"Range-extended EV" or "plug-in hybrid": Chevy doesn't care what you call the all-new 2016 Volt... so long as you buy one.
If Chevy and its representatives had its druthers, however, you and I would refer to the Volt as a range-extended EV. That's because the compact five-seater can travel 53 miles in all-electric "EV" mode. And after the initial charge of the onboard lithium-ion batteries is depleted, the gasoline engine kicks on and can propel the Volt up to 420 miles on a single tank of gas. Thanks to the EV characteristics of the Volt, though, Chevrolet figures owners will be able to go 1,000 miles between trips to the gas station, as many of their trips will be all-electric and gas-free.
When the first-generation Volt debuted in 2011, this "range-extended EV" moniker was a bit more fitting, as it was virtually the only vehicle of its kind on the market. Since then, though, plug-in hybrids like the Prius Plug-in and Ford C-Max Energi in addition to EVs with small range-extending gasoline engines onboard like the BMW i3 have gone on sale. And if I were forced to split hairs, and I am, I'd say the Volt is actually a plug-in hybrid.
Regardless of what descriptors are tagged onto the Volt, they don't diminish the brilliance of the thing.
Details
Before we get into its brilliance, let's look briefly at the Volt's specs.
Being a hybrid/EV thingy, the Volt has a battery pack, two electric motors and gasoline engine onboard. The battery pack is a 5.5-foot-long, 192-cell unit packaged underneath the middle center of the car that produces 18.4 kilo Watt hour (kWh). These batteries feed the twin 110 kilo Watt (kW) electric motors mounted in the front of the car.
In its entirety, however, the Volt has been rated at 106 mpg-e. And if you don't know what mpg-e is, don't worry; virtually no one does. Calculating mpg-e requires knowing assumed electricity cost as well as battery and electric motor efficiencies. Calculating those isn't just a hassle, it's also mind-numbing. Just know that 106 mpg-e is good and move on.
Though the gasoline engine can relinquish, share, or take over the job of forward propulsion, the initial driving power (for 53 miles) is provided by the batteries and electric motors. This was my first taste of the all-new Volt.
All-electric enjoyment
Cruising in the twisty mountain roads outside San Francisco in EV mode, I enjoyed a scenic and spirited drive and an extremely quiet cabin. While the Volt's aerodynamics and specially designed tires -- boosting efficiency while also limiting road noise -- aid in the serenity of the interior, it's the gasoline engine remaining at rest that keeps the cabin so quiet. And it's with that engine off where the Volt shines brightest.
Driving the Volt in EV mode for a good portion of my morning drive reminded me that buyers don't have to pay Tesla money for a delightful all-electric driving experience. The Volt is smooth, quiet, and extremely comfortable without any creature comforts sacrificed on the alter of efficiency. In the Volt, just like its other non-EV modes, Chevy offers a Bose sound system and leather heated front and rear seats as well as a heated steering wheel.
In fact, tech-savvy drivers will delight in the Volt's standard tech features. In addition to the thin film transistor (TFT) color screen in place of a traditional instrument cluster, Chevy has placed a large touchscreen in the center dash. Like some modern German luxury cars, the center touchscreen seems to float off the dash a bit, which is a premium touch.
On this screen, drivers can monitor more features of the Volt's powertrain than I care to list here. Suffice to say that if you're into pie charts, facts, figures and percentages, especially those relating to the efficiency of your driving, you could get lost in the Volt's screens and menus.
The gasoline shimmy
Funnily enough, for as well-known as Chevy is for its gasoline engines, it's the Volt's 1.5-liter that tarnishes the car's sterling driving experience.
After around 52 miles of driving, I'd depleted the charge in the battery and the gasoline engine fired to life, in order to keep Volt cruising down the road. Dancing delicately between three tasks, powering the electric motors, charging the batteries, and turning the front wheels, the engine sent a palpable shudder through the cabin.
The shudder is a sensation akin to driving over an undulating road or an engine not running on all of its cylinders. Arguably, most drivers might not notice the engine-caused shimmy -- especially on rougher roads. But it was prominent enough to disappoint me a bit, as the rest of the Volt's driving properties were pristine.
Brilliance
The 2016 Volt might not be perfect but it's a wholly enjoyable car. More than that, the Volt can be many things to many people. If you enjoy geeking out on efficiency, you'll love the Volt for its plethora of info graphics and the ability to recapture energy through regenerative braking. If you like a smooth, quiet ride, you'll appreciate the serenity of the Volt's cabin. And if you simply like skipping the gas station, the Volt will be your new best friend, as Chevy estimates owners will go on average 1,000 miles between fill-ups. For a starting price of $33,170, I'd call that downright brilliant.