Chevy Volt: More First Impressions

“Compared with the Cruze, I actually thought the Volt handled better and absorbed bumps and inconsistencies better, probably due to the weight. In the city, the instant acceleration is actually really helpful in traffic situations. Normally, for a small car like that, everyone expects to be able to cut it off — not the case here. I did have some serious qualms with visibility, especially since I just came out of the Cruze, which had good visibility. The big front and rear pillars blocked my view, and the rear hatch view is not great. The side-view mirrors are placed too far forward on the body in relation to the cabin, or are too small to get the greatest view.”
Colin Bird, editor

“Besides the fact that it felt so solid, heavy and quiet I was just blown away that I made it home after a 23-mile commute without using a drop of gas. Well, that’s not true; the engine kicked on because of the cold for a mile or two, but STILL, it felt like the future to me. Plugging it into an outlet in my garage then made me feel like George Jetson.”
David Thomas, senior editor

“The Chevrolet Volt may be designed for the eco-conscious driver, but it also has something for enthusiast-minded ones, too. The combination of quick-reacting steering and good cornering balance give the Volt an unexpected nimbleness. Now if only Chevy could do something about the poor brake-pedal feel, a significant shortcoming in an otherwise-refined car.”
Mike Hanley, editor

“It was a little intimidating jumping in the Volt for the first time. Everything seemed so intensified; the acceleration was instantaneous, the brakes had a strange feel, and there was that eerie motor whine. All the while I was in downtown L.A. and had no clue where I was going. After about 15 minutes, driving the car became second nature, and I came to appreciate the lack of noise and, of course, the mileage.”
Eric Rossi, senior editor, multimedia