2018 Chevrolet Volt Review
Pros & Cons
- More all-electric range than most plug-in hybrids
- Plenty of advanced tech and safety features are available
- Nimble and easy to drive in the city
- Rear seat and luggage area aren't as roomy as some rivals'
- Interior material quality is disappointing
- Tricky parking since the car's nose is hard to see
Other years
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Which Volt does Edmunds recommend?
Picking a Volt won't be a laborious decision since there are only two trim levels to choose from. We'd likely go with the Premier. That decision is largely based on the small differences in options availability since the two trim levels have identical powertrains. The LT is well-equipped and even gets some additional access to optional safety equipment for 2018, but the Premier has access to options such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation and lane departure intervention.
Edmunds' Expert Review
Driving
8.5Considering the Volt's eco-friendly mission and its thriftiness on fuel, it performs admirably. The Volt feels willing and able in just about every situation, and it's one of the smoothest-driving plug-in hybrid vehicles out there.
Comfort
7.5The Volt is certainly quiet, and the ride is smooth most of the time. The suspension doesn't always maintain its composure on the worst roads, though. The seats are generally well-shaped for most, but they have a few limitations that prevent them from being universally loved.
Interior
7.0The Volt's interior is far more useful than before. It's a lot like a regular car interior, and you can seat up to five now (in theory). But some rival plug-in hybrids are roomier and have better visibility.
Utility
8.0The Volt's luggage area doesn't hold a whole lot, but the hatchback design makes the most of it. For everyday driving, the Volt should work out fine. But some rival plug-in vehicles are a bit more utilitarian.
Technology
You would expect that a car as advanced as the Volt would have the latest suite of in-car tech, and Chevy delivers. The touchscreen interface is easy to use, and most driver safety aids are either standard or optional.
Scorecard
| Overall | 8.0 / 10 |
| Driving | 8.5 |
| Comfort | 7.5 |
| Interior | 7.0 |
| Utility | 8.0 |
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2018 Chevrolet Volt.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Murph,04/14/2018
LT 4dr Hatchback (gas/electric hybrid DD)
I'm a super analytical person, almost to a fault because I'm a bit obsessive too. So after reading countless reviews, articles and doing side by side comparisons using Edmunds and other sites, the Chevy Volt kept coming up as the best choice for myself as a daily commuter. Well all the research paid off because my 2018 Volt which is the 9th new car I've purchased in my life and it is my favorite. For my test drives, I drove a couple Volt Premiers along with a few Volt LTs all of which had the comfort package with heated seats and steering wheel and one LT had leather seat option added. The Premiers were more comfortable and had very nice additional safety and convenience features so it really came down to were they worth the extra money which I concluded were not in my case so I purchased a red LT with the comfort package and heated seat/steering wheel. It's only been a couple months but in that short time I have to say I'm so impressed with this little car; the GM design team should be proud of their effort. DRIVING IMPRESSION: The ride of the Volt is so smooth you forget that you are in a small car. Were I live in Northern NY, there are a lot of potholes but driving over the rough roads I'm familiar with I'm amazed at how well the suspension is tuned and that's compared to my other vehicle which is a 2015 GMC Terrain. ACCELERATION: Off the line, the strong low end torque spins the tires regardless of how well the tires are gripping the road. Yes some of the easy spin is due to the low resistance rating of the tires chosen which were to maximize mileage but still the acceleration will push you back in your seat. At higher speeds there still is enough torque to pass easily but as the 149 HP rating would suggest, the torque does fall off quite a bit at higher speeds. COMFORT: Back support in the front seats are good but I wish there was adjustable lumbar support, seat bottom support SUCKS no other way to say it. I do have cloth seats and a now regret I didn't get leather because the leather smooths out the pressure points on the edges both sides and front better than the cloth seats. Armrest are comfortable for myself and I love the wide center armrest which is impressive for a small vehicle. CONTROLS: The Mylink system and touch screen are easy to use and very functional. It is so cool to watch the energy flow to maximize mileage. Apple CarPlay is also a great feature which I use a lot for navigation and hands free texting while on the road. There is also a convenience tray next to the stick shift to put my IPhone so I can plug in for the CarPlay (I.e., doesn't operate with Bluetooth.) WINTER DRIVING: I did have several opportunities to drive in the snow and I'm pleased with how well the Volt handles but next winter I will have snow tires because the low ground clearance will likely mean quite a bit of snow drag which will require a tire with more aggressive treads. Cold temperatures kick on the engine for heat which is kind of annoying. There is a selection to 'Defer' the engine heat assist which will keep it from turning on till below 15F but that still happens often in Northern NY although the ICE does shut off after a short period of time. INTERIOR SOUND: The Volt is amazingly quiet inside even when the ICE does comes on. I have the standard stereo which is pretty good once you adjust the tone a bit for more bass and midrange. It is such a joy driving around listening to music since the interior acoustics are so nice. BACK SEATS: Seats are fairly comfortable with a big wide armrest in the center but head room is low for taller folks. It also takes a bit of ducking to get into the back which isn't a problem for my 15 year old 5'7" son but could be more difficult for older and taller folks. CARGO SPACE: The Volt holds about two grocery carts worth of bags or a couple medium size suitcases; overall not huge but actually quite convenient for daily use. With back seats down, the Volt will hold a few large storage bins. HANDLING: The low center of balance of the Volt due to the battery placement make this vehicle feel planted to the road. I haven't done any high speed turns but for speeds below 40 mph the Volt hugs the road. In my town, we have a traffic circle that is quite tight and the Volt carves around that tight curve like it was on rails. OVERALL: The Volt is so much fun to drive and really is pretty comfortable and practical as a daily commuter when considering operating costs. Crash tests have shown the Volt to be the only American made vehicle that is 5 star rated across the board. And, with the $7500 federal tax rebate the Volt is a great deal.
