2011 Chevrolet Volt Review – Test Drive
Fuel Economy and Performance
Once on the road, I found that the Volt to be pretty well mannered. Indeed, it handled far better than the Toyota Prius and (somewhat surprisingly) better than the Chevrolet Cruze. 
The Volt has an extremely stiff body structure and a specially tuned suspension that clearly make a difference. Not surprisingly, I found that the low-rolling resistance tires ultimately provide less cornering grip than conventional tires. The electric steering system uses a premium ZF gear and transmitted more road feel than I expected.
The Volt has three driving modes to accommodate different driving situations and preferences. Normal mode is the most efficient; this takes the electricity and focuses it on running the electric drive. Sport mode sacrifices a bit of efficiency for more improved acceleration, and Mountain mode, intended for steep inclines, ensures that the battery has a bigger energy reserve.
The Volt won’t set any speed records but that’s not what I was expecting. 
Maximum speed is 160 km/h (100 mph). Acceleration was smooth and I almost forgot I was driving the Volt as I continued on my way.
The front seats lack the basic adjustments that have become standard even in the least expensive of vehicles in recent years, although I was still able to get reasonably comfortable. The rear seat is not very roomy but children should be fine.
The only challenge I ran into was that rear visibility isn’t great. As a result, the Rear Camera and Park Assist package, which includes front and rear sensors as well as a rear camera, is a must have option.
When it comes to charging, it will take 10 to 12 hours to recharge the Volt using 120 V and approximately four hours using 240 V. The Volt comes with a 120 V cord but as many as 4,400 Volt owners will benefit from a U.S. Department of Energy program that will provide free 240 V chargers.
A $7,500 tax credit brings the price down to $33,500. If you want to compare this with a Prius or Ford Fusion, a comparably equipped Prius is almost $4,000 less while the Ford would be $1,500 less. Right now, GM is offering a very competitive 36-month lease at $350/month with $2,500 down.
The Volt’s standard features include keyless start/stop, heated mirrors, automatic headlights, automatic climate control, touchscreen navigation with real-time traffic and voice control, 
Bluetooth, OnStar (including five years of the Directions and Connections package, an iPod/USB interface, 30 GB of hard disk storage for music, cloth upholstery, and 17” alloy wheels. The Premium Package adds leather seating and a leather steering wheel as well as heated front seats. The batteries have an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
The Volt is important because of its ability to draw from relatively cheap and clean electrical energy from the grid and its ability to fill the role of an electric vehicle without the usual compromises in range. Whether the Volt and its innovations will prove to be a commercial success is a question, however, that will only be answered when we see if the car buying public votes with its pocketbook or takes its dollars and euros elsewhere.
| 2011 Chevrolet Volt | |
| Base price/price-as-tested | $41,000/$33,500 (with tax credit) |
| Drivetrain | Front engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Engine | 1.4-liter I-4 with 16-kW lithium-ion battery and 111-kW (149-hp) electric drive unit |
| Transmission | 1-speed automatic |
| Curb weight (lbs) | NA |
| Wheelbase (inches) | 105.7 |
| Length x width x height (inches) | 177.1 x 61.2 x 56.3 |
| 0-60 mph (seconds) | 8.5 |
| City/Highway fuel economy (mpg) | NA |
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[...] Motors announced it will idle its Chevrolet Volt assembly lines for five weeks due to slower than expected [...]
I have wanted this car since the design begin several years ago. The only problem is the price. I currently have a Ford Fusion Hybrid which is great but my wife and I would also like to have a Chevy Volt. One mistake in the review is the base price for the Ford is about $27,500 (not $33,000) which compares to the base price of the Chevy of $33,500. Either car is a good buy.
My bottom line is buy American and keep the money at home.
We plan a review of the Ford Fusion Hybrid in early 2010 – good to hear you like it. The pricing, however, is correct. The article does not compare base prices; it looks at the price for simliarly-equipped vehicles.
Someone should tell George Will:
“What’s driving Obama’s subsidies of Chevy’s Volt?”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/12/AR2010111204494.html
Test drive without stating any fuel economy numbers? Lets be more specific about the extended mode with engaged petrol ICE!
Have wanted this car ever since it was first shown publicly in 2007. Would gladly pay the $43,000 with or without government rebates. Only wish GM would make it a five seater, as I have three kids.
Very interesting. I like, but JUST bought an 11 tdi sportwagen, so not gonna be in my near future.
How do you determine mileage. Guess you’d have to track gas and electric use over a few months to get your individual number, which might be quite different if your average day is 30 or 80 miles.
Wonder what mileage it gets after the batteries at depleted.
Not a 5-seater ??? Only common sense would dictate that a vehicle such as this would be able to carry a min of 5 people…common sense is what GM lacks. They’re SLOWLY getting better.
I would never buy this thing and pay that much for it. Buy American? – IF Only they would make something worth buying that the public wants.
Like I said, GM is improving SLOWLY, but they’re out of touch and off kilter…have been for the longest time.
We have two imports. Love them both. Mind blowing fuel economy, quality & safety.
Rant over.
When you get a electric car to charge up in under 5 minutes. When the battery weight is 120lbs or less, when the range is 600 miles or more you might have an electric car. The Volt gets 27 miles per gallon, big deal. And there are other issues, find out what happens when that car is in a crash and those batteries leak on you, go investigate, not to mention you could be electrocuted. Diesel is cleaner and safer and works now. The plants that charge these cars are dirty, the best and cleanest power plant is under the hood of your 335d. Wake up to the facts.
Another GM flop!! Call it what it is: A hybrid!! Given the choice, I’ll take an oil burner any day. DIESEL will soon rule!
I cannot comprehend how far GM can go with GM Volt story. Using a hybrid car in electric mode only, driving 40 mi/day commute means to shorten the battery pack life to 2 – 3 years. In winter time and steep roads one charge cannot cover 40 miles distance. The electricity is not cheap and 50 % of electricity is produced by burning coal.
Using as a hybrid it is a different story, but using a VW Jetta TDI Diesel, 2.0L 140 hp engine, 50 mpg, for $18,000 to $23,000 is a REALITY and not an UTOPIA.