Chevrolet

Volt

Introducing electric motoring without the range anxiety, the Chevrolet Volt can cover 300 miles on a full battery charge and a tank of fuel. It’s packed with fabulous on-board specifications and handles exceptionally well.

Test Drive

Chevrolet Volt

Offering all the financial rewards of an electric vehicle without the range anxiety associated with them – introducing the impressive Chevrolet Volt.

For this masterpiece from Chevrolet is fitted with a 1.4-petrol engine that helps restore the power to the battery and that means drivers are not limited to the usual 80 miles before the panic sets in, but can enjoy a family day out in the country and travel up to 300 miles on a full battery charge and full tank of fuel.

The Volt can run between 25 to 50 miles using solely its electrical energy and then the extended range mode engages when the battery reaches its minimum charge where power from the generator is inverted to the electric drive unit.

And another major plus factor is the Volt’s looks. Unlike many electric vehicles, the Volt looks like a proper car with eye-catching lines and feature-rich content.

Buyers need not worry about performance either because the Volt can reach from 0-60mph in just 9 seconds and boasts a top speed of 99mph which makes the car as nimble as any other family vehicle on the market today.

First impressions are vital and the Volt features sleek streamlining with a distinctive shoulder line, an arc roofline, smart alloys, high tech LED lighting, a rear spoiler and the distinctive Chevrolet and Volt badging.

Once inside, you cannot fail to be impressed with the snazzy design with a real sense of build quality and plenty of on-board technology too. The black and cream leather seats can be heated and they contrast beautifully with the bright shiny white central console and door panels.

There are two 7-inch colour screens which replace the more traditional instrumentation. One is the driver information centre displaying speed, driving efficiency, battery charge, driving range, fuel level, extended driving range, oil levels and tyre pressure.

The second display – which is touch screen – offers the navigation, efficiency data, climate control, power use, battery charging and parking camera functions.

Chevrolet has ensured that the Volt is brimming over with top quality equipment – the Bose speakers are a clue to the type of materials and products used.

And when it comes to driving economically, the display screens make it as easy as a game of keepy uppy. There is a clear and simple-to-follow display monitor with a revolving green ball. If you keep that ball green and spinning in the middle of the dial you are doing fine. Heavy acceleration turns the ball yellow and sends it skyward and likewise aggressive breaking turns the ball yellow and sends it plummeting downwards.

The driver can choose from four driving modes – normal, sport, mountain and hold. It’s the hold function that can prove invaluable as energy can be saved in the battery pack and then used when driving in restricted zones where congestion charges apply.

There are also three ways to charge the Volt using the cable that tucks neatly into the boot’s cargo floor. In immediate mode, the car starts charging as soon as it is plugged in – a full charge takes about six hours. In delayed mode, a departure time is set and charging is completed in time for the scheduled departure. Finally, the Volt can select the cheapest time to charge its battery in time for a scheduled departure. This mode takes full advantage of reduced utility tariffs throughout the night.

So the Volt looks fabulous, has plenty of technical wizardry built in and offers cost-effective motoring, but how well does it perform?

Possibly the biggest compliment to pay the Volt is that it handles as well as any other family car.

Acceleration is rapid and the power never waned at all even on steeper inclines.

It hugged tight bends for fun and the clear instrumentation was ideally positioned for driver usability.

On a test drive with battery-only power included we saw figures of 100.9mpg and then when that power was drained we still saw an impressive 53mpg and that was while trying to make the energy efficiency ball go yellow and bounce!

There is plenty of room inside the four-seater and the boot is generous in size with a variety of smaller storage options throughout the cabin.

The two rear seats have a central partition with cup-holders and a handy tray.

Chevrolet has packed a comprehensive list of safety features into the Volt, such as a reinforced safety cage, energy-absorbing zones, anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control, electronic stability control, numerous airbags and plenty more besides.

The Volt is on sale now priced at £29,995 which includes the Government’s £5k plug-in grant.

The beauty of the pioneering Volt is that buyers can enjoy clean, green motoring without any compromise – it’s as happy in the countryside as it is in the city.