Fleetmaster Schmidt informed me that our 2016 Chevrolet Volt was due for a service before I took it for the long Labor Day weekend. It doesn't hurt that we also have a rubber cargo mat." I recently had the chance to drive the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid and walked away declaring it my automotive surprise of the year. If you don't think General Motors has cutting-edge technology, you haven't been paying attention. But my mouth said, "Yeah, but this car spends a lot of time in West L.A. and Santa Monica, places where parking enforcement would gladly write us up for no front license plate.". We're all used to pushbutton start, plugging-in and watching for the "switchover" indication that you've just moved from electric power to gasoline. We drove it for 13 months and put 15,063 miles on it. If this were my car, there'd be a piece of tape permanently affixed to the center of the steering wheel." The rear seats can fold in a 60/40-split to . Then I saw a little notification on the main touchscreen that told me one of my colleagues had sent me a text message. And on longer grades, when electric boost is sapped and the engine kicks in to supply power, it falls flat at about 69 mph This doesn't seem to be quick enough for many. Bolt EUV offers dramatic SUV-like proportions to give you more space and comfort without sacrificing convenience. --, "Owing to the car's aerodynamic styling, visibility isn't especially good, especially out the rear, which has thick pillars. Average lifetime gas mpg: 37.5 Best fill mpg: 45.1 EPA combined mpg rating: 42 Average electric range: 51.9 miles Best electric range: 75 miles EPA electric range rating: 53 miles Current odometer: 24,133 miles, Performance "After driving the Bolt EV for a weekend, I got used to using the steering wheel paddle to control the regenerative braking. I also noticed that holding the paddle doesn't keep it stopped, so you have to eventually push the pedal if you're stopped for a few seconds. The paddle is on/off. With 70 miles on the EV odometer, the car was projecting 80 miles, but history tells me these things fall fast. Seriously, look at that color. 60-40 folding rear seat - Down for whatever. None of them has been positive. On the 2,000-mile road trip to Oregon and back, the Volt ran exclusively on gasoline and returned 34.6 mpg. The LS model can carry up to nine passengers comfortably with an additional seat in the first row. I drove it around for a big chunk of the weekend with no juice left and didn't mind a bit. It swings way too far upward, to the point where I actually reached my body's stretch limit trying to get the handle. Again. I only make this point because there are pure electric vehicles out there with low-flow chargers like the Volt's. If I could modulate it, I'd use it more often. Did you think it would be made of anything else? This time around, the engine is slightly bigger, more powerful and yet quieter than before. Constantly switching back to XM after every Waze alert grew particularly aggravating on my long trip. Chevrolet Volt Cargo Space The Volt has a rather slim 10.6 cubic feet of trunk space, but its wide hatchback makes it easy to load and unload items. Optional on the higher trim, forward automatic braking, forward collision alert, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist can be equipped. But the 2016 Chevrolet Volt? But a recent week was full of scheduled meetings that would stretch into late afternoon. The Volt is a great road trip car. Three hundred miles in, I was ready for a break and fuel. The touchscreen interface is easy to use, and most driver safety aids are either standard or optional." The latest Volt is smoother and easier to drive. VERDICT: The X7 is the biggest BMW, but it's still satisfying to drive and serene to ride in. It still has enough unique touches to make it different, yet it doesn't feel like it's trying too hard. The newest MyLink interface design is pretty similar to what existed before, but it seems to me that it's a little easier to use. --, "If you've never driven a Volt, you'll be immediately surprised by just how quiet the hatchback is. But kids are a different matter. While it may offer the worst-all-electric range of any of the plug-in cars currently . Josh Sadlier, senior manager, content strategy, Miscellaneous "The Volt is a good commuter car, but what is up with the rear hatch? This mode maintains a reserve electrical charge of the high voltage battery to provide better grade climbing performance.". In keeping with the fast-talking, Vegas hustler theme, I'll present my impressions in rapid-fire fashion. While there are public charging stations out there that cost nothing to use, many charge per kilowatt-hour of energy transferred or per hour that the vehicle is plugged in. We'd planned to celebrate at one of the swankier places inside Disneyland, so we drove