2012 Chevrolet Volt: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

2012 Chevrolet Volt: What Is It?

One of the most politically "charged" (see what we did there?) cars ever made. General Motors describes this compact, 4-door hatchback as an "Extended Range Electric Vehicle." It seems like a typical hybrid in that it has a 4-cylinder gasoline engine and battery-powered electric motor. Where Volt strays from the pack is that the gas engine almost never powers the drive wheels; it acts more like a generator.

Volt can operate solely on battery power for up to 40 miles. After that, the "generator" kicks in to keep the batteries operational. The gas engine is designed to provide an additional 300 miles (or thereabouts) of driving range. Volt can be recharged via a standard household plug (120 volt) in about 10 hours. With a dedicated charging station (240 volt), that time gets reduced to about four hours. 

The production Volt looks nothing like the concept car that debuted at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. Speaking of Detroit, that's where Volt is built, though Chevrolet recently idled that assembly plant due to the car's slow sales.

2012 Chevrolet Volt: What's New

Volt enters its second model year with mostly minor updates to trim, colors, and features. The biggest news is that this car now is available for purchase at dealerships nationwide. Volt's rollout was a gradual one, starting on the west and east coasts, eventually migrating to the Midwest.

Previously standard, a navigation system with voice recognition is now optional. Coming online later in the model year is Chevrolet's MyLink infotainment system.

2012 Chevrolet Volt: Model Lineup, Features, and Options

Volt eschews Chevrolet form by coming in a single Base model. Standard features include automatic climate control, power windows/locks/mirrors, keyless entry/engine start, Bluetooth wireless cell-phone link, and OnStar assistance.

The OnStar system includes a smartphone app that allows owners to monitor vehicle charging and other information.

The optional Premium Package includes leather upholstery and heated front seats. A rearview camera and front- and rear-obstacle detection are part of the Rear Camera and Park Assist Package. As mentioned above, the previously standard navigation system moves to the option sheet; ordering this feature adds a hard drive for storing music files.

A few paint colors cost extra, as do polished aluminum wheels.

2012 Chevrolet Volt: Engines, Transmissions, and Drive Wheels

The front-wheel-drive Volt gets its power from an electric motor. The gas generator is an 84-horsepower 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine. Combined output from both the gas engine and battery is 149 horsepower.

A single-speed transmission helps get that power to the ground.

2012 Chevrolet Volt: Fuel Economy

The EPA uses a "miles per gallon equivalent" when evaluating plug-in electric cars. Volt's rating in this category is 95 mpg city/93 mpg highway. Since the car has a gasoline engine that can provide power, the EPA rates it separately at 35 city/40 highway.

Chevrolet recommends premium-grade gasoline.

2012 Chevrolet Volt: Safety Features

The 2012 Chevrolet Volt has a standard complement of expected and federally mandated safety features. Front- and rear-obstacle detection are optional.