The New Chevrolet Volt

A sharpe sleek design is not something you would think an eco green car would have on the other hand the new Chevrolet proves diferent. This clevery thought out aerodynamic, has great economy figures of 235mpg coupled with just 27g per kilometre of CO2 emissions The Volt scores, as on top of its Voltec 140bhp electric drive unit, the Chevrolet also has a range-extending, 86bhp 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Thus removing the anxiety associated with the range of electric cars. The engine also boosts performance and increases the range to more than 300 miles; more than enough for a decent road trip.

Inside, there's certainly nothing to scare Chevrolet owners about the Volt; instead you are greeted with a high-quality wraparound dashboard, multi-function steering wheel and chunky switchgear. Exclusive to the Volt are the two large TFT displays, which are a great way to check consumption levels and how many miles you have left to travel on pure electricity. This Chevrolet has plenty of toys as standard including a DAB radio, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, alloy wheels, a bespoke Bose Energy Efficient Series sound system, DVD video player, 30GB hard-disc storage and voice control for the navigation, telephone and music systems. The large list of standard equipment helps to give the Volt’s cabin a premium feel, as do the pearl white highlights on the doors and dash and the touch-sensitive buttons. It might weigh a rather heafty 1732kg, but the Chevrolet can still get to 60mph in 9.0 seconds and the 99mph top speed is believable. Overall, the Volt could be just the car for buyers who like the idea of a car such as the Nissan Leaf, but are put off by the restrictive range. Chevrolet are mostly aiming at the retail market, but the Volt will attract company car buyers too, with a tax rate much lower than for a conventional petrol model. The £29,995 list price means it won't be in the price range of every buyer, but if you're an urban commuter and can drive the Chevrolet purely on electric power there's no doubt you'll be saving on fuel. You also get an eight-year warranty on the battery which will help with resale and the peace of mind that the Volt scored 5 stars in the Euro NCAP tests.