X

Preproduction Chevrolet Volt first drive (photos)

The Chevrolet Volt arrives later this year to challenge the Toyota Prius for green car superiority. We take a preproduction model for a spin to see if it's ready for prime-time.

Antuan Goodwin
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Antuan Goodwin
Volt_firstdrive_01.jpg
1 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

A new challenger approaches

The Chevrolet Volt arrives later this year to challenge the Toyota Prius for green car superiority. However, GM doesn't like to call the Volt a hybrid, choosing to classify it as an extended range electric vehicle (EREV).
Volt_firstdrive_02.jpg
2 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Electric drive train

The Volt's front wheels are driven by an electric motor with a peak output of 120 kW that draws its power from a lithium ion battery pack that runs the length of the vehicle.
Volt_firstdrive_04.jpg
3 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Range extender

When the Volt's batteries reach the end of their estimated 40-mile range, a 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine fires up. However, this range-extender engine merely operates as a generator, supplying charge for the Li ion battery pack rather than directly motivating the wheels like a hybrid vehicle.
Volt_firstdrive_03.jpg
4 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Two refueling caps

Because the Volt is designed to be plugged in for charging, it requires two fueling inputs. The first is an electrical connection at the front of the vehicle that recharges the battery pack in as little as 4 hours when connected to a 240V power source. The second fuel input is a conventional gasoline input for the range extender located at the rear of the vehicle on the opposite side. Hopefully, users won't get the two confused.
Volt_firstdrive_05.jpg
5 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Five-door liftback

GM has designed the Volt in a five-door liftback configuration, a setup that's both aerodynamics-friendly and quite flexible for hauling with its fold-flat rear seats.
Volt_firstdrive_07.jpg
6 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

iPod-inspired interior

This Volt's center stack featured glossy white plastic with capacitive buttons and is capped by color touch-panel display. GM's representatives tell us that users will be able to spec a darker, more understated color if the white is too odd-looking.
Volt_firstdrive_08.jpg
7 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Center console

Many of the preproduction center stack's buttons were labeled with stickers. However, final-production models will have a much nicer finish, we're assured.

Meanwhile, at the base of the center stack is the Volt's hefty shifter.
Volt_firstdrive_09.jpg
8 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Climate controls

Climate-control settings can be accessed through the Volt's touch panel. GM's EREV features a few climate-control settings presets that alter the way the system functions, such as an ECO mode that reduces overall power consumption.
Volt_firstdrive_10.jpg
9 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Vehicle information screen

Much like the Toyota Prius, the Volt also features a power information readout that informs the driver of the status of the vehicle's drive train. Is the system regenerating from the brakes? Is the range extender active? Am I using too much juice with a lead foot? Here's were to find the answers.
Volt_firstdrive_11.jpg
10 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Infortainment

Like nearly all GM vehicles these days, the Volt will be available with XM satellite radio. Also available on the Volt are Bluetooth wireless for hands-free calling and an array of digital audio inputs (USB, iPod, A2DP Bluetooth).
Volt_firstdrive_12.jpg
11 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Instrumentation

Just ahead of the Volt's steering wheel is its color LCD instrument panel.
Volt_firstdrive_13.jpg
12 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

It's no SmartGauge

Compared to Ford's SmartGauge setup on its Fusion Hybrid, the Volt's instrument panel seems cluttered and unorganized. It's more of a collection of widgets than a unified information hub. Hopefully, GM be able to polish the interface by the time the Volt launches later this year.
Volt_firstdrive_14.jpg
13 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Safety first with pre-production

Don't expect to find one of these widgets in the Volt that hits showroom floors. Our preproduction model was equipped with this safety kill-switch that shuts everything down in the event of an emergency. Fortunately for us, it doesn't look like it gets much use.
Volt_firstdrive_00.jpg
14 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Driving impressions

With all systems go, we took the Volt on a series of laps around a parking lot test course laid out by GM in downtown San Francisco. The vehicle is, as expected, quite quiet. Well under the vehicle EV range of 40 miles, we glided around the course with nary a peep from the gasoline range extender.
Volt_firstdrive_16.jpg
15 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Drive modes

Acceleration was good in the normal drive mode, but the Volt will feature a few extra drive programs such as a Sport mode that supplies more grunt at the expense of a bit of range and a Mountain mode that taps the range extender earlier than usual to supply extra energy for climbing hills and mountains without exhausting the battery.
Volt_firstdrive_15.jpg
16 of 16 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Handling

With a low center of mass (thanks to the battery pack tucked into its center tunnel), the Volt should have a slight handling advantage over similarly sized vehicles. However, it's no autocross star. Even at the low speed of GM's test course, the most remarkable thing about the Volt's handling is how unremarkable it is. Then again, that may not be such a bad thing for a mass-market vehicle.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos