27th May 2015, 02:49
Thanks for the review too, it is interesting to hear how the car feels. I believe it's an interesting concept, and if I'm not wrong, the only real hybrid available on the market. No more hassle with figuring out if the drive will be too long for the actual battery charge, while still being able to drive 100% on electric power for a defined distance. What a smart - if complex - choice Chevrolet has made.
29th May 2015, 19:37
We went from a Prius to a Mazda 6 and Mazda 3. Personally would rather have the Mazda 3 than this car. A little more money, but well worth it.
29th Oct 2015, 19:47
Here is an update after the last 30,000 miles. As of now the car has around 60,000 miles. Since writing the last comment I got a job that requires me to drive 38.5 miles. Each way. So basically the absolute max the Volt was made to handle. Luckily the place I work lets me charge there free of charge.
On the typical work day I can manage to get all the way to and from work on battery alone. If I drive conservatively, I can manage to get something like 43 miles out of the battery. The highest was 46 miles. The engine doesn't get stellar economy. Maybe around 34 MPG, but not bad considering that this is a heavy car. My wife drives the car an hour away every 2 weeks for a club she is part of, which of course means the car runs on the engine most of the time for her trips. We also took a trip the mountains in it with my parents, a 400 mile round trip, and it managed to climb some really steep hills all throughout the Sierras with no problem. So it does what it was meant to do: drive to work or around town on the battery and drive on a family vacation like a "normal" car. With combined driving, the economy works out to be 175 or so MPG. The cost to charge one way for me is around $40 a month. I figure this car costs about 1/4 the cost to "fuel" over the old Prius we traded it in for... which is astounding.
As the battery runs the drivetrain most of the time and the engine just sits there, this has translated to much less frequent maintenance. The oil only needs to be changed about every two years. I did it once awhile back just to make me feel better, but even then the "old" oil still looked brand-new. Likewise I doubt the spark plugs or even the air filter will ever need to be changed. My wife uses the engine just enough to make sure the gas gets used up not to go stale.
So far the car has held up well - which it should seeing as how it's still (to me) a pretty new car. I've been pleased to see that it seems easy on the tires and brake pads, which show little wear. The paint, trim, interior panels and electronics all still look like new.
The car DID have one problem. The battery warning light came on. In order to be overly cautious, anytime there is a tripped sensor for the battery coolant system, the car will shut off the battery entirely to prevent damage. The problem wasn't really a problem, but rather that on some of the early Volts the battery coolant tank was marked wrong and the coolant level is supposed to be a bit higher than the tank shows. The sensor inside the coolant tank is VERY sensitive and thus it set off the alarm. Filling it to the right level and taking it to the dealer to have the ECU reset did the trick. The rear hatch compression shocks were also replaced under a recall for free. Other then that... that's it.
So as far as general opinions, I feel that if you're a commuter zombie like me and want a commuting machine that's easy to maintain and cheap to run, the Volt is a very good car for that purpose. The upcoming Volt is said to go 53 miles on the battery with an improved engine that will get 40 MPG. If so I will gladly wait until there are enough used ones on the market and trade my current one for the new one.
If you have driven an EV car, the experience is such that you won't want to go back to strictly gas powered cars again. If nothing more the sheer torque is very pleasing!
14th Sep 2016, 06:13
Excellent review... as an owner myself I agree with the accuracy, my only gripe is the lack of a 5th seat as essentially the car is a four seater... but TBH compared to the overall advantages, build quality and driving experience, that is a minor trade off in comparison I suppose.
14th Sep 2016, 18:34
Sounds like the perfect car for someone living only on social security. No pension. The only thing any cheaper is walking or a skateboard! Even a bike would an expense to buy first.
16th Sep 2016, 19:18
The state and fed tax incentive is nearly 10k in my area; seems the only way to go on one of these. Buy new. Paying 33k plus for a new Volt with a 680.00 year typical cost to own energy wise, which includes electric, was actually a comparison I noted. But buy a new Malibu for 7k less at 1400 average fuel usage. It would take a while to see a benefit in a new Volt. Why lose the tax break buying used at all is my thought that the first owner got. This tax incentive is likely not lasting forever. If you can snag up some free electric somewhere, the costs may drop. I would plug into 220V at home vs charging 4 1/2 hours into 110V. I don't like looking out the front view of windshield of the bee Volt. But you can drop the buckets and steering wheel for a tall driver. I still like the new Malibu better. I do not buy used cars or others headaches. Good luck.
17th Sep 2016, 08:48
Plugging in a car 14 times a week seems like a lot of work. Vs sticking in a gas nozzle twice a week. Seems inconvenient. Especially with frequent rain and winters here, pulling a cord out of the trunk.
17th Sep 2016, 18:21
I just got a 2013 Volt on Sept 3. I drive 20 miles round trip to & from work and charge the car every night (starting at midnight on 12 Amp 120 VAC). It's fully charged every morning and I go to work. In the two weeks I've had it I have used zero fuel and gone 285 miles. Even on a weekend my driving is within its 38 mile range so I use zero fuel. Took it on a 145 mile round trip and used 2.8 gallons of fuel. The car's build quality is excellent, great ride (doesn't drive like a compact Civic, Corolla, or Prius [my daughter owns a 2007 touring model]) substantive & smooth. I have owned Lexus LS, Cadillac, Volvos, Camrys and Honda Civics, and this rated up there with the LS in both interior, build, & drive quality. Looking forward to not having to burn fossil fuel...
26th Jun 2014, 07:44
The Chevy Volt does not offer cooled seats as stated in this review. Just wanted to point that out, because it is one of the things that is keeping me from purchasing it. I live in the hot and humid deep south, and cooled seats are in demand down here. Other than that... thanks for the great review. =)