So, the idea of an electric car with an eye-popping mileage rating of 94 can be pretty sweet. That’s the rating the 2013 Chevrolet Volt gets for its electric power use, and 37 mpg on gas use, with a combined mpg of 60. You can expect a range of 379 miles on a full battery charge and tank of gas. If you plan your life right, you might only have to stop by the gas station once every several months.
The only hitch, from a family perspective, is that the car only seats four, so that limits you a bit.
(Above): Exterior view of the 2013 Chevy Volt.
Interested buyers can also get some breaks on several rebates being offered by the government and the manufacturer, as well. Although our very well-appointed test car had a sticker price of $45,000, those rebates can bring the price down and, according to Chevrolet, you’re going to be saving an estimated $6,850 in fuel costs over five years.
The Chevrolet Volt has a 1.4-liter gas-powered engine and a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery pack to power it, and an automatic transmission. The dashboard is littered with “green” themed symbols and gauges to keep you informed as to how much battery and gas you have left on the charge and in the tank, even if you are accelerating in an energy-efficient manner. When you turn the car on, you’re greeted by a new-age chime and a whooshing sound when you power down.
The Chevrolet Volt has clean-looking exterior lines that suggest swiftness, and you won’t be disappointed when you accelerate. There is no hesitation on hard acceleration, and no discernable switch between gas and battery power, which is very nice. Some hybrids vehicles I’ve test-driven have a very distinct and jerky switchover, which can be a little annoying.
(Above): Interior view of the 2013 Chevy Volt.
When you first get behind the wheel, you’re going to need some time to get used to the driver information screen directly in front of you, with its many symbols and icons. The dashboard controls for climate and radio are mostly flat, which is actually nice because it lends a clean, finished look.
I found the seats to be firm and bolstered for extra support, but my tallest passenger felt there was a shortage of headroom and the seats were too stiff.
The Chevrolet Volt is packed with safety features, including all the regular air bags plus one for the driver and front passenger’s knees, antilock brakes, Stabilitrak Stability Control with Traction Control, and an optional Enhanced Safety System that included Front Park Assist, Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning.
The car was also equipped with an optional rear park assist and rear vision camera, which is helpful when you’re backing out of parking spaces.
Standard features included steering wheel controls, cruise control, XM radio, Bluetooth for the phone and Chevrolet MyLink Radio with seven-inch screen and six speakers.
(Above): Exterior view of the 2013 Chevy Volt.
The rear cargo area is easily accessible and can be protected from prying eyes by a cargo cover. There is plenty of room for a week’s worth of groceries and if you need more space, the rear seats fold in a 40/40 split.
On the road, I found the Volt was swift and handled very nicely. Some road noise was discernable at freeway speed. Visibility is good.
Commuters, small families and people who want to save money on gas while doing their part to shrink their ecological footprint might want to take a spin in the 2013 Chevrolet Volt.
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