Chevrolet Volt 

Chevrolet Volt 

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt ranks 3 out of 21 Upscale Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 25 published reviews and test drives of the Chevrolet Volt, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.
Car reviewers have been buzzing about the Volt ever since Chevrolet floated the idea of an extended-range electric vehicle. With plenty of test-drives under their belts, reviewers agree that the Chevrolet Volt which is the 2011 North American Car of the Year, exceeds their expectations.



Rarely have expectations been as high for a new car as they were for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Amid industry debate (“It’s an electric car!” “It’s a hybrid!” “It’s neither!”), Chevrolet  rolled out the Volt.  With the first test drives complete, most reviews agree with the Detroit News, who cuts through the debate and says, "I'll simply add my 2 cents: The Volt is a great car."   Automotive journalists even went so far as to  vote the Volt the 2011 North American Car of the Year.

Chevrolet Volt

The Chevrolet Volt is neither a hybrid car nor an electric car. Chevrolet Volt calls it an extended range electric vehicle.  What makes the Chevy Volt so unique is its powertrain: it has an electric motor that powers the car for the first 25 to 50 miles of driving.  Then, with its batteries depleted, the Chevrolet Volt switches on a gasoline engine that acts as a generator, providing more electric power for the motor. With most Americans driving less than 50 miles a day, it’s possible that the majority of Volt owners will rarely hit the electric motor’s mileage cap.  For those buyers, the Chevrolet Volt is largely an electric car.
But, unlike electric cars, which are limited by the charge carried in their batteries, the Chevrolet Volt has its backup generator – removing the issue of battery range and finding a place to charge. In essence, the Chevrolet Volt was designed to be an electric car on most days, but operates like a conventional car when it’s time for a road trip.   The Volt is an intriguing solution to the challenges posed by purely electric cars.

Chevrolet Volt

Chevrolet volt test drivers report that the Chevrolet Volt is easy to live with, cheap to charge (about 80 cents worth of electricity is all it take to get a full charge and about 50 miles of travel) and, unlike electric cars, worry-free when it comes to its range.  Even better, the Chevrolet Volt, unlike most hybrids, is actually fun to drive, with ample power and sporty handling, even if the ride is occasionally unrefined.
The Volt isn’t for everyone, however. Like any one-of-a-kind item, it’s priced high for what’s essentially a mid-sized hatchback. The Chevrolet Volt MSRP is $41,000 – which is a lot for a Chevy.  The net price drops when you factor in the federal government’s $7,500 plug-in car tax credit, but even after the credit, $33,500 may be a tough pill for most buyers to swallow, especially when the Chevrolet Volt next-closest competitor, the all-electric Nissan Leaf, can be had for $25,750 after the tax credit ($33,250 before tax credit).