MM Condensed Review: 2011 Chevrolet Volt
05-20-11, 09:17 AM
#16
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Just poorly done car based on poor decisions that were done not on engineering but on marketing.
05-20-11, 09:19 AM
#17
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
But I don't find it a handsome car at all, except for the classic front grille-bar and gold Chevy bow-tie emblem.
05-20-11, 09:57 AM
#18
Well, we'll see, when the new Extended-Range Prius debuts and what the final EPA numbers are for it.
I'll agree with the marketing/pricing part of it, but I also think that some poor design decisions were made, especially in the dash/interior...the white center-dash stack/tunnel, overley-complex videos, and hard-to-read buttons are ridiculous.
I'll agree with the marketing/pricing part of it, but I also think that some poor design decisions were made, especially in the dash/interior...the white center-dash stack/tunnel, overley-complex videos, and hard-to-read buttons are ridiculous.
Btw, to the emissions, this is what I meant:
Here is the emission comparison between PHV Prius and the Volt.
Carbon Monoxide:
Exhaust Emission:
Evaporative Emission:
Source 1 - Volt CARB emission
Source 2 - Prius PHV CARB emission
Carbon Monoxide:
Exhaust Emission:
Evaporative Emission:
Source 1 - Volt CARB emission
Source 2 - Prius PHV CARB emission
05-20-11, 10:02 AM
#19
Quote:
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has recently added the following vehicle models to the eligibility list:
2011 Nissan Leaf
2011 Toyota Prius
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles will begin issuing stickers for the Toyota Prius on December 1, 2010. The NYSDMV will begin issuing stickers for the Nissan Leaf shortly after vehicle deliveries begin in mid-December.
Please note that the 2011 Honda Civic hybrid does not meet the fuel economy requirements of the program and therefore does not qualify. In addition, the 2011 Chevy Volt does not meet the emissions requirement and does not qualify.
Clean Pass is an innovative program that will allow eligible low-emission, energy-efficient vehicles to use the 40-mile Long Island Expressway High Occupancy Vehicle (LIE/HOV) lanes beginning March 1, 2006, regardless of the number of occupants in the vehicle. The program will result in an estimated reduction of 6,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions and savings in excess of 500,000 gallons of gasoline.
Source
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has recently added the following vehicle models to the eligibility list:
2011 Nissan Leaf
2011 Toyota Prius
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles will begin issuing stickers for the Toyota Prius on December 1, 2010. The NYSDMV will begin issuing stickers for the Nissan Leaf shortly after vehicle deliveries begin in mid-December.
Please note that the 2011 Honda Civic hybrid does not meet the fuel economy requirements of the program and therefore does not qualify. In addition, the 2011 Chevy Volt does not meet the emissions requirement and does not qualify.
Clean Pass is an innovative program that will allow eligible low-emission, energy-efficient vehicles to use the 40-mile Long Island Expressway High Occupancy Vehicle (LIE/HOV) lanes beginning March 1, 2006, regardless of the number of occupants in the vehicle. The program will result in an estimated reduction of 6,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions and savings in excess of 500,000 gallons of gasoline.
Source
https://www.nysdot.gov/programs/clean-pass
05-21-11, 10:15 AM
#22
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Next planned reviews:
2011 Nissan Leaf
2012 Subaru Impreza
2012 Ford Escape
The new Escape and Impreza have not been yet released, and the Leaf may be difficult or impossible, as it is only being ordered on-line now. If I can't do a full-refiew of it on the road, I may do a static one. I'll attend the promotional Nissan Leaf driving-event if they have one locally.
2011 Nissan Leaf
2012 Subaru Impreza
2012 Ford Escape
The new Escape and Impreza have not been yet released, and the Leaf may be difficult or impossible, as it is only being ordered on-line now. If I can't do a full-refiew of it on the road, I may do a static one. I'll attend the promotional Nissan Leaf driving-event if they have one locally.
05-21-11, 10:33 AM
#23
Lexus Fanatic
Overpriced? definitely. Overrated? Maybe, maybe not. This car can go a heck of a long way without any gas at all, even without a plug-in recharge. It will definitely stretch your gas dollar. Problem is, it costs so much that, for the price, you can buy a LOT of gas for a cheaper, more conventional compact.
05-21-11, 11:06 AM
#24
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I agree. Can't you buy almost 2 prius for the price of one loaded Volt with the added dealer mark up. Almost I think. I saw a guy with a black prius with a set of after market black wheels on it. It looked really cool and its still a green car. Not bad. I think I would rather that
To be fair, though (and I'm a firm believer in giving both sides of the story), the Volt, for that 40K+ price, DOES give you one thing that no other hybrid in the American market can do right now...travel up to 40 miles on no gasoline at all, and not require plug-in recharging like the all-electric Nissan Leaf. That is not possible with any other American-market hybrid....even the current Prius.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-21-11 at 11:12 AM.
05-21-11, 07:34 PM
#26
There is no excluse for poor engineering that was decided by marketing and not engineers. I blame idiot Lutz who probably decided that it should be like Prius just because.
At the end, it turned out to be parallel hybrid anyway because it was only way to make the car work. And nobody cares? Why would they care?
I would much prefer to have Prius copy-cat that got 30% better MPG on gas. Whats the downside? Lutz's drinking buddies would tease him about copying Toyota?
05-21-11, 09:04 PM
#28
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Agreed. One of the things I mentioned in the closing remarks of the review was that I thought the Volt's price-tag could be better-spent for a CT or HS.
05-21-11, 09:15 PM
#29
2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
Well, now it's official. For the 2011 model year, the Lincoln MKZ will offer the award-winning 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gasoline/electric powertrain from the Fusion and Milan hybrids, good for up to 41 miles per gallon in the city. In doing this, Lincoln aims to compete directly with the recently introduced Lexus HS250h, and since the MKZ will net six more MPGs than the HS, it can safely take the title of most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in America. What's more, the MKZ is slightly larger than the Lexus, and if Ford plays its cards right, we wouldn't be surprised if the MKZ Hybrid is less expensive than the HS, as well.
Well, now it's official. For the 2011 model year, the Lincoln MKZ will offer the award-winning 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gasoline/electric powertrain from the Fusion and Milan hybrids, good for up to 41 miles per gallon in the city. In doing this, Lincoln aims to compete directly with the recently introduced Lexus HS250h, and since the MKZ will net six more MPGs than the HS, it can safely take the title of most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in America. What's more, the MKZ is slightly larger than the Lexus, and if Ford plays its cards right, we wouldn't be surprised if the MKZ Hybrid is less expensive than the HS, as well.