Modern Motoring: The 2016 Chevrolet Volt

It’s been 20 years since the short-lived  EV1 came out and since then, the alternate-fuel vehicle offerings have been increasing, from the Honda Insight to the Toyota Prius and several in between.
The 2016 Chevy Volt, now entering its second generation after the initial launch as a 2011 model year car, is refined throughout, with the most notable feature being the longer range on a single charge.
With Volkswagen’s diesel fiasco, the high cost of gasoline, and the all-electric cars experiencing growing pains mileage wise, the new Volt seems to have struck a pleasant balance between comfort, driving range, looks, and power.

Starting with what nearly everyone wants to know, let’s examine what propels the Volt.
The 18.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack has been refined and now stores 20% more electrical energy and uses fewer cells, resulting in getting up to 85 km on a single charge before the gasoline engine kicks in. 
The 85 km is an impressive figure, but keep in mind: added weight in the car, idling in traffic, and how heavy your right foot is, along with what features you’re using while driving (A/C, radio, etc) will give you the good ol’ “results will vary” factor. But overall, that kind of range is a huge step forward for GM over the outgoing model. Once the battery is depleted, the 1.5 litre, four-cylinder gasoline motor kicks in and can move you nearly another 600 km, again, based on driving conditions. So in theory, you can move nearly 700 km on a single charge and full tank of gas via the 2016 Volt. Running off regular 87 octane fuel with an efficient-sized tank that holds 33 litres of gas is a huge selling point for those looking to move into the hybrid world.
Total combined horsepower comes in at 149 and thanks to the electric component, total torque registers at 294 lb-ft. That high torque figure gives you plenty of “get up and go” so for those of you who still think that hybrids are slow and sluggish, a quick test drive in the Volt will definitely change your mind. Driving feel is quite good, handling and cornering are respectable, and GM’s efforts to make the Volt feel and drive like a full gasoline car receive full marks. I was also pleasantly surprised at how little road noise bled into the cabin when the gasoline portion kicked in. 
The official fuel ratings chime in at 2.2 L/100 km (electric only); 5.6 L/100 km (gas only).
Charging the battery via a 110 V outlet will take “about 13 hours” according to GM’s website.
Using a much faster 220 V outlet has you fully charged up in “about 4.5 hours.” My advice is to install a 220 V outlet if you’re going to be toting around town and country in a Volt.

On the inside, an eight-inch colour touch screen MyLink infotainment system is the first thing you’ll notice. It’s very responsive and smartly laid out, which scores full marks with me. 
The dashboard also measures in at eight inches and offers several different configurations providing you with a plethora of driving information that’ll help you maximize your fuel efficiency. Seating is very comfortable and spacious and thankfully, there’s only space for two in the rear, eliminating the suffering of the unfortunate soul who usually gets the cramped middle seat.

There are only two trims available; the LT ($38,490 MSRP) and Premier ($42,590 MSRP) with the LT offering standard features such as heated seats and steering wheel, a built in Wi-Fi hotspot, and LED headlamps, among others. 
Appearance-wise, the Volt sports terrific looks and while it’s not quite a Camaro,  there are really good design lines and curves, giving the car a sporty feel. My favourite part of the design is that the Volt, while appearing as a regular sedan, sees the trunk door open as a hatchback would, giving plenty of access for cargo. 

GM has done a stellar job in the second generation Volt and seeing as they’re up against the Prius powerhouse, they had to come out swinging. I feel that they’ve landed a few solid punches in the early rounds. Buyer behavior is an interesting study topic and it’ll be exciting to see how they react to the 2016 Volt.  
I feel enough time has passed that consumers will have mostly forgotten about the EV1 debacle and they’ll see that GM is intent on being taken seriously in the hybrid world. The all-electric Chevrolet Bolt is around the corner and that in itself should be plenty of proof that GM is fighting the green…err, good fight towards alternative fuel vehicles.

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