2019 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid

The Volt may be a little expensive, but it is also the most advanced plug-in hybrids on the American shores. It offers a proper 50-mile pure electric range, unlike the barely usable 20 mile-range (sometimes less) that its rivals offer. The Chevy also boasts of decent performance, sweet ride and handling, and overall pleasant driving experience.

Even with these hybrids, there is a lot of competition in the market. You could buy a fully loaded Accord hybrid for the same amount of money, which offers more interior space and a bigger feature-list. Other carmakers, like Toyota, and Ford, also want a piece of this pie. Let's move ahead and find out if the 2019 Volt Plug-in Hybrid manages to take on some renowned rivals in the segment such as the Toyota Avalon, Ford Fusion Energi and the popular pick - The Honda Clarity.

There are two trims in the 2019 Chevrolet Volt - the base LT variant, and the upmarket Premium variant. The list of standard features is quite extensive, but that also drives the cost of this compact sedan beyond the segment. For the top trim, the price almost touches the $40k mark but let that not discourage you because then you'll also be entitled to the $7,500 federal income tax credit and a lot of other benefits from the State.

Trim	LT	Premium
MSRP	$34,395	$38,995
Key Features	18.4 kWh lithium-ion battery	Offers all the features of LT trim along with following additional features
	Voltec electric drive system with a 1.5L gasoline-powered range extender	Leather-appointed seats
	8-inch diagonal reconfigurable LCD instrumentation with Driver Information Center	Heated front and rear (outboard) seats
	Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus system with 8-inch diagonal color touch-screen	Leather-wrapped heated steering wheel
	Keyless Access with Push-Button Start	Automatic Parking Assist
	Remote vehicle starter system
	SiriusXM Satellite Radio with three trial months
	LED daytime running lamps

Apart from the two trims, there are 6 optional packages as well, namely Power Convenience Package, Driver Confidence Package, Comfort Package, Winter/Summer Floor Mats Package, Interior Protection Package, and the Blackout Package. For more details on the options, please follow the table below.

Package Name	Power Convenience Package	Driver Confidence Package	Comfort Package	Winter/Summer Floor Mats Package	Interior Protection Package	Blackout Package
Price	$1,660	$790	$460	$260	$200	$1,995
	6-way power driver seat	Rear Park Assist	Automatic heated driver and front passenger seats	All-weather floor mats	All-weather floor mats	Sport pedal kit
	Power driver seat lumbar control	Rear cross-traffic alert	Automatic heated leather-wrapped steering wheel	Premium carpeted floor mats	All-weather cargo mats	Front and rear black bow-tie emblems
	Body-colored power exterior rearview mirrors	Lane change alert with side blind zone alert	Leather-wrapped shift knob			17-inch 5-split spoke machined-face Gloss Black wheels
	Heated driver and front passenger seats		Heated, power, body-color exterior rearview mirrors
	Leather-wrapped steering wheel

We Recommend

Regardless of the trim, the Volt is a very expensive car. However, the "LT" trim makes the best out of your investment. We'd also add the driver confidence package as it adds an extra layer of safety for the occupants and the driver.

"Not only does the Chevrolet Volt have an impressive 53 miles of pure-electric range, its hybrid setup makes it incredibly quick and exceptionally quiet."    -Car and Driver

Hybrid cars have never sported powerful drivetrains, and the 2019 Chevy Volt isn't different either. With a puny 1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline motor, you only get 149 horses. Thankfully, there are electric motors aiding the engine, two of them actually. In the electric-only mode, the sedan can run for 53 miles, not groundbreaking, but enough to make two round trips to your local supermarket. Though the power might seem less, let's also not forget that the Chevrolet Volt is among the torquiest vehicles in the segment. With a torque output of 294 ft-lbs, the Volt sets itself a class apart from the rivals in this aspect.

The transmission duties have been undertaken by the conventional Uni-Drive system which is a pretty common sight in the hybrid segment. This gearbox drives the front wheels of the car only. Despite the puny engine, the motor packs a lot of punch and performing overtaking maneuvers won't pose any trouble, thanks to the two electric motors that delete the lag. However, it is all applicable within the city limits only. Get onto the highway and the motor feels disinterested in climbing up the speedometer. 

