2019 Chevrolet Volt Plug-in Hybrid

There are two trims in the 2019 Chevrolet Volt: the base LT variant, and the upmarket Premier variant. The list of standard features is quite extensive, but that also drives the cost of this compact sedan beyond the segment. Apart from the two trims, there are 6 Package options as well; namely Power Convenience Package, Driver Confidence Package, Comfort Package, Winter/Summer Floor Mats Package, Interior Protection Package, Blackout Package. It's best to have the dealership explain these packages, as some of these features might surely be useful to you.

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Regardless of the trim, the Volt Plug-in hybrid is a very expensive hatchback. Go for the 'LT' if it fits your budget, and for the 'Premier' if you have a few grand lying spare. You may also look for some best deals on used Chevrolet Volt Plug-in hybrid models. 

Hybrid cars have never sported powerful drivetrains, and the 2019 Chevy Volt continues the tradition. With a tiny 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 car can run for 53 miles, not groundbreaking, but enough to make two round trips to your local supermarket.

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 Camry and Honda Accord are mid-size cars, which means they are bigger both inside and outside (bigger engine too), an advantage in their favor.

Acceleration

Expecting performance from a hybrid car used to be like searching for ice 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 which 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, skip the hybrid car segment entirely.

Braking

With regenerative braking 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 transfers braking duties to a 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?

Honda's Insight has the lightest body here, which eases 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 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. These are pretty impressive numbers, and you are bound to save money alongside the Earth. With electric motors driving the car alone, you get 53 miles of range, which is quite a mighty feat!

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

The Chevy Volt is a pretty sober car on the inside, with an extremely practical but dull interior. The front seats are quite spacious, although the rear is quite compromised. There is a lack of creature comforts as well, although the driver gets an eight-way adjustable seat. Continuing with the theme of sobriety, the seats are all soft cloth, and the color scheme is dark.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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 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 car, 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, you should choose one of the latter two instead.