Joe Kuprevich,04/20/2018
Premier 4dr Hatchback (gas/electric hybrid DD)
After driving the car for a year with 4 long distance (1200+ miles) drives, while as a retirement car mostly local. I found it an excellent choice. The car is not for highway use on the battery, but can be switched off with mode control. The small battery drains quickly. Having the built-in generator for running in hybrid mode allowed me to make these long distance trips without having to plan overnight charging stops, while at home all my drives were well within the charge limit of the battery. The acceleration in Sports mode is unbelievable the first time you floor the pedal, along with handling on windy roads makes it feel like a true sports car. Styling both in and out also gives it the sporty look compared to other plug-in's or even full electric at this price point. After putting 13K miles on the car it's still feels brand new and dead quiet inside which is surprising for a small hatchback after running on New England roads all winter. There is essentially no wear on the brakes, since I use the regenerative braking all the time. Another plus for electric cars. I can't believe Chevy doesn't advertise this car with nothing being mentioned on any common media outlet. With the full rebates of $10K in my state this was not a burden at @$34K for what I got in the fully loaded model. Very happy there. The areas not really mentioned that I learned over the New England winter months is the lack of charge. Your charge is basically cut in half and below 32 degrees the generator will run for long periods of time to keep the batteries warm. Winter months averaged 32 miles on battery while in the summer I got up to 67 miles on a charge. The seat comfort for the long trips I made were better then all my past SUV's and sedans over the years. Extremely happy with the front and back leg room even when the front seats are pushed fully back. A full electric car is perfect only when the family also has a gas car for those long trips which makes the Volt a perfect fit, since I only have one car. The Volt is an under advertised beauty of an over engineered quality car for those that fit the criteria for a small 4 passenger hatchback.
VKS,04/24/2018
Premier 4dr Hatchback (gas/electric hybrid DD)
The Volt has met my fuel efficiency expectations and then some. I'm getting 50-mile electric range on the freeway and 60-mile electric range in the city. My records are a 67-mile electric range with heavy use of the paddles and 66-mile electric range using adaptive cruise control. I am braking only when I need to stop fast. All slowing and slower stopping can be done using the paddles, which are the more efficient regeneration option to the regenerative braking. So far, I have used a total of 0.7 gallons in the 1100 miles I have driven the car since I bought it. The ergonomics is adequate for my 6-ft 190-lb body. The electronics is the best I have seen in any car. The Volt is bottom heavy and very stable. The acceleration of the two electric motors is fast. The ride is comforting. Will definitely buy again without any hesitation. My advice for all potential buyers is to get the adaptive cruise control package. The Volt drives itself at a fixed speed or a fixed distance from the vehicle ahead, the driver's only functions being the steering, braking for lights or stop signs when there is no vehicle ahead and tapping the accelerator pedal for a restart when the car has come to a complete stop. The adaptive cruise control does the rest. It is an absolute must for me now. I will never buy or rent a car without it.
Pat Jordan,10/16/2017
Premier 4dr Hatchback (gas/electric hybrid DD)
To me the Volt is unique among pure electric and hybrid automobiles. It allows you to drive in the electric mode for fifty miles before needing a recharge. That usually covers my everyday driving. However, if you need to go farther, it changes over seamlessly to the gas powered motor to produce energy to run the electric drive motor. This allows you to drive in the electric mode most of the time with no range anxiety. With a full charge and tank of gas it will go almost 400 miles with no need to spend the night or day at a charging station. The premier version has all the bells and whistles that most of new cars have such as blind spot awareness, backup camera, lane keeping, collision avoidance, bluetooth, navigation, Onstar, and heated steering wheel and seats. I would have liked it to have been a little longer, more like a midsize sedan. I am not a big fan of the fastback, which I think makes for poor rear visibility. The rear seats are a little tight to get into but I've had several regular size men say they were comfortable enough. I have really enjoyed driving my Volt. It is quiet and smooth and has great acceleration.
Safety
Our experts like the Volt models:
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Provides audible and visual warnings of moving objects behind you as you're backing out of a parking space. It's standard equipment.
- Forward Collision Alert
- Warns of an impending collision with the vehicle ahead of you. Low-speed automatic braking is also included. Optional on the Volt Premier.
- OnStar
- Includes various safety-related features, including emergency assistance and remote door locking and unlocking.
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