the Volt to the Magic Kingdom and managed to obtain the last open spot among their 20 Chargepoint 240-volt Level 2 charge stations. Aside from its smaller trunk, the Malibu Hybrid just isn't as compromised. Due to some confusion at 22,500 miles, we paid $45 even though the visit fell within the free period. Carlos Lago, senior writer, Technology-Audio "Android Auto integration rocks. And ultimately, this is no Lamborghini. Recall 39570: Recalibrate front view camera. Second Row Headroom/Legroom/Shoulder Room 39.90 inches/42.00 inches/64.00 inches. "One annoyance is related to the handshake between the Volt and the iPhone 6. My supposition for Chevy not going the BMW route has to do with our Volt being a plug-in hybrid instead of a dedicated EV. I came to the same conclusion. Though the compressor was in the right spot, the goo was absent. In my head I was nodding in agreement like Angus Young. I tried it several more times. I fully expect that number to fall. Fill up with gas before the electric power is fully depleted, and there is another data gap. In the month of February we fed our 2016 Chevrolet Volt a steady diet of commuter miles. Pretty remarkable stuff, especially compared to the noisy range-extender engine in the BMW i3." Native navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported as before. The i3 has a 7.4 kilowatt charger, while the Volt makes do with a 3.6 kW charger. Mike Magrath, Content Strategist. November was a busy month in these parts, what with the LA Auto Show, related press events spread throughout the city and Thanksgiving festivities. Most other hybrids have more room also, though in fairness, several of them are midsize sedans. 7: The front air dam scrapes over EVERYTHING. --, "Front seat comfort is fine, but the lack of a power-adjustable driver seat and a cramped backseat that lacks both headroom and legroom is a drawback, especially for a car in this price range. Recall 27660: Update power inverter module software. And it's fantastic. Third, the run between my garage outlet and the house's electrical panel has an effect on charge time and losses. We were unable to close the lid with two checked-size bags, though it fit other configurations without issue." The entire month was largely drama-free, except for a flat tire incurred by Senior Writer Carlos Lago. The LT's standard cloth seating can be upgraded to leather-appointed upholstery via the Power Convenience Package, which is standard on the Premier. I paged through the owner's manual and read that the paddle activates the "Regen on Demand" feature. Instead of simply acting as a generator when the batteries are spent, the new setup uses the gas engine to propel the vehicle like a typical hybrid. Not surprisingly, when I started it up, the automatic climate control went into full-power mode to try to cool things down. It's now easy to come to a stop smoothly every time. But there's a problem I have with it. So let's factor in the rebates. This on a car rated at 53 miles of electric range. So as you gradually become better at timing your paddle-braking pulls, expect to be putting on a few light shows for the lucky cars behind you. It's only when you hit a larger pothole that you feel a harsh jolt through the cabin." Performance: In electric mode the Volt has enough torque off the line to rarely feel underpowered. This switches to a more aggressive level of regenerative braking/coasting than in the normal "Drive" mode. It gave the high-tech car a decidedly low-tech feel. This is the last update for our 2016 Chevrolet Volt. Testing a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle like our long-term 2016 Chevrolet Volt requires adjusting our testing procedure. Key specs 4-door 5 seats 149.0-hp, 1.5-liter, 4 Cylinder Engine (Plug-In Electric/Gas) 42 combined MPG 180.40" length, 56.4" height Front Wheel Drive Color options Exterior Crimson Red Tintcoat. The rear middle seat has virtually no legroom because of how far back the center console extends, so the middle rear-seat passenger must straddle the console. Read on to see how this new generation model fares when pushed to its limits. A few days ago, I was driving our 2016 Chevrolet Volt for the first time. That figures out to 39.8 mpg if you only account for gasoline. thank you, Chevy, for the extendable sun visors), but on my commute there were moments when the chrome surround of the bowtie on the steering wheel reflected the afternoon sun directly into my eyeballs. It's also topped by a portion of the center console with cupholders and seat heat controls, making it impossible to lay any kind of long objects on the floor. As such, I think the Hybrid is actually the Malibu to get. An Audi A4: 63.7 at cruise, 40.4 at idle. That amounts to a projected range of 59 miles. No adjustability in that area. That's one of the first things I notice about it during my first minutes behind