So how did it fare? In the first case, this plug-in hybrid pleasantly surprised me, with a fuel consumption of around 3.0L/100 km over the course of the week (when mixing urban, semi-urban and highway driving). Our goals in trying out the 2017 Chevrolet Volt during wintertime included evaluating its fuel consumption, the longevity of its battery and its road handling in cold temperatures. Volt buyers, after all, have as their primary objective to save on fuel and spare the environment, not luxuriate in bling. We won’t dwell on these shortcomings, however. Overall it feels like you’re sitting in a $20,000-$25,000 car. The presentation of the dashboard is contemporary on the other hand the finishes, seat comfort and ergonomics fail to impress, particularly with a price point of close to $45,000. The space taken up by the battery eats significantly into the rear trunk cargo space. Otherwise, this hatchbacked compact sedan offers a cabin able to accommodate four adults and their luggage, though not much more. The first generation of the Volt was no pageant-winner in terms of its styling, but its successor is much more attractive, its modern contours bringing it more into line with the better-looking cars currently populating the urban environment. A perfect way to test the car’s mettle, especially since for Canadian consumers its ability to handle the winter environment is a particularly relevant issue.

This would provide an opportunity to drive it in all sorts of challenging conditions: snow, rain, ice and extreme temperature variations. The popularity of the Chevrolet Volt has continued to grow month after month in Canada, to the point where it now ranks at the very top of the sales chart in the category of electric vehicles.Ĭognizant of the sustained interest shown by consumers and by eco-conscious motorists for this compact sedan, I carried out a 1,000 km road test of the 2017 Volt over the Christmas holidays.

Chevy volt range in cold weather