I've been curious about this car since its' debut last year. I've only seen ONE on the road here in Orange County, CA. You'd think there would be more, but apparently it's not easy to get one. In 2011, waiting lists were miles long. The assembly plant shut down for a week for re-tooling - just a slight snafu. Then the waiting lists became longer.
I'll admit, I was attracted at first sight. It's somewhat of a stylish, decent looking vehicle, but it definitely lacks grace, for lack of a better word. It's side profile and unique rear end (with functional spoiler) drew me in. The Volt whispered in my ear, "come on over and get to know me, i'm environmentally conscientious, yet I have style and personality".
I love the larger 17" wheels (standard) and steep windshield. The rounded nose is apropos. Its' aerodynamic styling took me by surprise.
The Volt is a plug-in hybrid, built on the same platform as the Chevy Cruze. It combines an electric motor with a gasoline engine/generator. The cool thing about this car is that once the battery is depleted, the 1.4L, 4 cylinder engine switches on to recharge the batteries and run the generator. This, in itself, is one major advantage over the Nissan Leaf, its' biggest competitor. Once the Nissan Leaf runs out of battery, the car is dead.
The cockpit is quite futuristic and pleasing to the eye. There are 2 seven-inch interactive LCD screens: one to monitor battery range/battery charge and one for performance. Some standard equipment include keyless entry, ABS, 5 years of OnStar, touch-sensitive climate, audio and drive controls. There's ample leg room in the back seat, but due to the sloping roof, you have to remember to skootch down before entering and exiting.
(I can't believe that I'm raving about a 5-door compact hatchback! As a rule, I don't even consider "those types".)
My Two Favorite Features (I just love the techno stuff, love it even more in the car!)
1) Delayed Start & Departure Time Mode
You can program the car to start recharging the battery when your local electric rates are at their lowest. You can also tell it when you leave the house and it will automatically schedule the battery charging process so that it's fully charged for your commute.
2) Volt Smartphone App
Using the OnStar MyLink App, you can check the battery level, lock/unlock doors, start the A/C before you get in the car, check the tire pressure and the electric range. When using the MyLink Touch Radio, you can stream your iPhone or Android via voice commands and access Pandora! The icing on the cake: you can get a text or email when the battery is fully charged!
You can travel in the Volt, gas-free for around 35-40 miles. Because 3/4 of U.S. cars travel less than 40 miles per day, this range is perfect. GM really got it right here. The daily charging cost is approximately $1.50. With a full charge and a full tank of gas, you can go 375 miles (that would take me to Mammoth Mountain from Orange County). The Volt gets 35 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway with gas. On electricity - 94 mpg. Pretty good stats.
The MSRP is around $40k - so limited appeal if you're on a budget. With options (2 different pkgs only), the price goes up another $6,000. Most consumers will qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit, but even still, quite costly. Oh, did I forget to mention that it takes Premium gas?!!
Although I haven't test driven one yet (because I can't find a dealer that has one), reviews collectively state that the Volt has a fun, smooth ride, very comfy, very low noise level (if any) with good acceleration off the line. Consumer Rating is 5/5, which is better than the Prius. BUT, the Prius is less expensive and more readily available.
Do you want to be the first on your block to own one? Better hurry up and order one, because only 45,000 are being built for 2012.
I'm glad I got to know the Volt. I'm glad my curiosity was piqued. Because as my father used to say, "curiosity killed the cat".
Sindi Wasserberg Lash
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