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2016 Chevrolet Volt pricing

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The all new Volt will start at $34 000.
Which is over $1000 less than the previous model. (Not as much of a price drop as GM had told us before)
Still, that is before the $7500 tax credit. And, where I live in California, there is an additional $2500 tax credit.
So basically, this is a $24 000 car now.
Which seems really fair. For a car that manages 50 miles in pure EV mode. But can also be used as a primary car with its gas engine.

I tested the current Volt twice before and really liked it. Although the second time around, I did notice how rough the gas engine was when cold in the morning.
The new 1.5 Liter is supposed to be smoother and quieter. With even better gas mileage.

GM has big hope for the new Volt, expecting to sell about 60 000 units a year.

And by the way, the current Prius starts at about $25 000. Which now seems crazy expensive for a car that doesn’t have a pure EV mode at all.

Conversation 16 comments

  1. Wrong. The Prius starts at 22K, seats 5 passengers and you don't have to plug it in. They have the cheaper C that starts at 18K if you can't afford the larger one.

  2. I have a current gen Volt – love it! I feel the value is strong. I actually prefer the looks of the 1st gen to the 2nd gen.

  4. The Volt may look a lot better than the Peius (Pious?) by Toyota; but neither makes any sense if you do the math. Cars of similar size & ability are $5k- $8k less and also cost less to maintain. You simply never get to "break-even" by spending the extra cash up front, plus sales tax & compound interest. Even if we pretend that the first set of replacement lithium batteries is free.

  5. At Anonymous May 4 2015.

    I disagree. I own a Volt. They payback period vs. a comparably equipped Honda Civic / Mazda 3 for me was 5 years assuming a 30% premium on Electricity vs. current rates and using 2013 gas prices, traveling 12,000 KM's per year. As we own our cars for 8-9 years, the payback works. Additionally, the insurance rates were $200 cheaper.

    The maint. costs are also lower on Hybrids / PHEV as the regen. brakes don't need to be replaced as often. You're not going through as many oil changes in a Volt (engine doesn't run as often)

    Batteries are typically covered for 160,000KM's – so I'm fine with that as well.

    Not sure where you got your 'facts' from – however, I suggest you stop watching Fox News and start doing simple math.

  7. Plug-ins like the Volt will pay for themselves much faster than a car like the Prius. Even with oil at artificially low levels, a plug in gives you the potential to commute using electricity alone. Add this to the fact that many EV charging stations allow you to charge for free and something like the Volt can very quickly close the gap between a cheaper car long before your battery warranty is up a decade later.

  8. Oh Lord…the last place I thought I'd run across a Liberal "Fox News" slam. Even conservatives like EV's and Hybrids. I drive a Volt and my dad drives a Prius. The less oil and gas we use, the quicker we can achieve energy independence, and the less we depend on the Middle East, the quicker we can leave them to their inevitable self-destruction.

  9. Vince, that commenter is sorta correct about the Prius being $22K. There's a $2000 cash back offer now for the car until end of the month.

  10. May 5, 2015 at 4:53 AM The only TV I watch is public TV & the science channel. As to the math, Even if you are correct ( you're not, but if you don't see that I won't burst your bubble) you still have the time value of money to consider. You're buying a car–not a business. A 5-year break-even on a car is a horrible waste of capitol. (And again, I don't agree it's possible–even in 5 years) If the car makes you happy, fine. Then it's just as practical as a Ferrari Convertible or a RAM Power Wagon Crew Cab Laramie. But if you're sacrificing comfort & excitement for the sake of frugality–then choosing the Hybrid shows and extreme lack of "due diligence".

  11. At May 5 @ 6:59.

    The only thing you've said that has a modicum of reality is 'if the car makes you happy then fine'

    Everyone has their reasons for owning the car they own. Mine happen to be that I hate the oil industries – and their ability to randomly choose profit objectives then set oil prices.

    For the record, calculations on ownership costs are spot on.

  12. You can't just do the math….

    If you do the math, factor in resale, value long term maintenance, etc, you could argue why would anyone buy anything other than a Toyota. If you only do the math, a 3 series is the same size as a Civic, why would you ever buy the BMW? Because they are not comparable. The driving dynamics of an electric powertrain vehicle are so different from a compact econo car that you can't really put them in the same category. You pay a premium because you expect to get value and for a plug in vehicle, that comes as a combination of factors, not just dollars or euros. That is part of it, but there are also the driving dynamics, the desire to be green, etc…. Shall I go on. As long as you factor in what makes sense for you and what you value, then the math works. For the record, I own a Leaf, an i3 and a Prius. I compost everything I can. I grow my own organic vegetables. I believe global warming is real. And believe it or not, I am a conservative who is not ignorant.

  13. This comment chain is a great example of the unfair baggage that the first generation Volt was saddled with. It's a shame too, because it is probably the most impressive and innovative engineering GM has accomplished in the past half century.

  14. Pretty sexy for an alternative fuel vehicle. Most entries in this segment are either hopelessly hideous or look like geeky space pods. The Volt, ELR, and Tesla S are the supermodels of the segment.

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