2019 Chevrolet Volt

Overview

The Chevrolet Volt remains one of the best plug-in hybrids on the market, with impressive all-electric range and everyday practicality. Its understated styling doesn't draw attention the way some electrified alternatives do (such as the Toyota Prius or the Toyota Prius Prime), but instead assimilates with mainstream cars. Unlike many plug-in hybrids that have about 20 miles or less of electric-only range, the Volt can travel up to 53 miles before its gasoline engine fires up. The Chevy also boasts a satisfying driving experience, with prompt acceleration and solid handling. While the hybrid hatchback has some flaws—such as a mediocre interior with a cramped back seat—it continues to be an exceptional hybrid and an excellent car.

What's New for 2019?

The Volt receives a handful of meaningful updates for 2019, including a newly available built-in charger that cuts charging time nearly in half. Its regenerative-braking system is refined so that drivers can use the brake pedal less when driving in Low mode or using the paddle on the steering wheel. The Volt's heating system is revised so that the engine can now automatically kick on at lower temperatures, which increases all-electric range in colder climates. Every model receives a new higher-definition 8.0-inch touchscreen powered by the company's latest Infotainment 3 system. Other enhancements include improved driver-assistance features and more interior options.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The base Volt LT is already comprehensively equipped and comes with this car's most important standard feature: 53 miles of guilt-free driving on electricity alone. The Premier model adds a better audio system, heated front and outboard rear leather seats, and a heated steering wheel, among other features. But that option also bloats the bottom line, so we'd skip it. Standard features on the LT include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two USB ports, and a mobile hotspot, proximity entry with push-button start, and single-zone automatic climate control.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Likes: Quick and quiet plug-in hybrid system, more powerful built-in charger cuts charging time in half, one of the best-driving hybrids on the market.
Dislikes: Not available with fast-charging technology, poor emergency-braking distance.

Not only does the Chevrolet Volt have an impressive 53 miles of pure-electric range, its hybrid setup makes it incredibly quick and exceptionally quiet. While it cannot be recharged as quickly as the fully electric Chevy Bolt EV, its charging system can be upgraded to recharge the battery in less than 2.5 hours. The Volt uses a newly available 7.2-kW built-in charger that significantly reduces charging time. While it still needs 13 hours to fully recharge its battery using a standard 120-volt household outlet, the larger charger will refill the battery in two hours and 20 minutes with a 240-volt outlet. The same task takes 4.5 hours using the standard 3.6-kW charger.

We'd be happy to drive the Volt even without its future-friendly hybrid system. It handles itself confidently on the road in a class where some cars are actively not fun to drive, and we're glad Chevrolet didn't choose to chalk up a bad driving experience to the cost of hybrid technology. As with other hybrids, the Volt makes use of regenerative braking to recapture kinetic energy that would otherwise be lost during braking. Chevrolet added a pair of paddles to the back of this second-generation version's steering wheel that allow the driver to control the intensity of the regen, which is experienced as increased deceleration when coasting or braking. The last Volt we tested came to a stop from 70 mph in an overly long 190 feet, and it delivered a wide range of braking performances over the course of six back-to-back emergency stops.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The Volt's long electric-only range makes it one of the most successful plug-in hybrids on the market. However, once the battery runs out of charge and it must rely more heavily on its gasoline engine, its fuel economy becomes modest. The Volt is rated to deliver 53 miles of EV range, according to the EPA, which is more than enough to get most people between home and work every day. It didn't quite live up to expectations during our highway test, where it yielded a 37-mile real-world highway range. The fuel economy of the gas engine also disappointed in our highway test. Once the battery was depleted, it earned just 39 mpg.

Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo

Likes: Pleasant front seat, touchscreen is easy to operate, hybrid components don't compromise cargo space (much).
Dislikes: Cramped back seat, lackluster cabin fittings, limited cargo volume behind rear seats.

The Volt's interior prioritizes function over form; it suffers from a few dowdy design details and a criminally small back seat. Creature comforts are lacking, too, and despite the car's price, the cabin doesn't feel special. Front-seat passengers will be perfectly content, with space to spread out, ample storage for small items, and a pair of comfortable front seats. It also suffered in our visibility tests due to the fact that the rear decklid is so high that 170 feet of roadway is obstructed from the driver's view.

Every model includes an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Chevy's latest Infotainment 3 interface, a mobile hotspot, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Its easily accessible controls and multiple options will be familiar to fans of the old system. Of the features we track, only navigation and the attendant traffic and weather monitoring are not standard in the Volt.

It's not the best cargo hauler in this set, but the Volt sacrifices shockingly little cargo capacity to its electrified powertrain and will function much like any other car this size for road trips and airport runs. There's not much in-cabin storage in the Volt; it has the smallest center console of the competitors we've tested, and rear-seat stowing space is even more limited.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Volt performed extremely well in its crash tests and offers plenty of driver-assistance technology. Unfortunately, only front and rear parking sensors are standard, so drivers who want blind-spot monitoring or adaptive cruise control will need to shell out extra cash. Key safety features include:

• Available forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Available lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
• Available blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

The Volt is in lockstep with most of its competitors when it comes to warranty coverage, but Hyundai's lifetime battery warranty is a standout in the industry.

• Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• Hybrid components covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit