2011 Chevrolet Volt Reviews
So what exactly is the 2011 Chevrolet Volt? We say "quite possibly" because you can't measure the Volt's fuel economy in any standard fashion. Even with a $7,500 federal tax credit, a base Volt will still cost $33,500 -- and that's without the home charging station that's essentially mandatory for a plug-in hybrid like the Volt. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is a midsize five-door hatchback sedan with seating for four.
The front-wheel-drive 2011 Chevrolet Volt is primarily powered by an electric motor rated at 149 hp (111 kilowatts) and 273 pound-feet of torque. This motor draws power from a lithium-ion battery pack until the battery charge is 70 percent depleted. At that point, the Volt's 1.4-liter four-cylinder internal combustion engine, which requires premium fuel, comes to life as a replacement power source for the electric motor. In Edmunds range and fuel economy testing, we found the Volt had an electricity range of between 30 and 39 miles in mixed driving. Safety features on the 2011 Chevy Volt include antilock brakes, stability control, front side airbags, front knee airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, the Volt came to a stop in a respectable 124 feet.
The 2011 Chevrolet Volt ranks 3 out of 21 Upscale Midsize Cars. Car reviewers have been buzzing about the Volt ever since Chevrolet floated the idea of an extended-range electric vehicle. Amid industry debate (“It’s an electric car!” “It’s neither!”), Chevrolet rolled out the Volt. The Volt is neither a hybrid car nor an electric car. Chevrolet 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. For those buyers, the Chevrolet Volt is largely an electric car.
The Volt is an intriguing solution to the challenges posed by purely electric cars--Next to the Leaf, the Volt’s closest competitor is the Toyota Prius. Using only electric power, for the Volt to cover 15,000 miles would cost about $240 in electricity charges – which means that to offset the Volt’s price premium over the Prius would take over 17 years.
To travel solely on electric power, the "Chevrolet Volt" must have its batteries charged. Because it has a backup engine that generates electric power, the Chevrolet Volt does not have a limited range between charges like purely electric cars do.
The Chevrolet Volt is being introduced in limited markets at first. In 2011, the Volt will expand to other markets--The Volt is a completely new car with never-before-used powertrain technology.
