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Used 2016 Chevrolet Volt Hatchback Consumer Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
47 reviews

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5 out of 5 stars

The Best of All Worlds

Drake, 04/13/2016
2016 Chevrolet Volt Premier 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid DD)
15 of 15 people found this review helpful

I've had my eye on the Volts for years - as an idea, it was extremely compelling, but the execution was (for obvious reasons) very 'first generation'. When Chevy refined the design for the second generation I was cautiously optimistic, and I'm happy to say that it has exceeded my every expectation. No, it is not a car for everyone - the technology that makes the Volt work is still costly, so the price is still a bit higher than more traditional vehicles of a similar size. It's also on the smaller side for a sedan, though not at all uncomfortable for my family (my wife and six-month old in his large carseat fit just fine). You can get EV-only vehicles with longer electric range, of course, and while its performance is respectable, you can get more raw power from some other vehicles within its price range. But while other vehicles may outperform in one area or another, there are none that offer quite the same perfect blend or attention to detail that Chevrolet has executed here. The electric range is more than sufficient for the majority of trips, the charging is easy, and the gas generator (which is seamless and very quiet) is not only fuel efficient but gives it fantastic real-world driving range and none of the 'range anxiety' than you'd get with a typical hybrid or gas-powered car. What's more, while it may not be a performance powerhouse, the car accelerates and brakes well, the handling is enjoyable, and the ride is comfortable. You don't always get all of that in these efficiency-first vehicles, so it's very much appreciated. Being a new father, safety is a huge priority for me, and the Volts are safe vehicles - especially with the addition of the Driver Confidence packages, which add sensors for the usual bevy of warning and assist technologies. But beyond that, LEDs and wraparound lighting give it great visibility for other drivers and the headlamps are nice and bright without being obnoxious. I haven't had a chance to see the IntelliBeam automatic high-beams in action yet, but it's a nice touch and will no doubt prove useful provided it works well. Really though, the attention to detail and extra touches to add value are what seal the deal. There are many options to make the remote start and passive lock/unlock system conform to your needs and preferences, which adds a lot of convenience. You can also adjust the charging to help save more money with location and time-based charging preferences, and you can monitor charging status with the OnStar app. Speaking of OnStar, the three years of the top-level plan included free certainly doesn't hurt the value proposition, adding that much more safety, security, and convenience for no cost. On a less practical but no less appreciated note, everything on the car just seems very carefully and attentively designed, from sportier exterior and easy-to-open-and-close hatch to the subtle ambient lighting (with more pronounced lighting available as an option) to the layout of the dash to the quick and responsive touchscreen to the various sounds the car makes in operation (startup, shutdown, electronic brake, etc). It bears mentioning that my dealer's service department, who are always honest and whom I have a very good relationship with, have nothing but positive things to say about the first generation's reliability and longevity, and the second generation looks to improve upon that formula. It's all just very well-put-together, and with the rebates ($9000 off the one I purchased, after government tax credit and before dealer discount) it is an extremely compelling vehicle in every way that the previous model was, and many more ways that the outgoing design wasn't. This is my fourth car and third new car purchase within the past three years, and far and away the best of the pack.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Amazing technology for the money

Rand, 02/27/2016
2016 Chevrolet Volt Premier 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid DD)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful

i have wanted an electric vehicle for several years since I installed solar panels that could offset the cost of gasoline and to reduce pollution. I looked at the leaf and even tesla(way too expensive). The other EVs keep you tethered to a charging station for out of town trips. The second gen Chevy Volt finally had the electric range plus the gas engine backup for long distance travel, I needed so I took the plunge. With the tax credit and dealer discounts my fully loaded premier with both safety/confidence packages ended up costing $26,500 before tax and license. This car has the smoothest ride and is the most fun to drive I've ever had. It gets 55 miles on a full electric charge and should go up on warmer weather. I'm also seeing almost 50 mpg on gas but haven't used much yet. The safety packages are worth it and have helped miss several potential accidents. It's very comfortable in the front and I'm 5' 11". The back is comfortable too but tight if you are tall but we usually only have two in the car. Plugging in using the 110 power cord works for me as I don't mind the overnight charging. Using the brake paddle on the steering wheel I can drive mostly with just one pedal. The infotainment and navigation work better than I expected and the touchscreen reminds me of my iPad in how well it responds. Cargo space is decently sized for a compact car. Great design and features at a price that rivals mostly inferior competitors. The quality of the build seems above average and is great entry into the electric car market with no worries about range.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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4 out of 5 stars

RIP combustion engine

Alex, 04/05/2016
2016 Chevrolet Volt Premier 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid DD)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful

