I have officially eclipsed over 18 months of ownership of the Chevrolet Volt. This marks two important milestones for me. First of all, this is one of the longest spans of ownership for a car that hasn’t broken down perpetually in the garage. Second, I’ve driven over 25,000 miles in that time period. I attribute these two milestones to the joy of buying very little gas and the excitement of driving the future.
Of course, every new car has its pros and cons. Since this is my daily driver, I’ve adapted to some of the little nuances that someone new to the vehicle would surely pick up on. Here is a brief review of my 2012 Chevrolet Volt.
STYLE:
The Volt will never win a beauty contest, but compared to today’s non-Tesla electric offerings, the Volt is a handsome machine. The roofline is low and sleek thanks to a steeply raked rear hatch that helps offset the giant slabs of vertical metal that masquerade as the door. Seriously, those doors look one and a half times too tall due to their flatness. This verticality also makes the 17″ wheels look too small for the rest of the vehicle. I think 18″ or 19″ wheels would look much better, but would carry a weight penalty. The front end of the Volt is appropriately aggressive and the LED daytime running lights ensure it fits in with today’s most prolific styling trend.The Volt’s rear end is a kammback design that sacrifices style for aerodynamic efficiency and is more Prius than Shelby Daytona.
INSIDE:
Black plastic everywhere! The doors are made of hard-textured plastic and so is the dash. Lest I forget, the center console is also made of that material and almost all the other trim. Speaking of center consoles, the center of the Volt is dominated by a large center tunnel that hides the large battery that sits under the car. The tunnel results in a console that extends to the rear seats and makes this vehicle a strictly four-person. While the plastics are mostly hard, they seem to be put together well.
TRANSMISSION:
Finally, the part of the Volt that makes it unique from almost every other car available on the market today. Without going into too much technical detail, the Volt is a combination of a gasoline and electric vehicle. A large 10.4 kWh battery powers the electric motors to propel the vehicle. When the battery dies, a gasoline engine kicks in to help move the vehicle. This system works seamlessly, and in most cases it’s hard to tell when the Volt has transitioned from all-electric to gas-assisted modes.
WRINKLED:
The Volt is by far the quietest and smoothest vehicle I’ve ever driven. When I press the accelerator in electric mode, there’s almost silence as the vehicle quickly picks up speed. The first time I drove a Volt, the lack of engine noise under acceleration seemed almost unnatural. Yet at the same time it was a calm and peaceful realization that moving quickly didn’t necessarily require moving noisily. While traveling at highway speeds, there is some wind noise, but it’s on par with most entry-level luxury vehicles.
CONCLUSION:
The Chevrolet Volt and cars of its ilk are the future. Let’s face it, fuel economy standards will continue to rise as will emissions regulation. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing if it leads to more innovative and exciting vehicles and drivetrains. I don’t think cheap and fun are mutually exclusive ideas. The Volt is far from a sports car, but it’s entertaining in its own way. The nearly silent driving experience, smooth acceleration, and highly efficient powertrain help pave the way for interesting and exciting vehicles.