Test Drive: 2016 Chevrolet Volt EV

Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

On EV mode, the Volt accelerates smoothly and in a measured manner. if you really push down on the accelerator, you will hear an electronic whine which sounds like Iron Man’s repulsor glove charging up. Engine noise is near non-existent and, when pushed, the Volt accelerates like a turbocharged automatic sedan.

Scott, Quebec – GM Canada set up base last week at the luxurious La Cache de Maxime spa, vineyard and hotel in the Quebec countryside to give Canadian journalists the very first opportunity to test drive the new 2016 Chevy Volt Electric Vehicle. 

With fall colours peaking, GM’s executive and PR team devised a two-leg drive along the picturesque provincial roads and highways which would be ideal for testing the Volt’s range, performance as well as ride and standard equipment. Journalists were paired up in twos and  given a chance to try both variants of the Chevy Volt.

 

The biggest change to the Chevy Volt line released in 2011, the updated Volt has a longer range on its batteries, now uses regular gasoline instead of premium on its back-up engine, and brings new styling and technology including Apple CarPlay integration.

There are also various safety and assistive driving technologies and improved performance plus more seamless shifting between gas engine and EV modes.

Coming to Canada late this year in limited quantities, the new Volt is starting at $40,000 for the base model (without navigation, premium stereo, heated leather seats) and $44,000 for all the options.

 

The 2016 Chevy Volt is attempting to dispel various notions related to EV and hybrid electric vehicles. As a segment, EVs have been styled to look different from other vehicles, the styling is quirky, sometimes whimsical and in the case of Toyota’s Prius, generally unattractive, but oddly endearing to the people who buy them.

The 2016 Chevy Volt is aggressively styled, the wide stance and sharp angles are sports sedan pedigree while at first glance the 2016 Volt may have a whiff of Honda Civic’s lines and styling, a closer look reveals an identity that is uniquely an evolution and refinement of the first gen Volt.

It doesn’t look cute or harmless like a bug or a Pokémon, the 2016 Chevy Volt has got a bit of attitude up front with a bit of a reptilian sneer, fangs bared and all.

Getting in and out of the 2016 Chevy Volt is a bit challenging for taller drivers, although once inside the cocoon-like interior, the Volt has ample headroom and legroom up front.

It does feel a bit snug and while a comfortable armrest/cup holder console is always welcome, it is placed a bit too high and larger drivers will inevitably bump into it when steering. It’s an instance where drivers need to adjust to the car and it stopped bothering me by the second hour of my test drive. That said, there's an abundance of space and various cubbies to store and even charge smartphones wirelessly.

 

I liked the measured comfort offered by the front seats as well as the high placement of the headrest. This Volt has 10 airbags, two more than the previous version.  Also new are the Climate controls have been separated from the infotainment console and heated seats and steering wheel are welcome standard features for our long and relentless Canadian winters. 

Rear seating is minimally accommodating although rear leg room has been increased from the first gen. Chevy is positioning the Volt 2016 as a five-seater, but that’s an extremely generous description. The Volt’s rear seats are ideal for two average-sized adults (provided the front seats aren’t pushed back all the way).

You might be able to get a child’s car seat in the back, but I seriously doubt you can fit in more than one grown adult for long trips as well. Headroom in the rear for anyone under six feet in height should be fine. The sound system is by Bose, which is one of the leading companies in eco-friendly audio technology. I really didn’t get to try during my test drive.

The Volt’s boot is far more promising in terms of storage space. Hidden cutouts hide a quick charger as well as a subwoofer (on the premium model), the large-ish space plus the angled rear hatch will yield a surprising amount of storage space good enough for one large suitcase and two smaller ones.

 

For drivers the 2016 Volt is a feast for the senses. The bright display on the dash as well as the infotainment screed are sized just right and are clear and easy to read. Touch sensitivity is good and receptive and plugging in your iPhone via a USB-connected lightning adaptor will charge your iPhone as well as automatically bring up the CarPlay display. Check out my hands on article for CarPlay on the Chevy Volt here.

I can’t overstate the elegance of integrating CarPlay compatibility from the get go. It makes it easy for anyone to use and brings the iPhone’s advanced features like access to apps, Siri voice control, as well as navigation via Apple Maps. Android Auto is expected to roll out in 2016 although I somehow doubt that integration will be as seamless. 

As expected with any technology focused smart car, the 2016 Volt’s steering wheel is replete with buttons and various controls. Aside from the requisite music player controls, you also get toggles for lane drift feature, front collision sensor as well as shortcuts for the infotainment and calling functions of the Chevy Volt.

Step on the brake, press start, and you’re ready to start the Volt. You have a number of drive options including Normal, Sport, Mountain and Hold Modes. For most of my drive I kept it in Normal mode as I figured most users would be using this most of the time.

 

On EV mode, the Volt accelerates smoothly and in a measured manner, if you really push down on the accelerator you will hear an electronic whine which sounds like Iron Man’s repulsor glove charging up. Engine noise is near non-existent and the Volt can almost feel like a turbocharged automatic sedan.

 

I was blessed with mostly dry driving conditions on an overcast morning with no traffic whatsoever and there were many opportunities to push the Volt and it responded with aplomb.

As a first time driver of an EV hybrid, I learned a lot. There’s a Regenerative braking paddle which optimizes braking depending on the condition or setting, it’s like downshifting to slow down on a standard car but happens smoothly and saves valuable energy as well.

Driving on gas mode is similarly quiet, although the 1.5-liter engine’s purr is definitely discernible, it is quite muted.

I found that shifting between EV and gas modes was mostly seamless. After depleting the charge going between 80-130 kph for roughly an hour and a half on mostly highway driving, moving to gas (and seeing the gauge remain steady for longer periods of time) was quite reassuring.

Being able to switch to gas mode when your batteries are depleted is really the reason why a hybrid makes more practical sense than a full-EV (unless your EV has all the range you need and ideally some more to spare).

Conclusion

 

While a few hours behind the wheel of the 2016 Chevy Volt gave me a greater appreciation for the benefits and conveniences of an EV hybrid sedan, I think it will take a lot of time in real world driving (i.e. traffic) to really learn to optimize one’s driving habits as well as tweak the Volt’s various options.

The 2016 Chevy Volt is an accomplished vehicle, one that offers more space, practicality, and a chock full of the latest technologies to really push the EV segment forward. Chevy has listened to its users and has earmarked various items on their wishlist and done a great job delivering many desired features and changes.

The 2016 Volt also comes at a critical time when recent events have forced us to take a long hard look at our motoring future as well as where electrification and hybrids are headed. Yes, the price is still an issue, but each individual driver can do the math and decide whether they can support and enjoy what an EV has to offer.

 For Chevy, the 2016 Volt is a key demonstration of how far the technology has come in such a short time. Batteries are considerably lighter and smaller but offer extended range, the gas engine is also smaller yet more powerful and economical and drivers are spoiled by all the cutting edge technology toys and thoughtful engineering that makes the 2016 Chevy Volt the hybrid standard worth looking at.