Chevrolet Volt tops Sierra Club ranking of plug-in hybrids

I'm not really sure where this lack of diversity on GM's part is stemming from. They have quite a few models that are efficient and some are even normal. I think the Cruze, Sonic, Spark, Spark EV and Volt are competitive.

 

Sorry to remind you about the pesky thing called facts.. but the facts don't support your assertions. Early on you were all about sales telling the story, and while I still believe sales are only a part of the story, Volt sales are trashing the Plug in Prius. In fact sales the last few months have large battery BEV > Volt > CMAX Energi(two models combined) > Prius. Bigger batteries are selling better. The PiP is the smaller niche vehicle providing a the better choice for people with a few specific constraints (people that need 5 seats and drive mostly short city trips (USB..) and mostly people like you that choose brand loyalty over overall fuel efficiency and drive performance).

A E-flex CUV was shows as a concept car but so far no word of moving it into production. Given the bath GM took on the two-mode they may be reluctant believe the "SUV" market size is really that significant.

The Volt, like the Prius, has no tow rating.

 

What are the two C-MAX models combined, hybrids & Plug-Ins?

 

Yep, seen one driving around the base a couple of years ago. It did O.K. for a short commuter D. D.

DBCassidy

You chose to ignore the obvious: The Volt is a niche market. What part of Johns' 1701 statement are you confused about?

DBCassidy

 

My bad I mant the two energi's combined (Cmax enrgi 450 and fusion energi 416)

 

There was one for sale on eBay a few months back.

 

PIP have recently replaced a couple of expired leased Volts in my area.

DBCassidy

You got that right!

DBCassidy

Took a Volt out for 2 test drives, was not impressed.

DBCassidy

 

what didn't you like

 

Not dying.....perhaps "getting a little long in the tooth" may be a better way of putting it.
Of course, the Gen IV will up the game.....again. Sweet looking ride:





Or, it could be this:
Toyota reveals NS4 hybrid sedan in Detroit (photos) | Stark Insider

 

Cruze... $20k MSRP... 30 MPG

Volt... $35k MSRP... 150 MPG

Notice that huge difference with nothing in between ?

 

I kinda wish they had a Prius Plug-In to do a head-to-head comparison with the Volt. However, they do have some earlier Prius conversions with similar kWhr capacity:
Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity - Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles/Extended Range Electric Vehicles

Bob Wilson

 

Cramped darn back seat, crappy ICE - GM needs to do a better job with this.

DBCassidy

 

You focus in on a small segment of achievable fuel economy from 35mpg to 50mpg which is generally the realm of hybrids and some turbo diesels. Sure it would be nice if they had a 45mpg+ hybrid but neither does Subaru or Ferrari.....

Is it not a greater crime that Toyota has nothing over 80mpg?

Your rant really has nothing to do with the Volt and that is the point of this thread. Hate GM all you want but let's focus on the Volt.

Jeeze, some of you are as afflicted with fanboyitis as some of the Volt and TDi owners are.

The back seat is indeed cramped. However, we just made a 280 mile trip into the mountains with 3 people, gear and our 65lb dog without a problem. The ICE was sort of annoying in CS mode once I got up into 8,000ft. but so was the Prius ICE in those same conditions.

Under cruising conditions the Prius ICE is much more quiet than the Volt ICE. Road noise in the Prius is higher though. I observed a 2-3db difference in interior road noise at 60mph between the Volt and the PIPA. I used the same exact stretch of highway for testing.

 

What did you like?

 

I most certainly have not. Again, there's nothing offered between the 30-150 MPG (combined) range. It's one extreme or another.

You want something mid-priced from GM that offers a big MPG improvement, you're out of luck. You have no choice but to purchase something from another automaker instead.

In other words, where is the affordable model of Volt? After all, diversification can come from offering a second configuration.

 

The Spark and Cruze are averaging 34-38mpg on Fuelly.

The lower priced version of the Volt is right around the corner. GM has already made official statements regarding the affordability of the next Gen Volt. Furthermore, with incentives the Volt is within the price range of the PIP. Add in the deep dealer discounts and it is actually well below the PIP Base in price. I realize that the rebates and incentives won't last long but they will get us over the hump where the technology matures and becomes much cheaper. We're already seeing this with batteries.

2-3yrs ago we didn't have jack for BEVs, PHEVs and the like. Technology is moving fast so I'll give a manufacture a pass if they don't have something for everyone already.

 

The point is to offer something that sells in high-volume for a profit.

The reason technology moves fast is continuous reminders of that.

Don't lose sight of purpose. Remember the goals.

 

I'm sure a huge part of that is because toyota has chosen to limit (via slow rollout - few states) its market share ... AND refused to use its own/brand new U.S. factory for cheaper production costs . For the life of me I can't figure out why.

 

And how long should we give a new model to do that?

 

The first Prius was a compact sedan that was $5000 more than the similar sized Echo. Going back to when it was first introduced in Japan, it was 7 years before Toyota brought out a larger version that was more practical for a family and more fitting for its price tag.

The Volt has only been on the market for 3 years, and GM intends to bring a lower priced version to market.

You'll just declare that as over promising and under delivering. So you can continue to bitch about them not having something now, while ignoring their conventional fleet is on par mpg with the rest, and that there is a time factor in getting new cars to market.

I believe the PPI would out sell the Volt if nationally rolled out, but that would still be under what Toyota projected/hoped.

I also believe Toyota wants nothing to do with a plug.