2019 Chevrolet Volt

The 2019 Chevy Volt is one of the compact segment's foremost plug-in hybrids, offering an unparalleled all-electric range of 53 miles. However, with the clean-living popularity of pure-electric vehicles growing throughout the US and, considering the market's expeditious progression of all-electric vehicles in general, the 2019 Chevrolet Volt that has been deemed the crowning glory of Chevrolet's hybrid range will be discontinued from production as of late 2019. Nevertheless, there are now more competitors within the segment than ever before, and even with top brands such as the Toyota Prius Prime, Kia Niro, and Honda Clarity plug-in holding strong positions within the segment, favor is high for the new Chevy Volt. Equipped with a hybridized 1.5-liter inline-four gasoline engine and dual electric motors, total outputs of 149 horsepower and 294 lb-ft of torque are forwarded to the Chevy's front-wheel-drivetrain via a continuously variable automatic transmission. Has the Volt run its course, or is GM simply killing it off too soon?

The 2019 Chevrolet Volt is priced relatively high in comparison to its rivals. For the base Volt LT, car shoppers can expect an MSRP of $33,520, while moving up to the top-tier Volt Premier sees an MSRP of $38,120. That's excluding tax, licensing, and registration as well as Chevrolet's destination charge of $875. As an eco-friendly hybrid vehicle, the Volt is subject to a $3,750 federal tax credit on its base price, $1,875 for deliveries taking place as of October 2019. Other green vehicle incentives are also available depending on the state.

Surprisingly for an eco-warrior, the Volt boasts an unexpected proclivity for poised but high-spirited handling, giving it another quality that has it outshine the competition. Its steering responses are precise and accord the driver with enough confidence to guide the car around bends and through sharp corners at speed, although the low-rolling-resistance tires hamper things slightly with their low levels of grip under duress. Although steering effort can feel heavy at times, it's weighted comfortably in general. The combined regular and regenerative brakes work subtly together; the pedal responses are linear and smooth, and stopping power is adequate for the commuter. Buzzing the Volt around winding roads reveals its unanticipated penchant as it retains its composure and exhibits tremendous poise. Body roll is present, however, and mid-corner bumps tend to throw it off and discombobulate it a little. With a standard suspension and economy-focused tires, the Volt's limitations are set, but it's through these casual driving conditions where the Volt truly shines.

The Volt is a semi-comfortable commuter, prominent road imperfections and undulations will jostle the chassis, but over more typically smooth roads, it's mostly refined and buttoned-down. It rides quietly too, by virtue of its hushed hybridized engine and well-built cabin, with very little outside noise permeating even at higher speeds.

The 2019 Chevrolet Volt is a good hybrid automobile - and for more reasons than just its best-in-class all-electric range. Overall performance is competitive with the 1.5-liter four-pot motor and refined CVT aptly coordinated for efficiency and drivability. While the engine's 149 hp isn't much, it's ideal for both city and highway driving. For a vehicle of its class, the Volt is also surprisingly fun to drive, vastly more so than others in the segment. It exhibits some handling prowess while also retaining a suitable level of ride comfort. Technology in the Volt is also impressive, and features in the line of comfort and convenience are plentiful at the standard level. Though not as practical as many of its rivals, in-cabin storage and trunk capacity is still reasonable. Setting the Volt back, however, is its low-mid quality cabin materials and severely cramped rear cabin. Nevertheless, the 2019 Volt is a suitable daily small-family commuter that offers hybrid capability beyond that of many of its rivals. It may be nearly dead, but it's still a solid buy for those in the compact plug-in market.

We recommend opting for the Volt Premier; along with the vast array of features it has as standard, it is also equipped with the new 7.3 kWh onboard charging module that delivers a 2.3-hour full-charge time. To take full advantage of that capability, you'll need to add in the optional electric vehicle charging equipment, which includes a 240 volt/32 Amp Wall Charger with a 25-foot cord. We suggest optioning in the available Driver Confidence II Package as well, for the decent selection of favorable active safety features and advanced driver assists. The available Blackout Package is an appealing way to give the Volt more of a unique exterior image while also upgrading the standard pedals to sportier, more attractive variations too.

The Chevrolet Bolt is an all-electric alternative and is around $3,000 more than the already pricey Volt. It is, however, one of only a few EVs in the USA that offers an all-electric range of over 200 miles, making it a great option if you're looking to go 100% green. In terms of acceleration, the Bolt is faster, shooting to 60 mph in a full second faster than the Volt. It's also a really enjoyable commuter vehicle to drive, with surprisingly nimble handling traits and easy-to-drive dynamics. The Bolt's simplistic rear suspension and only semi-comfortable seats detriment its ride comfort, however, making the Volt a more suitable option if many extended trips are on your agenda. With that said, however, the Bolt's cabin is a lot more spacious, meaning more passenger room overall. And with a trunk capacity of 16.9 cubic feet, it's a whole lot more practical as well. The Bolt is friendlier to the world as an all-electric vehicle, and more importantly, to its passengers too, considerably more so than the Volt is; it offers more space, practicality, and features, all aimed at pleasing the passengers. Despite being smaller, it's better in general, and at a comparable price, we'd recommend committing fully to the EV lifestyle.

The Toyota Prius Prime is around $6,000 cheaper than the Volt; it's equipped with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired to a plug-in hybrid system for a total output of 121 hp. Its slower than the Volt from 0-60 mph by two full seconds and offers less than half the all-electric range of the Volt, with only 25 miles attainable on a full charge. The Prime's battery takes only a little more than two hours to complete a full charge on a 240V outlet, but with the Volt's upgraded charging module, its larger, more efficient battery completes a full charge in only slightly longer than that. The Prime does come standard with Toyota's Safety Sense P suite which comprises a whole lot more safety features and assists than the Volt at its base point. It was also chosen as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. Its technology and in-cabin materials elicit a far more premium impression than the Volt, too. The Prime is, however, not as fun to drive as the Volt, with sluggish acceleration and sedate handling traits. The Volt is a better hybrid vehicle than the Prime in many aspects, the Prime may be a lot more affordable and with a more premium feel at that, but when it comes to a hybrid vehicle, efficiency and range is the name of the game.