would think that they have limited range. If they were to have called it a hybrid they might be moving more units.
Thanks for explaining, learnt something here. Yes, efficiency IS king. And no matter how, I love my Volt.
For taxi duty you would probably be better off with a Prius or C-MAX unless you had the opportunity to charge frequently.
Excellent informative video. Thank you.
Thanks Alex. This was a very in depth review and finally cleared up how the Volt's powertrain really works. It's never been explained so well in many other reviews for years.
I am begrudgingly impressed with how well the Volt drives and feels because it's hard to justify on paper. The brakes were very horrible at low speeds, non-linear and overly sensitive. It made parking very jerky.
The Mode button is on the lower left of the center console. It`s directly underneath the button with a leaf.
Very good point about the carpool lanes.
The Cruze diesel is high on my list hopefully we will have one in a few months.
Great video! Thanks for the review!
I watched the whole video. This was an excellent review with good details and info.
Love your in depth videos sir have you reviewed an audi s6 yet would love to see that review
You actually forgot to mention the start-stop-system...despite your very good review, and in my opinion, one of the best reviews about this car anyway.
This is great review, yes we did watched it all the way both on Ford c max energi and Chevy Volt,
It is true that we thought Volt was all electric and there was this range anxiety thing.
Chevy people may need to fix this misconception.
We are going for the C max energi.
You presentations are worth it.
.Very helpful.
Thanks.
well spoken and good depth!
Excellent video, very descriptive!
This was a great car but GM dropped the ball again...just like they did with the EV1 in the early 2000s... I would have loved to see a similar hybrid approach (EV with ICE range extender)applied to a small truck like the Maverick, which gets 40mpg by the way...The first gen looked much better that the 2nd one..
Alex your reviews are Fantastic ! Very Professional
In progress we have the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT, 2014 Chevy Impala, 2014 Kia Cadenza and the 2014 Acura RLX.
Hi Alex, great review as usual. I wanted to point out your concern with the OE tires on the Volt (Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max) as a weak point in terms of handling for the Volt is spot on. The OE tires are very efficient but they are very poor in terms of traction and comfort. I have done many tire reviews and a lot of research on LRR tires for our Prius forum and that led me to purchase the Continental PureContact for my 2013 Volt. The difference in steering response and sheer lateral grip is astounding! A good set of performance oriented LRR tires can transform handling and confidence when pushing through twisty roads or panic stops. You should expect to lose 2-4 miles of range compared to the OE tires but the handling improvement and stopping distance in wet or dry is well worth it for many consumers. The Michelin Premier A/S and Pirelli Cinturato P7 All-Season Plus are other great options while maintaining decent low rolling resistance characteristics.
Justin Wages The Kuhmo tires on the new Soul EV are quite impressive as well.
Justin Wages Road noise is my biggest complaint with OEM tires on my Volt and after carefully reviewing the reviews and ratings on Tirerack, I've decided to go with the Pirelli Cinturato P7. The PureContact was the other one I strongly considered. It was pretty much a toss-up between the two for me.
The year is 2020 and this review is helpful in me deciding if i should get a used Chevy volt. I am curios to battery longevity but I am looking at other videos to check that. Do you have videos on the Volt 5 years later?
I am in the market as well. It seems that there is hardly any decrease in range according to owners on the forums.
I'm grateful that someone finally outlined the difference between a parallel hybrid, series hybrid, and the Chevy Volt. I was quite excited about the Volt back when it was announced, but then disappointed when the Chevy engineers copped to the fact that the ICE could still power the wheels at certain points. Maybe this is why Bob Lutz left for VIA Motors
Fantastic work Alex!!!!!!
Geat review, this really helped me alot on buying one
Very informative! Thank you. I would like to a comparison of the 2013 + Fusion Hybrid against the 2013 Lincoln MKZ and ultimately the better of those two compared against the Volt. At least from a professional view point. Thanks again!
If you're getting 30-31mpg in the Volt, you're driving wrong. I just took the first extended trip in my Volt and got 44mpg (primarily highway driving). Obviously there are many factors that affect fuel economy, but if you're only getting 30mpg then you are simply accelerating too quickly and driving too fast.
I drove 2 - 2015 Volts...the electric motor propulsion is so nice...worried about issues potentially with the car as it is based on the Cruze (unibody)...and some of the reliability of the Chevies are not that great.
I love my Volt
Bryce Hale Me too. The Volt *is* an EV with a range extender. Mine is used for local driving (less than 50 miles per day 80% of the time) and I experience 75% pure EV operation. This is why I think the correct characterization is GM's as "EV with range extender" since 3/4 of the time it is a pure EV.
Bryce Hale Me too. The Volt *is* an EV with a range extender. Mine is used for local driving (less than 50 miles per day 80% of the time) and I experience 75% pure EV operation. This is why I think the correct characterization is GM's as "EV with range extender" since 3/4 of the time it is a pure EV.