I switched from BMW 328 to this car and never looked back! The concept of a plug-in hybrid car is absolutely a great idea. And Volt 2016 is an excellent implementation of this car category. When it runs on EV mode (for about 40+ miles), you get a fantastic feeling of speed and serenity. When it switches to hybrid, it drives just like ordinary car. My last gasoline fill-up was 1500 miles earlier. I use ordinary 110/120 outlet to charge it. Since my commute does not deplete the battery completely, I get a full overnight charge. But if the battery is completely empty, it takes about 10+ hours to charge on 110/120 volts outlet. I have a higher level trip so the car comes with all sort of electronics. All around sensors and backup camera work perfect. The acceleration is pretty good (but not at Tesla level), however it does give you a good sensation of high electric engine torque. Coming from BMW, this was one of the important selling points for me. I don’t have quality problem so far. I cannot judge this aspect of the car yet. But I assume since the combustion engine rarely kicks in, at least in the engine department, it should be trouble free. My wish list for improving the car includes rear window wipers, better visibility through A pillar (a major design oversight) and electric seat adjustment.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

I'm 47 years old and this is my 77th car! Crazy!

David Marks, 12/24/2015
2016 Chevrolet Volt LT 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid DD)
38 of 41 people found this review helpful

Yes. The title of the review is true. I'm 47 years old and I have had 77 cars. My wife thinks I'm crazy but I just love cars. I usually buy cars with great resale value and have been able to finance at very low rates over the last 10 years. Usually after a few years I owe less than what the car is worth so I can easily get a new car and keep my payment the same. I have had a ton of Hondas and Acuras over the years an I worked for Acura for a few years so I have been biased towards those brands. Mazda and Nissan are also very high on my preference list. I owned domestic vehicles back in the 80's( Mainly GM products) Actually never owned a domestic vehicle that was not GM. From 1990 to 2015 I drove mostly Japanese import cars. They were reliable , they had good resale and they got good gas mileage. Well about a month ago that all changed and I bought a 2016 newly designed Chevy Volt. I am one of the first people in our area to drive one and I think I am one of the first to write a review. This is actually the first review I have ever written but I am extremely excited about the car and I wanted to send this in. I bought the LT model with leather and heated seats. After the $7500 tax rebate my car payment is about the same as the car I traded in( 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek) My payment is about $390 a month or $13 a day. I used to spend about $8 a day on gas($2400 year) Since I got the Volt I have spent less than $30 on gas. It only costs $15 to fill it up too. I think I am going to save $200 a month on gas plus the annoyance of just going to the gas station. So yes, the car is very economical but that is just the beginning. The car is really fast compared to cars I have had before.( No, not as fast as the Tesla which I drove as well) Zero to 60 is impressive with the Volt but zero to 30 is even more impressive. The car is so much fun to drive and handles beautifully. It is definitely the quietest cat I ever had. I snore louder than this car. The Volt is super sharp too but not snobby. It is a fresh design inside and out and has every option you can ever want. I love Hondas because of their ergonomics but the Chevy Volt was built to fit the likes of the driver. Some cars are just built and then you must adjust to the car. The Volt feels right from the very first mile. I love driving the Volt and actually look for reasons to go out and drive it. I have not had a car that felt cool in a while. I did not think you could be cool and practical at the same time. I think GM has a real winner with this car and I was even thinking of investing in GM stock. A good friend of mine always would poke fun of me for not driving a car made in america. I called him the other day to tell him that I was driving a 2016 Chevy Volt and he was excited for me and a little envious. He wanted to buy one to but has a minivan instead because he has a big family. Ok I know it has only been a month or so but I am beyond impressed and I am looking forward to keeping this car for a while. I love the fact that I hardly ever need to put gas in the car and I also love the fact that I do not have range anxiety like on other plug in cars. After the first 50 or so miles the gas engine kicks in and I can go over 350 more miles. A lot of my friends thought I would get to 100 cars by the time I am 70. I think the Chevy Volt might put the breaks on all my car buying. It will be hard to find a comparable replacement .

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

The First Volt was Great, the 2016 is Excellent.

Pat McSwain, 05/04/2016
updated 11/28/2016
2016 Chevrolet Volt LT 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid DD)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful

The new Volt is improved in virtually all aspects over a car that was the best small hybrid to start with. Longer EV range, bigger charger, more powerful, quieter, better handling. Nearly all the quirks of the our 2013 Volt were improved on. The 2016 is a 100% new car. I would argue it's the world's finest "green" car at any price. I simply can't think of another green car with the right balance of price, features, performance, cargo, etc. Update: We liked our first two Volts so much, we now have 3. We added a 2017 with all the advanced safety features and Adaptive Cruise Control. Everybody loves it.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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