the wheel. All in all, I like the way the Volt has evolved. What about the Chevy Equinox cargo space? "You don't want to do that," said the guy at Selman Chevrolet, where we bought our 2016 Chevrolet Volt. You hear a little thrum from the engine and maybe a small vibration, but otherwise the Volt behaves almost exactly like it does in EV mode. are always available at the top of the screen. Average lifetime mpg: 37.7 Best fill mpg: 45.1 EPA combined mpg rating: 42 Average electric range: 51.9 miles Best electric range: 75 miles EPA electric range rating: 53 miles Current odometer: 25,730 miles, Logbook Highlights Performance "This week marked my first non-EV experience in the Volt. Think of the Volt's center rear seat as an emergency jump seat." The 2018 Chevrolet Volt has a quiet cabin, and its well-designed. And that's where we are today. It was a busy month. These crossover EVs are set to deliver a speedy, Skip to main content; Skip to Action Bar; Sales: 609-836-0366 . Optional features include heated front seats, a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel,. I live pretty far from the office, so my M.O. Whatever they did worked. New 2023 Chevrolet Suburban from Karl Malone Chevrolet Park City in Park City, UT, 84098. I haven't experienced this feature before in any other vehicle, though I suspect the Volt isn't the first to employ it. "You're the first person who's wanted to do that," he said. The plastic. It's up to a substantial 53 miles (EPA-estimated), compared to 38 miles with the first-gen Volt. I ended up winning that no-holds-barred geek-off with an all-electric run of 54.6 miles, a figure that exceeded that Volt's 35-mile electric range rating by a full 56 percent. But if you just want to keep it simple and use the Volt's regular brake pedal exclusively, I think you'll be pleased. Ed Hellwig, Executive Editor, MPG "I took possession of the Volt with 286 miles on the trip meter and the onboard calculator showing fuel consumption at more than 250 mpg, the highest number the calculator displays. I've been driving our long-term 2016 Chevrolet Volt for more than a week straight now. That's one more than the Toyota Prius Prime can handle, but it's on par with the Chevrolet Bolt. Tracking fuel economy for a plug-in hybrid such as the Volt is not straightforward. The center-stack grab handles (for lack of a better term) are particularly egregious. There is also a slew of available advanced safety features: blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning, automatic low-speed emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control with a following distance indicator, and high-beam assist. In-cabin storage solutions are plentiful in the Volt, with wide door pockets fitted on every door, seatback map pockets behind both front seats, dual cupholders up front and in the rear, a small storage tray in the front center console, a compartmentalized center armrest cubby, and an average-sized glovebox. Awkward Dead Pedal Placement and Seating Position, 70 Miles on a Charge The Range Wars Begin Again, Performance Tested - A Deep Dive Into the Numbers, Still Has a Mountain Mode, but Seems Less Necessary, Could Reduce the Guilt for Driving To Get the Mail, 5 Reasons You'll Like the MyLink System Interface, Brake Pedal Feel Is Consistent, Easy To Modulate, Charge Time Surprise and the Importance of Power, 2016 Chevrolet Volt vs 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, More Traditional Design Is an Improvement, No Place in the Future for Physical Media. Short answer: nothing out of the ordinary. You can also add safety options, including automatic parking assist, front and rear parking sensors, automatic high beams, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, a following distance indicator, forward collision alert, and forward automatic braking. Jonathan Elfalan, road test manager, "The benefits to a quick charging time aren't limited to reducing the impact on your personal schedule. Aside from routine service and an errant flat tire, our Volt has trucked on with no complaints. Deserves so much more attention than it gets." mrping59. Logbook Highlights Performance "I swear I'm not trying to do a burnout in our Chevy Volt. The i3 had a 22 kilowatt-hour battery and an all-electric range of 72 miles. No spare tire. One of the interesting aspects to me has been how easily the Volt blends in with everything else on the road. Though the LATCH anchors aren't the easiest to get to, the rear door opens nice and wide and the actual seat itself isn't too far back. 9: Interior quality. But it turns out the rear-most edge of the cargo space is just under 3 feet. As with CarPlay, pressing and holding the voice control button bypasses the GM voicemail and jumps to Android voice commands, which understand natural language amazingly well." 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