Chevrolet Volt
Named the Best Commuter Car for 2016 by a famous reviewing group (New Car Test Drive), Chevrolet Volt certainly lives up to its newfound popularity. As it’s always the case with the second car generation, all the glitches and bugs from the first are there fixed and taken care of, while still boasting the latest technology. This hatchback can be driven electronically for up to 53 miles, after which it switches to gas for much longer runs. The 2017 Chevrolet Volt comes with adaptive cruise control and a polished crimson color.
The Volt operates on two generators that provide momentum to the front wheels, which are supplied by a lithium-ion battery pack that’s capable of running non-stop for 18.4 kilowatts an hour. Unlike most hybrid cars, the Volt simply does not switch to gas once the throttle is maximized. Instead, it will use up much more energy than intended, and will thus last less than 53 miles without using gas. Another one of Volt’s superb virtues is the enlarged 8.9-gallon fuel tank that can last for 380 miles. Its combustion engine is an internal 1.5-liter four-cylinder that provides up to 101 horsepower. When this power is combined with the motor-generators, it can have up to 149 horsepower, equal to 111 kilowatts. This allows the Volt up to an admirable 294-pound foot of torque, which is comparable to a V8 truck. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in a total of 8 seconds, which beats the Prius by a mile.
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The Volt’s combined estimated fuel economy (EPA rating) equals 42 miles a gallon, which is mythically impressive but completely untested in reality. In theory, as long as the outside temperature is above 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius), the car shouldn’t spend any electric energy besides on the very process of acceleration. Below 32 degrees, it uses up more energy to heat the cabin, and thus quickly switches to gas consumption. Generally speaking, however, this is an outstanding city car, and seeing as it’s one of the best hybrids of today, its affordability can be considered applicable to a casual spender’s wallet – probably the biggest virtue of this innovative vehicle. While the BMW i3 Rex has larger mileage based on consumption, but it has to be fuelled every hour and it costs a whole fortune. This isn’t one of the cheapest cars out there either, but it belongs to a line of very expensive vehicles, that still has a reduced cost when compared with its competition – and this is what earned it this place on our list. Chevrolet Volt encompasses both reliability and affordability that are closed to unprecedented when it comes to modern hybrid cars.
