Volt meets real-world tests

After years of auto show concepts and parking lot test drives, we finally got a Chevrolet Volt in for a proper review. With no GM minders riding along, we drove the Volt up steep San Francisco hills, along scenic coastal roads, and over miles of freeways at speeds of 65 to 75 mph. In city traffic the Volt contended with stop-and-go traffic and our usual method of jamming the accelerator when the light turns green, getting us to the next red light quickly.

And over all this, the Volt performed more than admirably. When the battery was charged, the car ran happily along, not using a drop of gas. And we felt little difference in engine mode, beyond slightly more noise at low speeds. In efforts to deplete the battery charge, its regenerative braking occasionally confounded us. Beyond the perfectly fine driving performance, the cabin electronics are also excellent, with the added benefit of remote functions through a smartphone app.

Read our review of the Editors' Choice-winning 2011 Chevrolet Volt.