Models	Chevrolet Volt LT	Honda Clarity Touring	Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid	Ford Fusion Energi Titanium	Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid
MSRP	$37,420	$36,600	$28,945	$37,490	$34,395
Engine	1.5L Inline-4	1.5L Inline-4	1.8L Inline-4	2.0L Inline-4	2.5L Inline-4
Transmission	1-speed direct drive	Continuously Variable Automatic	1-speed direct drive	Continuously Variable Automatic	Continuously Variable Automatic
Horsepower	149 hp	212 hp	182 hp	188 hp	215 hp
Torque	294 ft-lbs.	221 ft-lbs.	277 ft-lbs.	129 ft-lbs.	163 ft-lbs.

The hybrid space in the automotive market is filled with plenty of options. Chevy’s other offering, the Malibu hybrid sedan, is cheaper, more spacious and better looking, although the engine on that is smaller and less powerful. Toyota Avalon is a mid-size car, which means it is bigger both on the inside and outside (bigger engine too) - an advantage in its favor.

Acceleration

Expecting performance from a hybrid car used to be like searching for snow in a desert - futile at best. Though it isn’t that bad anymore, you still wouldn’t feel excited in the slightest. The Volt runs from 0 to 60 MPH in a slow but steady 7.5 seconds. Highway driving isn’t the most effortless endeavor, and you’d need a heavy foot to merge into high-speed traffic.

The hybrid segment is composed almost entirely of lazy cars that take their own sweet time to gain momentum. While there are slower cars in the market, that does not excuse these sedans. If you like to be buried in your seat on the press of the throttle more than you like polar bears, we suggest you skip the hybrid car segment entirely. 

Models	Chevrolet Volt LT	Honda Clarity Touring	Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid	Ford Fusion Energi Titanium	Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid
0-60 MPH	7.5	8.1 sec	8.5 sec	8.5	N/A
Quarter mile	15.6	15.9 sec	15.8	16.3	N/A
Engine	1.5L inline-4	1.5L inline-4	1.8L inline-4	2.0L inline-4	2.5L inline-4
Emission (Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	N/A	3.5	N/A	N/A	N/A

The Chevy Volt's light curb weight aids it in securing the first position in terms of acceleration. It is also quicker than the competitors to the quarter-mile mark as well. Having said that, the rest of the rivals are quite evenly matched in this aspect. The Ford Fusion Energi is the slowest vehicle of the lot with a 16.8-second quarter-mile run, courtesy of extra weight and less power. 

Ride and Handling

Slamming the accelerator pedal won't really excite you or plunge you into the seats, but the 2019 Chevrolet Volt Hybrid isn't meant to do that either. Its rather small and underpowered 1.5L, inline-4 motor is a slouch to be precise and it takes its own sweet time to get the car moving. However, the Volt, otherwise, is a fun and peppy car to drive. Throw it into a corner and you'll be coming out of it with a smile, thanks to the low-set battery floor that brings the C.G (Center of Gravity) closer to the ground. This delivers a planted feel and inspires a lot of confidence in the driver.

While that was all about spirited driving, the Volt Hybrid actually performs even better within the city limits. The suspension setup is aptly sprung, neither too stiff nor too soft. Small undulations on the road are passed unnoticed and the cabin is mum at all times. There is a slight rumble from the gasoline motor that creeps inside the cabin, but it isn't prominent enough to hinder your conversations. 

Braking

With the regenerative braking system onboard, you can be assured that every wasted movement is converted into useful energy. If your braking needs are urgent though, you could simply press the pedal harder, and the car shifts the braking duties to its traditional braking system. The transition between these two systems isn’t as smooth as one would hope from a car costing close to 40 Grand, but what’s a little discomfort against the fate of the planet, right?

Being one of the lightest vehicles in the segment, the Volt is expected to stop in the shortest distance here. However, its small rotors coupled with a squishy brake pedal do not inspire confidence for spirited braking. Nevertheless, the Volt wasn't created to be treated like that either. Treat it like a family car and it will surely impress you.

Model	Chevrolet Volt LT	Honda Clarity Touring	Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid	Ford Fusion Energi Titanium	Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid
Brake Front (in.)	11	12.3	11.8	11.8	N/A
Brake Rear (in.)	10	12.2	11.3	11.9	N/A
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3550	4059	3366	3986	3638
60-0 MPH (ft.)	N/A	131	N/A	129	N/A

Honda’s Clarity has the heaviest body here, which further escalates the effort you have to put on the pedals. Other than that, there isn’t a significant difference between the cars here in terms of braking distance. Braking distances will be updated once the figures are officially available.

