The Volt was the first of its kind when it hit the market in 2010, and it has been at the top of the pack ever since. With a class-demolishing 53 miles of electric-only range, it’s a plug-in hybrid that can be driven like an EV much of the time. Boy racers may scoff, but for the planet-aware driver who has an occasional long trip on the docket, the Volt is a perfect fit. That doesn’t mean that it’s without compromises—the interior is plastic-tastic, and we suspect the rear seat was adapted from a medieval torture device—but the Volt is not just a good hybrid, it’s a good car.
What’s New for 2017?
The Volt is largely unchanged for 2017, with just three additions to the available equipment list: A teen-driving safety feature, standard on all models, is designed to encourage safer driving behaviors in young drivers. It allows parents to set a speed warning, keep the radio muted until the front seatbelts are buckled, and prevent teens from disabling traction and stability control. Adaptive cruise control and automated emergency braking are options in the top Premier trim level. A new, limited-availability exterior color—Citron Green Metallic—joins Siren Red Tintcoat and Kinetic Blue Metallic on the list of extra-cost paint colors.
Trims and Options We’d Choose
The base Volt, at $34,095, is already comprehensively equipped and comes with this car’s most important standard feature: 53 miles of guilt-free driving. The Premier trim adds a better audio system, wireless charging for phones and other devices, and leather seats, among other features, but also adds more than $4000 to the bottom line, so we’d skip it. Standard features in the base LT include:
• MyLink infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two USB ports, and built-in 4G LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity
• Remote keyless entry with push-button start
• Single-zone automatic climate control
For options, we’d go with the leather seats ($900), which requires that you also purchase the Comfort package ($460) with its heated front seats, steering wheel, and side-view mirrors. Those packages bring the total cost of our Volt to $35,455. The Volt can qualify buyers for up to $7500 in tax credits (not included in our calculations above), a salve for the sting of an otherwise high price.
[“Source-caranddriver”]
