CNET's Volt Review

wait, what? for most folks, the hassle of charging it is too much and just getting around 60 mpg by putting gas in it is pretty good? did i miss something?

 

I'm with you, Bisco, did not understand that part, since gas engine was reported as low 30 mpgs in reviews.

 

"Low is like B mode on a Prius...it brings in an aggressive regeneration."

Oy.

 

imagine buying this car and not charging it? might happen for the type of people who would drop forty large.

 

He is still spreading the misconception that the gas engine never turns the wheels but only the generator.

Did he say Volt is very efficient? Not by the EV or the HV standard.

 

60 MPG is the lifetime for 2,200 miles on that Volt's ODO. He got 55 MPG from his 105 miles drive.

The same guy "reviewed" Prius PHV. On the screen, it showed 58.3 MPG after 100.6 miles.

Videos - Free video downloads and streaming video - CNET TV

 

I see what you mean, usb, I didn't make that connection at first...it's still disingenuous given that he could only achieve the 60 mpg with charging, though.

 

Volt got 43.6 miles from the battery. He did not say how many times he charged it though. EPA composite 60 MPGe for the Volt is right on.

I can't wait to find out what Prius PHV will be rated. CNET video shows 70 MPG but we'll see.

Keep in mind that Volt is a 4 seater compact and Prius PHV is a 5 seater midsize. A smaller should be more efficient and less expensive to buy and operate.

 

It is a spiffy looking car, though. The 4-seater deal is a killer on something that expensive.

 

It's weird that CNET would destroy their own credibility. If a PHEV only gets 37mpg ... plus 30ish free EV miles, you only increase the mpg to about 40mpg over each tank full of gas ... presuming you drive long distance. And as stated elsewhere, even driving a $10,000 cheaper Gen II Prius for as short as 70 miles, you end up getting better mileage in the Prius. You REALY need to plan to drive the Volt regularly,for short trips only, in order for it to be practical for you. But if all that, AND premium gas, AND only 4 seats works for some ... more power to ya.

 

Really? you think it looks good? it looks all blocky and dated and "futuristic!!1!" to me. I find it weird how americans rip on the looks of the prius all the time (it just looks like a normal car to me) but all talk about how the volt looks sporty or something.

 

You musta missed my last series of posts on the ugliness of the Prius. LOL.

I think I said it looks like a round cockroach with a sow's nice person and that I was glad that I was spared from looking at the Prius all day long because I was inside it. But then again, shapes from the French and Italians such as the Citroen or some of the Fiats are simply awful.

Truly euro tastes are substantially different than ours here. Take Germans wearing green suit jackets with yellow slacks and multicolor loafers, for example, as opposed to a Yank's blue jeans and ripped tee-shirt and pair of battered running shoes.

The Volt does look kind of cool, but alas the engineering is probably only a fraction of what Yoda has done with the Prius.

 

Toyota tried to sharpen the look in Gen III (3?) with lines and creases which made it even worse.

From behind, the Prius' skinny feet and big nice person certainly doesn't help.

 

Hmm, yeah in europe it's a fairly attractive car. Puts me in mind of current mazdas and the new fiesta and focus.

Volt just looks like a mid 90's (european) civic.....?

 

May see worse/ugly by someones eyes...but Toyota got one of the best result ever for a mass production car: Cd = 0,25.
Funtion over Looks, seems reasonable to me.

My eyes see Function only. And from that point of view, Prius 3Gen is the most beatiful car of the market.

 

The engineering is simply outstanding. The implementation is awesome. The results are fabulous. The aesthetics... well, I'm glad I sit INSIDE the car and don't have to look at it all day.

 

I like the look. I like how you can look closely and see more aero cues.

 

The law of nature shaped the Prius. It has the most aerodynamic shape in the real world, with 50 MPG to back it up.

Toyota test Prius' aerodynamic with the wheels spinning and with the front license plate installed, achieving 0.25 Cd.

Volt has 0.28 Cd which is the same as Lexus CT200h. However, Volt went to the extreme of having ground clearance of only 3".