What the experts say about the 2017 Chevrolet Volt
A maintenance professional, a safety official, and a local Chevrolet sales manager weigh in.
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2017 Chevrolet Volt
The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in gasoline electric hybrid vehicle that offers an impressive range that outperforms many other rivals. The Volt was refreshed in 2016 and offers a nice-looking interior and user-friendly controls. It was recently named a Top Safety Pick+ winner by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
One of the most impressive features about the Volt is its engine performance. It can travel up to 53 miles using only an electric charge. With the gasoline-powered engine in use, the Volt can travel up to 420 miles. The gasoline engine also recharges the electric battery while it’s in use.
Standard features include a rearview camera, satellite radio, navigation, automatic climate control, and a built-in Wi-Fi hot spot. The infotainment system offers an eight-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay.
There are some financial perks to buying or leasing a Volt. The Volt starts at $33,220 and is eligible for a federal tax of $7,500. Massachusetts shoppers who purchase or lease a Volt can get an additional rebate of $2,500.
What the experts have to say
A good car for saving green and going green—but don’t forget to use the gas
“It’s a conventional plug-in hybrid, and most [consumers] will use the electric part of it, which is less maintenance than a typical internal combustion engine. It’s not unusual to hear people go thousands of miles without gassing the car. … But bear in mind the gasoline [in the car] will eventually will become stale. If you notice it’s been months since you’ve used the gas engine, it might make sense – though it may seem wasteful – to go on a long drive and put some fresh gas in the car. … That’s kind of counter intuitive to being frugal and green to get the car. After all, you bought the car because you want to be green or save green, but every now and then you need to take it for a ride to put fresh gas in it.” – John Paul, AAA’s “The Car Doctor” [Editor’s note: John Paul has not yet test-driven the 2017 Chevrolet Volt.]
An improved safety performance
“For 2017, GM made improvements to the Volt to improve its performance in the institute’s latest crash test, the small overlap front crash test. It improves from ‘acceptable’ to ‘good’ in that test compared with the previous generation model. … The new Volt sustained less intrusion into the occupant compartment in the small overlap test. So overall the Volt is graded good across the board for crashworthiness. … The Volt is one of our top-rated small cars, so if an electric hybrid model appeals to you, this would be a safe choice. … The Volt should definitely be on your shopping list if this type of vehicle fits with your lifestyle.” – Russ Rader, senior vice president of communications at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
An environmentally-friendly car that performs like a regular car
“Consumers in general may look at this car and say it’s an environmentally-friendly vehicle. In my opinion, it’s not just that. Look at the economics. I hope everyone knows in Massachusetts you can get a rebate from the government of $2,500 and also a [federal] tax write-off of $7,500, so you’re not just being environmentally friendly, but you’re also helping your pocket by buying one of these cars. … The Volt doesn’t performs like an electric car or a hybrid car. It performs like a regular vehicle, so it’s not like compromising comfort or performance to drive a car like that. … And it’s offering up to 53 pure electric miles, plus up to 420 miles with a full charge and a full tank of gas. Chevrolet expects owners will drive about 1,000 miles between fill-ups with regular charging and make the gas station a distant memory.” – Eduart Lela, general manager, Herb Chambers Chevrolet of Danvers
For more information on the 2017 Chevrolet Volt, visit a Chevrolet dealership near you.
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