The one-week test drive consumed 2.8 gallons of gas to travel 143 miles. That’s an impressive way to collect 49.8 mpg. Chevy Volt’s 16kW lithium-ion battery pack and electric drive unit are capable of 25-50 miles—depending on various factors, such as whether the driver has a light/heavy foot on the accelerator pedal, and whether air conditioning is on/off—before the extended range mode is engaged. The switch to the extended range mode, in which a 1.4-liter, 4-cylinder gasoline engine operates the car’s electric drive system, was absolutely seamless. No stutter and no noise during the transition that occurred while cruising at 65 mph. Watch what’s happening with the Volt’s technology by selecting an information mode on the reconfigurable 7-inch color display screen to show how the car is using and replenishing the battery supply in real-time.

A 2 ½-hour battery re-charge via a 120-volt electrical outlet gave the battery system a supply of energy that translated to 10 miles. (Using a dedicated 240-volt charging station can fully recharge the battery pack in approximately 4 hours versus the expected 10-12 hours with a 120-volt electrical outlet.)  Volt’s interior has zero analog gauges. The touch spots for controls are intuitive, and easy-to-use for slender and fat-fingered persons. Rear seat headroom and legroom is abundant for shorter occupants, but a 6-foot-4 rider was uncomfortable. The Volt has good stow spots, including glovebox, center console, and a spot on top of the dash. Standard equipment list includes cruise control, 17-inch wheels, remote start, and audio system with navigation and DVD ROM. The front wheel drive Volt’s base MSRP is $40,280.