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Chevrolet Volt test drive. Part one.

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 I got the Volt yesterday. For a week.
It had an EV range of 45 miles when delivered to me. (Not the full 53 I was hoping for…)

Still, plenty for a few day-drives.
I was curious about the gas mileage when the car is not in EV mode.
So I used the “hold” mode, which saves “the juice” for later. A very cool feature.

 As you can see. For these few miles, MPG was very impressive.
But I also noticed that it did use some of that juice. By the end of the day, in the “hold” mode, my total EV range was only about 39 miles…
(The picture above was taken today, after charging)




At the end of the day, I plugged it in. At a regular 120 outlet. So technically, it should take about 13 hrs to get a full charge.
Which I didn’t need since it still said “39”.
But, about 13hrs later, I was still at “just”  49 miles. Not the 53 miles advertised for the full charge.
Maybe that plug at the lot where I parked the car was defective? Or something else…
Who knows.

 
 The rear hatch is really big. And quite heavy.
But the inside cover is just a rather flimsy cloth sheet. Unlike the solid stuff found in most other hatchbacks. Maybe to save weight?

 Someone was asking me about rear legroom. so here it is.
I am 5’11” and drive pretty far from the steering wheel, and that’s what’s left behind me.
Which isn’t bad. Technically, the new Volt has a bit more rear legroom.

And here is what it looks like whith an actual super good looking human.

Someone was also asking about visibility. 
And I was mentioning the rather high position of the rear window.
So this is what it looks like when you turn around. 
Not that you really need to, since it comes with a back up camera.
So far there is plenty of power all the time. If you drive in a relaxed manner, the engine almost never comes on during normal city driving.
And when it does, it is much quieter than before. It just seems to be far away…
Next, I will try to compare MPG when the battery is completely empty.
And, of course, check the actual range of the full EV mode.

Conversation 16 comments

  2. Vince – Wondering if anyone checks your text before posting (?)

    Examples:

    And here is what it looks like which an actual super good looking human.

    Technically, the new Volt as a bit more rear legroom.

    And when it does, it is much quitter than before.

  3. Vince, when are you going to start making videos of your test drive reviews? I love your down-to-earth, real everyday usage reviews and would love to see more of them.

  4. Much agreed. The honest critique is great. You know your fan base Vince, I've been reading your blog for nearly 10 years. I have seen the evolution.

  5. Vince, I've had a Gen 1 Volt for two plus years. Your battery capacity will vary depending on recent use. In the winter with lots of electricity consuming heat on, my battery range will drop to around 30 miles. In perfect weather, it will reach the high 40's. I'm sure your Gen 2 Volt will hit 50 plus under ideal conditions. My neighbor has a new Volt and regularly sees a range of 55 miles.

  7. I have a gen 1 – at first I hated the new design, but I've seen a few in person now, and really have grown to like it.

    RE: charging – try setting the default from 8 amps to 12 (speeds up the process). Also, the range depends on so many things. I've seen as high as 80km's on electric in mine and as low as 39.

  8. I am also a (2014) Volt owner. Comment below is completely true. The number on your dash is simply an estimate gauged over several days of driving. Thus your figure is representing in part, the previous driver. In the winter, I average about 41 miles of range. This can go up to 58 in the summer. Using the heat zaps range, while the AC is basically a low draw – especially in the ECO mode. Bottom line, I love my Volt!

    Vince, I've had a Gen 1 Volt for two plus years. Your battery capacity will vary depending on recent use. In the winter with lots of electricity consuming heat on, my battery range will drop to around 30 miles. In perfect weather, it will reach the high 40's. I'm sure your Gen 2 Volt will hit 50 plus under ideal conditions. My neighbor has a new Volt and regularly sees a range of 55 miles.

  9. The new Volt is really a good looking car, better than the new Cruze and Malibu IMO. I see they have a seat belt for a middle passenger in the back. Is that really practical?

  10. Vince – Wondering if anyone checks your text before posting (?)

    The answer is no. We quit asking him years ago. No hope for improvement there. Just get used to it and look at then photos.

  12. Yes. "look at then photos"…

    Good catch Vince. So you do recognize typos! How about correcting yours, since a reader cannot do that.

  13. The typos are what make the articles fun.

    That should be the site motto, Vince:
    Burlappcar: you'll come for the articles, you'll stay for the typos.

  14. As written by "Anonymous" above. Check the default Amp settings.
    In my 2014 Opel Ampera it defaults to 6Amp (230V), which is "Trickle charging" and slow.
    I have to manually set it to 10Amps every time I charge. And the 16Amp option is disabled from 2013 editions.

    All this because not all countries in Europe have strict regulation on home-installations and caused overheating and fires (burning cables) when people used 10Amp and 16Amp.
    So, Opel/GM changed the default from 10Amp to 6Amp.

    Pretty silly here in Norway where all plugs are 16Amp/20Amp/32Amp (only very old buildings have some 10 Amp in-house) and annoying in a cold country 🙂

  15. doesn't sell, pure junk,Nissan leaf is a true green car, this pig still burns gas/oil and has emissions. pollution whore!

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