2014 Chevrolet Volt Test Drive Review
It isn't difficult to wander onto a dealership lot and find a plug-in hybrid sedan these days, but there was a time when the Chevrolet Volt was the only game in town. Now, it has heavyweights like the Fusion Energi and Accord PHEV to contend with, but the 2014 Volt is still more than capable of delivering the efficient drive it promised us as the Official Car of the Future all those years ago.
The 2014 Volt hasn't changed a whole lot from the original, but it has made a few very important updates in the past four years. Recently, GM upgraded the lithium-ion battery to improve electric-only driving range to 38 miles (total range is up to 382). Most importantly, with the sudden influx of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, the price of the 2014 Chevrolet Volt has been cut by a whopping $5,000. Greater range, lower price; sounds like a winning formula. But does the Volt meet the high bar it’s set for itself?
Actually, in terms of EV driving, it goes above and beyond. The Volt arrived at autoMedia.com offices with a full 38 miles of electric range, but thanks to a light foot and regenerative braking, it actually managed more than 45 miles before needing to resort to the range-extending gasoline engine – and that was only because I ran it out of juice on purpose to test the 1.4L four-cylinder.
If it had been charged overnight, as a typical owner likely would, the engine wouldn’t have been necessary during the entire weeklong test. In 165 miles of total driving, the 2014 Volt used only 2.8 gallons of gasoline, easily besting its gas-powered rating of 38 MPG.
So it works as a plug-in hybrid and an electric car, but the 2014 Volt works well as a regular car, too. The ride is smooth and composed – partly thanks to the heavy battery pack pushing the car down – while the steering wheel has a satisfying weight to pair with the ease of its electric power. The Voltec electric drive system with 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides 111 kilowatts of power and 148 lb.-ft of torque at your instant disposal.
What that means is that the 2014 Chevrolet Volt can get up and go with surprising aplomb. Acceleration is no problem, and Sport Mode is great if you’re zipping around in search of excuses to dig into the juice. In fact, it isn't the Volt that holds back when you push it hard; it's the tires, which squeal in turns that the rest of the car is handling just fine. Combine some sportier rubber with these driving dynamics, and you could really have some electric fun.
Just as it was when the Volt debuted in 2011, the transition from electric power to the 1.4L four-cylinder gasoline engine is seamless. There is no sudden jolt or loud start-up process; just a quick rumble without a loss in momentum. The engine isn’t as quick to accelerate and lacks the battery’s grin-inducing surge forward, but has surprising guts for such a small powerplant and returns fuel efficiency that verifies the Volt’s green credentials.
Though they are few, the Volt does have its faults. One of the most obvious is that the large battery pack runs through the middle of the car, eliminating a middle seat in the back. Four adults can fit in the Volt, though the two riding in the front bucket seats will find much more head and legroom than their rear compatriots. Rear cargo space is also limited for a hatchback, though there is plenty of room for most trips and would even be fine for light camping.
Up front, the only word I can think of to describe the brakes is “spongy,” though that isn’t rare for cars that use regen systems. Low-resistance tires are pretty noisy under EV power thanks to the silence from under the hood, but a crystal clear six-speaker audio system cancels that out quite nicely. Perhaps the biggest annoyance of all is the center console, with flattened-touch buttons that are difficult to locate and don't always respond on the first touch.
With more range and space than the Fiat 500e and Nissan Leaf, plus a pricetag that runs $20,000 less than the Tesla Model S, the Volt certainly has the chops to deserve a look from efficient-minded buyers. The 2014 Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid that will grow on you, and continue to lead the EV market as it grows, as well.
The 2014 Volt hasn't changed a whole lot from the original, but it has made a few very important updates in the past four years. Recently, GM upgraded the lithium-ion battery to improve electric-only driving range to 38 miles (total range is up to 382). Most importantly, with the sudden influx of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, the price of the 2014 Chevrolet Volt has been cut by a whopping $5,000. Greater range, lower price; sounds like a winning formula. But does the Volt meet the high bar it’s set for itself?
Actually, in terms of EV driving, it goes above and beyond. The Volt arrived at autoMedia.com offices with a full 38 miles of electric range, but thanks to a light foot and regenerative braking, it actually managed more than 45 miles before needing to resort to the range-extending gasoline engine – and that was only because I ran it out of juice on purpose to test the 1.4L four-cylinder.
If it had been charged overnight, as a typical owner likely would, the engine wouldn’t have been necessary during the entire weeklong test. In 165 miles of total driving, the 2014 Volt used only 2.8 gallons of gasoline, easily besting its gas-powered rating of 38 MPG.
So it works as a plug-in hybrid and an electric car, but the 2014 Volt works well as a regular car, too. The ride is smooth and composed – partly thanks to the heavy battery pack pushing the car down – while the steering wheel has a satisfying weight to pair with the ease of its electric power. The Voltec electric drive system with 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides 111 kilowatts of power and 148 lb.-ft of torque at your instant disposal.
What that means is that the 2014 Chevrolet Volt can get up and go with surprising aplomb. Acceleration is no problem, and Sport Mode is great if you’re zipping around in search of excuses to dig into the juice. In fact, it isn't the Volt that holds back when you push it hard; it's the tires, which squeal in turns that the rest of the car is handling just fine. Combine some sportier rubber with these driving dynamics, and you could really have some electric fun.
Just as it was when the Volt debuted in 2011, the transition from electric power to the 1.4L four-cylinder gasoline engine is seamless. There is no sudden jolt or loud start-up process; just a quick rumble without a loss in momentum. The engine isn’t as quick to accelerate and lacks the battery’s grin-inducing surge forward, but has surprising guts for such a small powerplant and returns fuel efficiency that verifies the Volt’s green credentials.
Though they are few, the Volt does have its faults. One of the most obvious is that the large battery pack runs through the middle of the car, eliminating a middle seat in the back. Four adults can fit in the Volt, though the two riding in the front bucket seats will find much more head and legroom than their rear compatriots. Rear cargo space is also limited for a hatchback, though there is plenty of room for most trips and would even be fine for light camping.
Up front, the only word I can think of to describe the brakes is “spongy,” though that isn’t rare for cars that use regen systems. Low-resistance tires are pretty noisy under EV power thanks to the silence from under the hood, but a crystal clear six-speaker audio system cancels that out quite nicely. Perhaps the biggest annoyance of all is the center console, with flattened-touch buttons that are difficult to locate and don't always respond on the first touch.
With more range and space than the Fiat 500e and Nissan Leaf, plus a pricetag that runs $20,000 less than the Tesla Model S, the Volt certainly has the chops to deserve a look from efficient-minded buyers. The 2014 Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid that will grow on you, and continue to lead the EV market as it grows, as well.
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