http://detnews.com/article/20110228/AUTO01/102280401 Consumer Reports: GM's Volt 'doesn't really make a lot of sense' David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau Washington — Consumer Reports offered a harsh initial review of the Chevrolet Volt, questioning whether General Motors Co.'s flagship vehicle makes economic "sense."The extended-range plug-in electric vehicle is on the cover of the April issue — the influential magazine's annual survey of vehicles — but the GM vehicle comes in for criticism. "When you are looking at purely dollars and cents, it doesn't really make a lot of sense. The Volt isn't particularly efficient as an electric vehicle and it's not particularly good as a gas vehicle either in terms of fuel economy," said David Champion, the senior director of Consumer Reports auto testing center at a meeting with reporters here. "This is going to be a tough sell to the average consumer." he magazine said in its testing in Connecticut during a harsh winter, its Volt is getting 25 to 27 miles on electric power alone. GM spokesman Greg Martin noted that it's been an extremely harsh winter — and as a Volt driver he said he's getting 29-33 miles on electric range. But he noted that in more moderate recent weather, the range jumped to 40 miles on electric range or higher. Champion believes a hybrid, such as the Toyota Prius, may make more sense for some trips. "If you drive about 70 miles, a Prius will actually get you more miles per gallon than the Volt does," Champion said. But GM has noted that most Americans can avoid using gasoline for most regular commuting with the Volt, while its gasoline engine can allow the freedom to travel farther, if needed. The magazine has put about 2,500 miles on its Volt. It paid $48,700, including a $5,000 markup by a Chevy dealer. Champion noted the Volt is about twice as expensive as a Prius. He was said the five hour time to recharge the Volt was "annoying" and was also critical of the power of the Volt heating system. "You have seat heaters, which keep your body warm, but your feet get cold and your hands get cold," Champion said.
You bought me a Volt? Aw, you shouldn't have, Denny. I don't think the wiring in my house is up to the task. barfo
I wouldn't buy a Chevy Volt. I already have a Prius, and there'd have to be a compelling reason to buy some electric car with minimal mileage and really long recharge times. Your taxes at work, to bring this POS to market.
I knew we should have let China buy GM. Then we really would have had something to bitch about when it was announced that GM sold more cars in China than it did in the USA last year.
It has been a few years since I drove more than 25 miles in a day in my vehicle. In our family van... yes van =( we drive back and forth to the beach a lot... but around town... 10 miles a day is typical. 48K for that though?! are you kidding me? You can get a Jetta TDI for not much over 20K that gets 42 MPG on the highway. Now way over the life of the car do you save 28K of fuel.
Says the guy who owned a Chevette and liked it. Somehow I'm not taking your views on cars too seriously these days. barfo
Did CR pan it because it does not have a dry cycle? Who reads CR for automotive reviews anyway? Dish washers? Sure. Vaccum Cleaners? You betcha. Cars? Nah. C&D seems to get it just fine: "Is it cheap? New technology never is. Still, the Volt strikes us as the closest in concept to the winning formula of the Prius, albeit with the next generation of propulsion and the whole thing inverted. Nothing else has so successfully incorporated all of the key aspects of Toyota’s golden child—big fuel-economy numbers, a unique name and styling, and enough range and people and cargo space that it can be an only and everyday car. Those traits have enabled the sales of nearly 2 million Priuses worldwide since its 1997 debut. With the possible exception of a fairly cramped back seat and an undersized cargo hold, the Volt checks all the boxes, plus it outdrives the hybrid competition. This is without a doubt the most important new car since the advent of hybrids in the late ’90s, and GM has nailed it. Is this the handing off of the Prius’s very illustrious torch?" http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q4/2011_chevrolet_volt_full_test-road_test
http://green.autoblog.com/2011/03/01/gm-sells-281-chevy-volts-february-nissan-67-leafs/ GM sells just 281 Chevy Volts in February, Nissan only moves 67 Leafs
