2011 Chevrolet Volt Overview Change Vehicle

This 2011 Chevrolet Volt overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2011 Volt, and includes Chevy Volt safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

After years of hype, Chevrolet’s newest halo car finally hits the market in 2011. It’s the four-door, four-passenger Volt, and it represents not only a reinvigorated Chevy brand, but also what could be the beginning of a mainstream shift to plug-in electric transportation. Unlike hybrids such as the Toyota Prius, the Volt is primarily an electric car with a small gas engine used to recharge the system’s batteries and, under rare circumstances, assist with powering the car. Expect a total range of roughly 350 miles, or up to 50 miles exclusively on electric power.

Chevy’s newest eco-friendly model is available in only one trim, meaning every 2011 Volt is equipped with commonly expected features like air conditioning, power windows and mirrors, power door locks with remote keyless entry, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, a stereo with an auxiliary input jack and a USB port, and 17-inch alloy wheels. Given that this is not a premium- or luxury-branded car, it might come as a surprise to learn that the list of standard features also includes a voice-activated navigation system, a Bose premium audio system, a remote start system, real-time XM NavTraffic and weather information, Bluetooth hands-free calling capability, and a 30-gigabyte hard drive for music storage. The folks at Chevrolet went a couple of steps further by adding a seven-inch reconfigurable screen in the center of the instrument panel, and creating an OnStar MyLink application that can be downloaded to your smartphone. If you’ve caught the related commercial on television, you might already know the app makes it possible to start the car, unlock the doors, and control the charging of the Volt from a remote location.

Though already very well-equipped, there are a few features available to buyers who want a little extra. For them, Chevy has developed options like the Premium Trim Package, which adds leather upholstery and heated front seats, and a Rear Camera and Park Assist Package.

As noted above, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt is not simply another hybrid. Those vehicles use battery-powered electric motors to supplement the primary powertrain component: a gasoline engine. By contrast, the Volt’s front wheels are always being spurred on by a 149-horsepower electric motor that draws energy from a substantial lithium-ion battery system located under the passenger cabin. Regenerative braking helps in the recharging effort, but it cannot do the job alone. That’s why an 84-horsepower, 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine (or what Chevy refers to as a generator) that runs on premium-grade petrol is also aboard. The gas engine rarely powers the Volt wheels directly. The vast majority of the time, it serves only to recharge the battery pack, which then powers the wheels. Also, there is no traditional automatic transmission. Instead, what you have is more akin to the simple forward and reverse setup of an electric golf cart.

According to the EPA, drivers can expect to average 95 mpg in the city and 90 mpg on the highway when running on electric power. Once the batteries have been depleted and the gas engine kicks in to continually recharge the battery pack, those ratings drop to 35 mpg and 40 mpg, respectively. Using the provided plug-in cable, you’ll be able to fully charge the Volt in about 10 hours using a 120-volt outlet, or roughly four hours with a 240-volt outlet.

While it is certainly unique, the Volt is still considered a passenger car, meaning it must meet the same safety standards as your run-of-the-mill Ford Focus or Honda Accord. Consequently, the Volt was subjected to crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), earning 5 out of 5 Stars for overall performance and for side-impact and rollover protection. Front-impact protection earned 4 Stars.

The non-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) executed its own tests, which led to the 2011 Volt being named one of that organization’s Top Safety Picks. Much of the credit belongs to the car’s structural design, but standard features like four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, electronic stability control, and a collection of seven airbags can prove to be lifesavers, as well.

In terms of reliability, the verdict is still out. As of this writing, Consumer Reports has not published a prediction, due in part to the Volt’s “new” status but, more than likely, its bounty of technology that has only recently been put into the hands of daily drivers. However, J.D. Power and Associates predicts average dependability from the Volt.

It was late spring in New England when we got our hands on a 2011 Chevrolet Volt for a full week of testing. Chevy hooked us up with a base model carrying a sticker price of $41,000, which included destination charges but did not reflect an available $7,500 federal tax credit.

After a quick walk-around, we found ourselves sitting in the Volt’s driver’s seat, taking in all that is Chevrolet’s new halo car. What we discovered was an interior decorated in a mix of soft-touch, padded surfaces and hard plastics, the latter including a bright cover on the instrument panel. This part, like others scattered throughout the cabin, feels cheap and out of place in a car in this price range, electric or not. More impressive are the primary dials, characterized by a fluid, refined motion. Most of the controls, such as those for the climate and audio systems, require only a light tap to activate but the small script is hard to read most any time of day. Furthermore, the somewhat scattered layout takes some getting used to. Point your eyes a bit lower and you’ll see a bright blue start/stop button, as well as a tab connected to a dash-top touch-screen that displays power usage, battery charge, and current efficiency based on driving style and climate-control settings.

All of those features are within easy reach of the driver, whose comfort is addressed by a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, a center armrest, and a supportive bucket seat with a manual height adjustment. Though billed primarily as a super-efficient city car, circumstances dictated that we use the Volt as a long-distance highway cruiser. Over the course of hundreds of miles, Chevy’s plug-in four-door proved plenty comfortable, due in part to the supportive seats and the relaxed atmosphere created by the quiet cabin. The rear seats are shaped much like the front buckets, and, due to the layout of the battery under the car, there is a tall center hump that prevents the use of a three-passenger bench. Unfortunately, folks who plant their butts back there won’t have an armrest to enjoy, nor will they benefit from a great deal of leg or head room.

From a performance perspective, the 2011 Volt delivers decent off-the-line response thanks to the generous torque that comes from the car’s electric motors. We’re not talking adrenaline-pumping levels of giddyup, but acceleration is certainly acceptable, and even sufficient to chirp the tires under certain conditions. Drivers can select between three power settings – Normal, Sport and Mountain – with Sport delivering the quickest response when the accelerator pedal is planted against the floorboard. At times like that you’ll likely notice that the powertrain lacks the noticeable shifts of a traditional automatic transmission or the high-revving cacophony associated with CVTs. Instead, the Volt just whirs. However, once the battery’s power is depleted, there’s a seamless transition to the gas engine, which operates at a constant rpm and serves as generator that recharges the system.

With the climate-control system being used almost constantly, we averaged about 30 mpg in primarily highway driving, and recorded just over 46 mpg over the course of a week and hundreds of miles. Whether fully discharged or not, each night we plugged the Volt into a 120-volt household outlet and left it to amp up until we needed to drive it again the next day.

And, it was during those times behind the wheel when we developed an appreciation for the Volt’s handling capabilities. We’re inclined to believe that test drivers will find the chassis to provide a more sporting experience than expected, one that’s definitely a step up from the uninspiring Toyota Prius. Because of the location of the battery, and the resulting low center of gravity, Chevy’s plug-in four-door is able to tackle some gradual highway sweepers at a quick clip and without a significant amount of body roll. Those folks who stick closer to home will likely enjoy the quiet ride and refined chassis that soaks up bumps with ease.

Kudos to Chevy for building what largely looks, feels and drives like a regular four-passenger sedan, albeit one that accommodates up to four passengers instead of five. In contrast to early hybrids and some of today’s models featuring alternative powertrains, the 2011 Volt appears almost sporty, and the interior’s level of refinement is commendable, if not luxury-grade. But most importantly, this Chevrolet plants the seed for what could eventually be the widespread adoption of plug-in vehicles, doing so with a reasonable electric-only range for daily commuting and an extended range comparable to many traditional sedans.

By Thom Blackett