DriverVIBE VERDICT
Chevrolet VOLT
Reviewed by Rob McSorley (DriverVIBE.com)
Chevrolet VOLT Reviewed by Rob McSorley (DriverVIBE.com)
Due to skyrocketing fuel prices more than ever buyers are seeking
Visually the Volt doesn't stray too far from the
energy being used by the cars systems and
more fuel efficient cars. The market is saturated with hybrid and
aerodynamically-led mould of the Toyota Prius
economy figures.
EVs that all come with big claims. General Motors have been a
with its slicked-back roofline that falls rapidly
little slower to react to the sea of change but this is about to
after the front doors. Its the finer details that
The Volts batteries form a T-shaped spine down
change, now they have their very own eco-warrior the aptly
make the Volt look rather space-age from the
the centre of the car making it a strict four
named Chevrolet Volt, sister to the Vauxhall Ampera. Different
chrome wheels, slim lights front and rear to the
seated. Leg and shoulder space all round is
from everything else on the market the Volt is a range-extender
glass tailgate. Neat touches include a central rear
decent although rear headroom is very restricted,
and is claimed to offer a staggering 235.4 miles per gallon, but is
fog light and black section below the window
luggage space is respectable at 310 litres
area designed to disguised the shallow windows.
extending to 1,005 litres by folding the seats
The lower sections of the car are black and are
although there is a high load lip. It is however a
designed for optimum aerodynamic efficiency. It
shame that there is no parcel shelf instead the
all gels together together well managing to look
Volt comes with a fabric cover that doesn't really
futuristic yet classy at the same time, we
hide the contents of the boot not helped by the
particularly liked our Volts metallic red finish.
gap between the two rear seats.
The Volts generously equipped cabin is a real
The Volts drivetrain is very revolutionary made up
treat, if Apple made car interiors they would look
of a 111 kW electric motor that offers the
exactly like this. It's appealingly swoopy with all
equivalent of 150 bhp and a generous 370 Nm of
of the main surfaces are covered in high-gloss
torque. Its paired with a 1.4 litre petrol engine
white that looks thoroughly modern. A lot of the
that uniquely never drives the wheels, instead it
switchgear such as the steering wheel will be
acts as a generator to charge the batteries. There
familiar to Vauxhall and Chevrolet owners but is
are three different driving modes, Normal, Sport
no worse for it. The centre console is made up of
and Mountain that vary the way the power is
a flat surface with touch sensitive buttons but
delivered depending on the terrain, there is also
they aren't very responsive and are fiddly to use
an L mode which increases the force of the
on the move, traditional buttons would have
regenerative braking for downhill stints. The
been better. Ahead of the driver instead of dials
batteries can either be charged for six hours
there is a large TFT screen that houses vital
using a conventional 240v wall socket or as you
information such as battery power remaining and
drives along by the petrol generator. On a full
a neat green ball that shows how efficiently your
charge the Volt has a range of around 50 miles on
driving style is. There's also another similar sized
electric only and a total of 300 miles using the
screen at the top to the centre console that has a
petrol generator which removes the range
wealth of information such as power source,
anxiety of its piers.
it any good? Read on to find out.
The Volts driving experience is similar to a
At £34,995 the Volt appears to be an
normal car. Despite weighing in excess of
expensive proposition but with emissions as
1,700kg it rides well soaking up everything
low as 27g per km it is exempt from road
in its path with ease, it also tackles corners
tax and the London congestion charge. It
with verve with well controlled body roll,
also comes laden with plenty of standard
high grip levels and positive steering
equipment including keyless entry, sat nav,
although a tad over assisted. Power
automatic lights and wipers, cruise and
delivery is instantaneous with maximum
climate control, alloy wheels, front and rear
torque almost from standstill resulting in a
parking sensors with reversing camera and
not disappointing nine second dash to 60
heated leather seats. For added peace of
mph, it is also seriously addictive watching
mind all Volts also come with an eight year
other drivers faces as you pull away at
100,000 mile battery warranty. Whilst in
traffic lights with real haste. Refinement is
our hands due to the below freezing
superb as the Volt cruises silently most of
temperatures we found the Volts range
the time. Even when the petrol engine is in
substantially reduced to around 30 miles
operation noise levels are very low and it is
from a six hour charge, that said we still
certainly strange as the engines noise has
managed around 200 mpg on a
TECH DATA
no correlation to the speed you are
combination of petrol and electric making
Price as tested: £34,995
travelling at.
for rock bottom running costs.
Engine: Electric Range Extender 151bhp - 0-62 mph: 9.0 secs - Maximum Speed: 99mph Economy: N/A mpg (urban) –N/A mpg (extra-urban), 235.4 mpg (combined) - Emissions: 27 g/km (Band A) - VED (12 months): £0 Dimensions: Length: 4498 mm - Width: 1787 mm - Height: 1439 mm - Wheelbase: 2685 mm *data from Chevrolet UK
DRIVERVIBE VERDICT The Chevrolet Volt is refreshingly different from any other alternative fuelled car on the market. It's clever technology combining electric and petrol power removes the usage limitations that affect most of its rivals including the dreaded range anxiety. We found it to be a comfortable, well designed family car that drives as well as most normal small family hatches. Its running costs are some of the lowest around and its generous kit levels represent decent value for money undercutting rivals such as Nissan's Leaf. Although we found headroom lacking in the rear and the steering a little numb there is still plenty to like about the Volt making out well worth checking out if you are after a modern electric family car.
For more reviews visit www.DriverVIBE.com