| Model year | 2011 |
| Make | Chevrolet |
| Model | Volt |
| Style | 4dr hatchback |
| Base MSRP | $41,000 |
| Options on test vehicle | Premium Trim Package ($1,395 -- includes leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, door trim); Back-Up Camera and Parking Alerts ($695); Polished Wheels ($595). |
| As-tested MSRP | $43,685 |
| Drive type | Front-wheel Drive |
| Engine type | Naturally aspirated, port-injected, inline-4, gasoline |
| Displacement (cc/cu-in) | 1,398/85.3 |
| Block/head material | Iron/aluminum |
| Valvetrain | DOHC, four valves per cylinder, variable intake + exhaust-valve timing |
| Compression ratio (x:1) | 10.5 |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm) | 84 @ 4,800 |
| Fuel type | 91 octane (required) |
| Transmission type | Direct drive planetary gearset variable automatic with console shifter |
| Suspension, front | Independent MacPherson struts, coil springs, twin-tube dampers, lower control arms, stabilizer bar |
| Suspension, rear | Semi-independent twist beam-axle, coil springs, twin-tube dampers, stabilizer bar |
| Steering type | Electric-assist, variable-ratio, rack-and-pinion steering |
| Steering ratio (x:1) | 15.4 |
| Tire brand | Goodyear |
| Tire model | Assurance |
| Tire type | All-season, low rolling resistance (35 psi cold front and rear) |
| Tire size, front | P215/55R17 93H |
| Tire size, rear | P215/55R17 93H |
| Wheel size | 17-by-7 inches front and rear |
| Wheel material | Forged aluminum |
| Brakes, front | 11.8-inch one-piece ventilated cast-iron discs with single-piston sliding calipers |
| Brakes, rear | 11.5-inch one-piece ventilated cast-iron discs with single-piston sliding calipers |
| Acceleration, 0-30 mph (sec.) | 3.4 (electric-only operation); 3.6 (with gas engine assisting) |
| 0-45 mph (sec.) | 5.8 (electric-only operation); 5.8 (with gas engine assisting) |
| 0-60 mph (sec.) | 9.2 (electric-only operation); 9.0 (with gas engine assisting) |
| 0-75 mph (sec.) | 14.1 (electric-only operation); 13.2 (with gas engine assisting) |
| 1/4-mile (sec. @ mph) | 16.8 @ 81.5 (electric-only operation); 16.6 @ 85.5 (with gas engine assisting) |
| 0-60 with 1 foot of rollout (sec.) | 8.8 (electric-only operation); 8.6 (with gas engine assisting) |
| Braking, 30-0 mph (ft.) | 31 |
| 60-0 mph (ft.) | 124 |
| Slalom, 6 x 100 ft. (mph) | 60.2 |
| Skid pad, 200-ft. diameter (lateral g) | 0.77 |
| Sound level @ idle (dB) | 27.0 (electric-only operation); 48.5 (with gas engine assisting) |
| @ Full throttle (dB) | 54.0 (electric-only operation); 78.2 (with gas engine assisting) |
| @ 70 mph cruise (dB) | 67.4 (electric-only operation); 73.7 (with gas engine assisting) |
| Acceleration comments | "Electric-only operation: Exceptionally quiet with just a little bit of motor whine, but mostly just winid noise. Very linear acceleration; no shifting, obviously. |
| Braking comments | Consistent stopping distances, negligible fade, firm pedal, but some rear end wiggle and wander. Pronounced dive. |
| Handling comments | Skid pad: Stability control is non-defeatable. Very little if any brake corrections. Rather it just hits a wall of understeer. Steering is light and vague. Slalom: Prefers less is more with as little steering input as possible. Steering is responsive but feels vague. If stability control does begin to intervene, then the run is no good. |
| Elevation (ft.) | 1,121 |
| EPA fuel economy (mpg) | NA |
| Edmunds observed (mpg) | 31.4 mpg and 39.0 kWh/100 miles |
| Fuel tank capacity (U.S. gal.) | 9.3 |
| Curb weight, mfr. claim (lbs.) | 3,781 |
| Curb weight, as tested (lbs.) | 3,742 |
| Weight distribution, as tested, f/r (%) | 61.4/38.6 |
| Length (in.) | 177.4 |
| Width (in.) | 70.8 |
| Height (in.) | 56.3 |
| Wheelbase (in.) | 105.7 |
| Track, front (in.) | 61.2 |
| Track, rear (in.) | 62.1 |
| Turning circle (ft.) | 36.0 |
| Legroom, front (in.) | 42.0 |
| Legroom, rear (in.) | 34.1 |
| Headroom, front (in.) | 37.8 |
| Headroom, rear (in.) | 36.0 |
| Shoulder room, front (in.) | 56.5 |
| Shoulder room, rear (in.) | 53.9 |
| Seating capacity | 4 |
| Cargo volume (cu-ft) | 10.6 |
| Bumper-to-bumper | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain | 5 years/100,000 miles |
| Corrosion | 6 years/100,000 miles |
| Roadside assistance | 5 years/100,000 miles |
| Front airbags | Standard |
| Side airbags | Standard |
| Head airbags | Standard |
| Antilock brakes | Standard |
| Traction control | Standard |
| Stability control | Standard |
| Tire-pressure monitoring system | Standard |
| Emergency assistance system | Optional |
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