Fresh out of its first refresh, the 2014 Chevrolet Volt shuffles some paint colors and interior details, but carries over pretty much the same way it entered 2013. Being one of very few plug-in hybrids on the road today, the Volt still has its quirks, but drivers who do their research are well-prepared and have very few big complaints—none of which is horrible enough to take more than a half-star away from a top rating. By and large those 2013 gains are what have now secured such a coveted place for the Volt in the hearts of so many, and this year sees just the first improvements toward mainstream perfection of all those other little details.
Some of those details include the cramped quarters so typical of midsize hatchback plug-ins—namely seats best for sub-6-foot folks and a 10-cubic-foot trunk before folding the 2 rear seats down. In an effort to keep more electric power reserved for driving, the Volt also makes use of extensive manual functionality for things like adjusting the seats, and this, too, is sometimes more frustrating than it's worth if differently sized people often trade-off driving.
There's a few dozen more issues mentioned by the recent outpouring of driver reviews, but the long and short of it is every driver has their preferences and should test-drive the Volt thoroughly to make sure these quirks are livable. Some things like the optional navigation's confusion with voice commands and the limited set of recognized MyLink voice commands may be updated with future software improvements, but others are more staple facts of the car, such as needing to wait for everything to load up before putting the Volt in gear or else suffering still for an hour with a confused computer.
All that aside, the 2013 updates made the Volt a much more viable long-haul hybrid with a Hold function that will preserve electric energy until it is turned off for city driving, meaning Hold mode relies on the 37-mpg inline 4-cylinder to power its front wheels with as little assistance as possible from the 111-kilowatt electric motor. The Volt never runs on its gas-powered engine alone, so maneuvers like acceleration and braking are noticeably hampered when the electric motor can't deliver all of its 149 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. The generator is also reportedly loud, but not intrusively so.
In all, the Volt is estimated to fetch something like 98 mpge after the 2013 updates, with a 380-mile range before needing a fill-up or recharge and about 38 miles of electric-only motoring. The added capacity also brought full recharge times up from a 120-volt 10 hours to 10.5, and a 240-volt 4 hours to 4.25. These tweaks kept its zip-to-60 mph time around 9 seconds from a standstill, and the 2014 is expected to follow suit,1 given its cosmetic-only changes aside from a wider availability of low-emissions packages compliant with Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey requirements.
Specifically, the Premium door trim, charge port interior release, Comfort option package and “comfort grip” steering wheel are gone, replaced by a push-pop charge port door and leather-wrapped steering wheel for all Volts and front heated seats are now available for the cloth interior.
Otherwise the Volt base trim continues to offer more refined features than most of its competitors by default, most notably 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, LED running lights, heated mirrors, keyless ignition/entry, remote ignition, automatic climate control, Bluetooth, OnStar and MyLink alongside a 6-speaker stereo featuring a touchscreen interface, CD player, satellite radio, auxiliary audio jack and USB connectivity. The previous Premium option package is now available as a full-fledged trim featuring leather interior with heated seats and the Bose stereo system that was standard before the 2013 price drop.
It's 100 degrees outside. Can I leave my Volt in a parking lot with the power on, lock the doors and shop for an hour? Actually, I already know I can and the 75 degree interior when I return is heavenly. It uses about as much power as it would take to travel 5 miles. I guess the real question is: does this damage the car in any way?
I have noticed how the dealers are not showing the Chevy Volt with a full or partial charge in the main battery. Not good for a customer looking for a Extended Range Car. Also, when I have gone to test drive a Volt, the battery is not showing any stored power. "Well, we will just go on gas", says the sales person.
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Auxiliary audio input: jack · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Touch screen display radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.8 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.5 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: rear · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): front and rear · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 2.16
Engine
EV battery capacity: 16 kWh · EV on-board charger rating: 3.3 kW · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 149 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 111 · Electric Motor Torque: 273 · Electric Vehicle Extended Range Generator Displacement: 1.4 · Electric Vehicle Extended Range Generator HP: 83 · Electric Vehicle Extended Range Generator Number of Cylinders: 4 · Electric motor charger connector: SAE J1772 · Electric motor charging time: 4 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 38
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: chrome · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: lip · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment: MyLink · Infotainment screen size: 7 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Rear Seats
Type: bucket
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear
Seatbelts
Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium cloth
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Steering
Steering ratio: 15.4 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.8
Suspension
Driver Adjustable Suspension: ride control · Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar
Telematics
Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: OnStar
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: painted aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Touch screen display radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.8 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.5 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: rear · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): front and rear · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 2.16
Engine
EV battery capacity: 16 kWh · EV on-board charger rating: 3.3 kW · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 149 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 111 · Electric Motor Torque: 273 · Electric Vehicle Extended Range Generator Displacement: 1.4 · Electric Vehicle Extended Range Generator HP: 83 · Electric Vehicle Extended Range Generator Number of Cylinders: 4 · Electric motor charger connector: SAE J1772 · Electric motor charging time: 4 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 38
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: chrome · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: lip · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment: MyLink · Infotainment screen size: 7 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Rear Seats
Type: bucket
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear
Seatbelts
Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather-trimmed
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Steering
Steering ratio: 15.4 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.8
Suspension
Driver Adjustable Suspension: ride control · Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar
Telematics
Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: OnStar
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: painted aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse