WASHINGTON — The Chevrolet Volt is redesigned with better electric vehicle range to keep you away from the pump longer. It’s an interesting car with an electric motor and small engine that acts as a range extender when you use up all the juice in the batteries.
For 2017, the second year on this new redesign, the Volt sees some options to help improve the driving experience and added safety features.
The new Volt is a step up from the first generation, with a better range in electric mode and overall — and when you need to use gas, it’s regular gas, not the premium grade used by the last Volt. The EV-only range now jumps to 53 miles, and I saw 57 miles on one charge thanks to some stop-and-go traffic.
The computer said I had a 410-mile range with a fully charged battery and full tank of gas. You get a little extra range through the Regen on Demand, a paddle on the back of the steering wheel that helps slow and recharge the battery at the same time. The new engine is a 1.5L four-cylinder that acts as a generator for the electric motor. This engine is a bit smoother and much quieter than before.
One thing you notice on the road: It’s more hushed on the highway. There is still some noise, but much less than before. You can cruise around with one window down without that buffeting wind noise that you’d get in the first Volt. General Motors listened to past owners and tried to fix those problems.
There is a decent amount of power, and this new Volt has no problem keeping up with the traffic. While it’s not a sporty machine, it will take a corner or two. It’s a nice city cruiser with good torque and quiet operation, and bumps are dealt with nicely and without fuss.
The interior is nicer with more soft touch materials, but it’s not as futuristic as I remember in the original Volt. It’s a nice place to spend time. I drove the $39,930 loaded Premier trim level with heated front and rear seats and heated leather steering wheel.
Rear seats have a bit more room than before, but don’t expect a ton of leg room for back seat riders. The seats and interior panels are a nice two-toned color scheme, but the lighter dash color seems to reflect in the windshield in sunlight so it was a little distracting. The MyLink radio and NAV with an eight-inch screen is improved and quicker to respond to the touch than before.
With Chevrolet hoping to broaden the appeal of the Volt to attract new buyers, the outside look is a bit more sedate. A resident Volt owner at the station says the look is of a more expensive ride, but that it does blend a bit more with other cars on the road. Overall, he liked the new look.
The rear-end styling still has some old Volt look, with its hatchback design, and the side profile is more rounded everywhere. It’s more in line with the new Cruze.
The 2017 Chevrolet Volt with extended EV range means more of that commute is covered, and the new interior — though not space-age — is a nice place to spend some quiet time as you drive without fear of running out of battery power since the gas generator is there.
Editor’s Note: Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
