2017 Chevrolet Volt Pros and Cons at TrueDelta: Love the Volt's drivetrain technology! by Cabernetnw

Fuel economy

I bought the Volt because it meets my stringent requirements: It must run on electric only until the battery depletes, but it must also allow me to drive the 300 miles round trip to pick up my wine in Central Washington without requiring a wait to recharge. If I drive less than 55 miles per day, I can use zero gas, which happens 80% of my drives. Just shy of 5000 miles now, and I've used 20 gallons of gas and just over $100 of electricity. It's not so much the lower fuel expense for me (but it's nice to have), it's more the reduction of emissions especially in the water-power Pacific Northwest region.

Handling

With the low-mounted battery packs, the Volt holds turns surprisingly well.

Quietness

In electric mode, the lack of engine noise is an unexpected benefit.

Reliability & durability

Oil pan gasket failure in the first 2000 miles. Dealer required 3 visits to diagnose and repair, with two full days of down time, for a 45 minute repair. There are so few certified Volt techs that repairs are scheduled out more than a week ahead.

Materials & workmanship

Minor inconsistencies in the finish paint. More annoyance than embarrassment. To Chevy's credit, when I completed the new car buyer's online satisfaction survey and mentioned the paint, I received a call from a very professional customer satisfaction rep within 5 days. I declined any warranty work on the paint job; don't want to invite future paint failures due to aftermarket paint touchups. Love the touch screen controls and optional leather seats, but the rest of the features and materials are pretty basic. Trunk cover is cloth with elastic hooks, no garage door opener, no rear window wiper, etc. Little things like that.

Driving position & visibility

I guess I wasnt ready for the small sports car interior after having driven SUVs for the past 25 years. Seat is comfortable and space is tighter than before--which is expected. Back seat space is tight but can fit 4 people OK. Visibility out the rear is limited due to hatch design but backup camera helps when backing up.

I invested in Chevy's EV technology to support the research into future fossil fuel-free transportation. Six months into ownership, I'm very happy with my choice.