The entire reason you buy a hybrid is to extract great mileage from every last drop of gas. Chevy claims a figure of 42 miles per gallon when driven around gently. Before you make a judgment out of it, let us also bring to your notice that this figure is solely based on the performance of the gasoline engine. With the electric motors in play, the overall combined mileage climbs up to a staggering figure of 106 MPG.

These are pretty impressive numbers, and you are bound to save money alongside the planet Earth. Furthermore, with just the electric motors driving the car, you get 53 miles of range, which is quite a mighty feat considering none of its rivals even come close to it in this regard.

Model	Chevrolet Volt LT	Honda Clarity Touring	Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid	Ford Fusion Energi Titanium	Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid
MPG (city)	43	40	49	43	43
MPG (highway)	42	44	43	41	44
MPG (combined)	42	42	46	42	44

The entire hybrid sedan market offers upwards of 40 miles of equivalent efficiency, which is somewhere between twice or thrice the mileage of an average gas-powered compact sedan. There is not much to differentiate here, however, under keen observation, it's the Malibu Hybrid that trumps the competition.

Though the four-door hatchback configuration adds a practical side, the 2019 Chevrolet Volt sacrifices a bit of interior space to make room for the battery, providing only 90.3 cubic feet of space.  -Motor Trend

Seating and Comfort

The Chevy Volt is a pretty sober car on the inside, with an extremely practical but dull interior. The front seats are quite spacious, with loads of room all around the passengers. However, there is a lack of creature comforts, although the driver gets an eight-way adjustable seat. Continuing with the theme of sobriety, the seats are wrapped in soft cloth, and follow a dark color scheme.

Model	Chevrolet Volt LT	Honda Clarity Touring	Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid	Ford Fusion Energi Titanium	Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.8/56.5/42.1	39.1/59.7/42.2	39.1/58.5/41.5	39.2/57.8/44.3	38.5/42.1/58.3
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	35.8/53.2/34.7	37.1/57.3/36.2	37.5/57.1/38.1	37.8/56.9/38.3	37.9/40.4/57.1

Toyota Avalon, and more importantly, Chevy Malibu offers an incredible amount of space, both for the front and the rear passenger. If you were ever considering being driven around by a chauffeur, then these two are fine choices for the role.

Cargo Volume

While it isn’t the most gifted car in terms of space, the Volt hybrid has a decent enough boot for household chores. You could easily rest your groceries inside, and if you need some real space for luggage, you can simply fold the seats down. You wouldn’t be using the rear seats much anyway.

Model	Chevrolet Volt LT	Honda Clarity Touring	Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid	Ford Fusion Energi Titanium	Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	10.6	15.5	13.0	8.2	16.1

The Honda Insight seems the most practical choice here, offering a decent trunk without costing you a fortune. In terms of sheer space though, Toyota’s Avalon Hybrid leaves the others in the dust.

Infotainment System

Interior Features

The 2019 Chevy Volt doesn’t scream “I’m an electrified car” like GM’s first plug-in hybrid did. Its styling is subdued, attractive even.     -The Car Connection

Dimension and Weight

The 2019 model has had insignificant changes to the exterior as compared to the 2018 Chevy Volt. It has the same dimensions, but a little extra weight due to the new battery and charging system. It isn’t easy to maneuver this car around town, but once you get used to it, the bulk vanishes, aided by the compact 106-inch wheelbase.

Model	Chevrolet Volt LT	Honda Clarity Touring	Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid	Ford Fusion Energi Titanium	Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid
Curb weight (lbs.)	3550	4059	3366	3986	3638
Length(in)	180.4	192.7	194.2	191.8	195.9
Width(in)	71.2	73.9	73.0	72.9	72.8
Height(in)	56.4	58.2	57.9	58.0	56.5
Ground clearance (in)	N/A	N/A	5.9	N/A	5.3
Wheelbase (in)	106.1	108.3	111.4	112.2	113.0
Track width (in) F/R	60.6/61.8	62.2/62.5	62.6/62.5	62/62.3	62.3/63.6

Honda Insight is the new car on the block, and also the most advanced. You could easily swap the hybrid label for anything else, and the driving dynamics won’t give it away. Its bulk is masterfully hidden, and the dimensions are great for city driving.

