2016 Chevrolet Volt Easily Gets 48 EV Miles in the Real World, Consumer Reports Says

Consumer Reports tested one of the earliest production models and had some very interesting things to say.

First the green stuff. Thanks to a much larger battery pack, the new Volt is rated at 53 electric miles by the EPA. Often, these numbers can be misleading, but Consumer Reports says it managed 48 electric miles per charge without trying. That's great news for everybody wanting to do the daily commute without ever using gas.

Thanks to a next-gen 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and the lighter D2 platform (by 250 lbs or 113 kilos), the new Volt is also more efficient once the conventional engine kicks in.

“We listened to our customers,” said Andrew Farah, vehicle chief engineer, “They were very clear when they told us that they wanted more range, and a fun driving experience behind the wheel. We are confident that the 2016 Volt delivers both.”

“Conventional” is a word that describes what they've done with both the interior and exterior of the Volt. While it still doesn't look like a normal car, the 2016 Chevy model may appear toned down, especially when compared to the brand new Toyota Prius.

Inside, they dropped all the new-fangled touch capacitors and used normal buttons. GM's extra-large parts bin means the Volt will look like a combination of the 2016 Opel Astra and the 2016 Cruze, which is no bad thing.

Practicality isn't this car's strong point, as only four people can travel in relative comfort. Two cup holders and a “transmission tunnel” filled with the battery mean the fifth guy will straddle. But nobody buys a car like this expecting crazy amounts of space.