Your default battery charging mode advice (in order to shorten the charging time) will be VERY helpful (I had no clue). THANKS!
Great review
After how many miles will you start saving with the volt? Initial cost is very high, as with other hybrids.
I'm really considering buying this as my next car.
I've been saving up for a new car, and this has never fallen off the top of my list.
I get better gas mileage in my Nissan Altima. If you're seriously looking for good gas mileage look in to a Nissan Sentra with a CVT. In my Ultima it's quite common to average 47mpg on the highway even though the EPA claims 38mpg.
Ben Legere Your "Ultima." Really? You couldn't even bother to get the spelling of the model correct? And 47mpg highway on a car EPA rated at 38? BULLSHIT.
Paul, Ben's achieving 47 mph cruising on the highway is not bs. I beat the EPA numbers by 10 mpg in most cars I drive. It isn't rocket science. Please contribute to the helpful and civil nature of these forums by not insulting folks for minor spelling errors and resorting to profanity and all caps when you think EPA averages limit the rest of us. Thanks.
I got a loaner car one time from dealership it was the Chevy Volt I ended up buying that same Chevy Volt today from the dealership I've owned it for 6 hours
Where was this filmed
Very depth information! Looks like you were driving in Palo Alto area. Anyhow, I would like your opinion on something...
Not many Taxicab companies are using ChevyVolt but rather using Prius or Cmax. By the way, I don't mind the limited space: passengers/luggages.
I like to get a Chevy Volt and use it for taxicab. Any suggestions? Pros/cons
Thank you.
id like to know how to shut off all the annoying beeps
Whats the difference between the Premier or a LT?
This appears to be a report from a volt owner who seldom charges the car. Discounting the 38ish miles of EV range the Volt doesn't win on mpg, not to mention requiring premium gas. If fully charged and used up to 110 miles the Volt should win on mileage over a plug-in Prius. For instance: 10 miles is no gas either way, 20 miles .18 gal saved, 30 miles .37 gal saved, 40 miles .5 gal saved, 50 miles .45 gal saved, and so on to a wash at near 110 miles.
It's pretty rare in your reviews that you haven't mentioned anything about cabin noise. How does the Volt compare to the Avalon Hybrid and Ford C-Max? I know the Avalon is in a different class, but I'm peeking at it with utmost interest...
That is interesting. I thought that seldomly happens except going up the mountain (e.g.). I usually drive very efficiently, no speeding so I guess that wouldn't apply to me, even in CS mode. I think I need to look into that issue again.
Alex, are there any driving conditions where the Volt operates in parallel hybrid mode when the battery is well charged, or does parallel hybrid mode only (sometimes) kick in when the battery charge is low?
Unless you enable Mountain mode, the engine won't turn on unless the battery charge is low.
As I have read a parallel hybrid mode is possible but it seldomly is in use. Personally I could not tell when it goes into parallel hybrid mode. Since I drive very carefully and seldomly over any speed limit I doubt it has ever kicked in.
could you please do a review on the Nissan quest, if you get a chance to get one. I want to know which minivan is the best and I might buy a quest but before I do I want you to do a review on it.
Yay me! I'm his favorite!! ;-)
Nice review!
15,000 miles. 30 gallons of gas. Charging costs equal to 2.4 cents per mile. 100 mpg equivalent at $2.40 per gallon of gas.
I loved this car from the moment it came out but it was to expensive for me to get one. Now after seeing that it is a very reliable car and the prices going down, I hope to get one. Great review and the infotainment part was really useful. I didn't understood if it has DAB radio and a HDD like the previous model
i picked up a 2013 pre-owned certified VOLT with 32K miles at my local chevy dealership in december 2016. Sticker price was 17k. It's a great investment, I have around 65k miles on it, my commute isn't crazy long, work is 12 miles away. My boss allows me to plug 120v in the back of our building, I don't plug in at home since I live in an apartment. My lifetime MPG is 75. I spend maybe 20 bucks a month on gas at my local Costco, and with COVID gas prices are super low, doesn't take a lot to fill up this 9 gallon tank! def consider getting one, they're discontinued now which bums me out, because I will run my volt into the ground and would like to buy another. I'm spoilt.
@@jeremypr I want one too. Always wanted an electric car. The Volt or Bolt has been on my radar to save up a good down payment and try to finance one and even trade in my gas cars to lower the price and just have the volt or a bolt. Both great choices without range anxiety but a volt Im liking more with the gas and electric on board.
During the work week I use zero gas, and once a month I go to my favorite fishing hole 250 miles away using the ICE for the highway portion, and then the EV for the in town driving. Still I average about 100 mpg.
gotta love startrek haircut
We will do our best to get one for you.
Thanks
A diesel would be all that much better, wouldn't it? Between the Mazda 6, Chevy Cruze or Jetta TDI. What would recomend! That's all I know besides Passat!Thank U, U really are THE best ad car reviews!