Design and Styling

The Chevy Volt shares its architecture with the Cruze sedan, and the resemblance is uncann

y. The face looks identical to the uninitiated, and only after noticing the finer details do you notice the differences. The chief differentiator is the bright silver fake grill on the Big Bowtie grille, and the taillight, which looks like a liquid flowing towards the front of the car.

Overall, the Volt is a handsome looking compact sedan with some striking exterior features. In terms of looks, it is easily prettier and classier than many gasoline cars as well.

The 2019 Chevrolet Volt offers a plethora of safety features:

• Driver Air Bag
• Passenger Air Bag
• Front Head Air Bag
• Rear Head Air Bag
• Front Side Air Bag
• Rear Side Air Bag
• 4-Wheel ABS
• 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Daytime Running Lights
• Child Safety Locks
• Front Tow Hooks
• Traction Control
• Blind Spot Monitor
• Cross-Traffic Alert

Chevrolet Volt vs Honda Insight

Honda Insight is one of the cheapest hybrid sedans in the market, retailing at just 22 grand. At face value, it just seems like a simple choice, the Insight is a much better choice. Dig deeper though and you’ll discover the truth is actually not so simple. The Chevy has much more potential, a better all-electric range, and has a slightly more premium feel to it. What the Honda is, is a step into the future. It’s a hybrid that people can actually afford, and that, to be honest, is a noble cause (even if it is motivated by money!). If you don’t wish to spend a lot on your eco-friendly purchase, then the Insight will suit you fine. If you want a proper hybrid though, opt for the Chevy instead.

Chevrolet Volt vs Chevrolet Malibu

If you have your heart set on a Chevy, but your budget doesn’t stretch to the Volt, you can get a Malibu hybrid instead. It has more space, is a much better-looking car, and you still get the benefits of a hybrid like reduced emissions and increased gas mileage. What you don’t get though, is the ability to drive in full EV mode.

Chevrolet Volt vs Toyota Camry

The Camry is arguably the best mid-size car ever, and there is a good reason why. The car is competitively priced, is well-built, very economical, decently powerful, extremely comfortable, and most of all, utterly reliable. If the world ever came to an end, cockroaches would probably survive alongside Camrys and Corollas; That’s how reliable Toyotas are. That is why, a Camry would actually be a better purchase than a Volt unless your Chevy dealer offers you an enormous discount, at which point the choice between the two could be settled by personal preference.

 

Chevrolet Volt, even though it won’t be available in the market next year, is one hell of a car. It is a proper hybrid, complete with ‘Electric only’ mode for emission-free runs while dropping kids to school. It does seem a bit expensive for what it is though, which is a slightly restyled Cruze with an electric motor stuck on the inside. Space isn’t the best too, and you can get an Accord or Camry in their hybrid avatars for less money. If you want to put a price on saving the environment, its better you choose one of the latter two instead.

2019 Chevrolet Volt Plug-in Hybrid Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can the Chevrolet Volt Hybrid use a Tesla charger?

No, the Tesla charging stations are designed for the Tesla vehicles only. No other vehicle can be charged there.

Can the Volt Hybrid run on gas only?

By default, the Volt hybrid is programmed to consume the batteries first, however, once depleted, the Volt hybrid behaves just like a normal gasoline-powered vehicle. So, yes, the Volt can also run on gasoline only.

How long can you leave the Chevrolet Volt Hybrid plugged in?

The Chevrolet Volt Hybrid can be left plugged in for 3 to 4 days, according to Chevrolet. However, if prolonged over 8 days, then the secondary batteries will start depleting.

How long does a Chevrolet Volt Hybrid's battery last for?

Chevrolet claims that the Volt's battery powertrain can last for 10 years or 150,000 miles provided you follow the maintenance schedule properly. Furthermore, the battery also supports 6000 charging cycles as well.

Does the Chevrolet Volt Hybrid come with a warranty?

The hybrid vehicles have always flaunted an extensive warranty plan in order to gain the trust of the consumers. Following the same notion, the Volt is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty. For more information on this front, please head over to the features tab on the beginning of this page.