![]() You press the start button on the dash, put the gear lever into into D and off you go. While the Volt may be very different from a conventional car underneath, driving it is very straightforward. Readers report Real MPG to be between 182–235 mpg.Heated front seats, height and reach adjustable steering, daytime running lights, rearview camera, cruise control, electric parking brake, automatic air conditioning, DAB radio, Bluetooth, steering wheel mounted stereo controls, a Thatcham Category 1 alarm, 17-inch alloy wheels, ESP, Isofix child seat mounting points, automatic headlights, front and rear parking sensors, eight airbags, a leather steering wheel and leather seats. Standard equipment from launch (May 2012): The quality of the interior is impressive too with plenty of soft touch materials and a good finish. The absence of engine noise when running on battery power means it's near silent, helped by that aerodynamic shape which helps reduce wind noise, especially noticeable at higher speeds where you'd expect it. Refinement is impressive though and the Volt is quiet and comfortable to travel in. Even though the Volt is a hatchback, it gets an odd fabric cover that is hooked on in four corners and feels a little cheap. The only slight disappointment is the absence of a proper parcel shelf. There's a useful boot though with 310 litres of space and the rear seats can be folded flat to increase this to more than 1000 litres. The Volt is a genuine four-seater with good room for all passengers, although the high central tunnel that runs the length of the car does make it feel a little cramped in the back, especially for taller passengers. The Volt is very well equipped as standard with sat nav, Bluetooth, heated seats and even a reversing camera - features which are rarely standard on cars that cost considerably more than this.īut while it's very modern, that hasn't come at the expense of practicality or comfort. In the middle of the dash there's another colour screen which displays all your infotainment details along with the sat nav, climate control and power use. There's also a useful gauge on the right with a moving ball that shows you how efficiently you're driving. Like any standard trip computer there are various menus you can scroll through for different information but you're more likely to keep an eye on the charge left in the battery and then the fuel left in the tank. Instead the driver gets a single screen which gives you all the key information like speed and remaining range. There are no conventional instrument dials either. It's certainly different and the touch sensitive buttons work well. The first thing you notice is the white high gloss finish on the doors and centre console making it feel more like a high end stereo than a car. On the inside of an Chevrolet Volt (2012 – 2014)Įchoing the cutting edge technology under the bonnet, Chevrolet has given the Volt an equally modern interior design. Road Test and Video identical Vauxhall Ampera LHD 2011 Unlike other electric cars, you could run the Volt as your only car without needing a back up for longer journeys. It does come well equipped though plus it's a genuine four seater with good boot space. Like any new technology, the Volt isn't cheap and even after the £5000 Government electric car grant it still costs £28,545. It drives well too with a very comfortable ride, nice steering and impressive performance. ![]() Even with the battery flat you can continue to run the Volt via the petrol engine so essentially you will never be stranded as long as you can get to a petrol station. So does the technology work in real life? Well it certainly means you don't have to worry about running out of electricity and all stress that entails. This means that while the petrol engine is running, it's not actually directly powering the car. It's a 'range extended' electric car which means that when the battery runs out of charge - after around 40 miles - the onboard generator takes over, using the 1.4-litre petrol engine to generate electricity that then powers the car. The launch of electric cars into the market has even created a new phrase - 'range anxiety' - as owners worry about whether they'll make it to a charging point in time. The Nissan Leaf has a maximum range of 100 miles and this can be affected by everything from the temperature outside to the way you drive it. The big problem electric cars have is their range. Confused? Well it's actually quite simple - so simple in fact that it could mark a real revolution in electrically powered cars. But the Volt is actually a fully electric car that runs on electric power at all times. After all it's fitted with an electric motor back up by a normal petrol engine. At first the Chevrolet Volt may look like a hybrid car. ![]()
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