A report from a test driver provides an early first look at the 2016 Chevy Volt, the first in a new generation of hybrids — and the results are surprising.
The Volt is very different from the first generation, so much so that it won over the reviewer, according to a SlashGear report.
The Volt has come a long way since it was first introduced, and it has appeared to have matured with its new generation, the reviwer wrote.
In its early days, the hybrid market appealed to a niche group of fans, but now there are a huge number of choices as it has become more mainstream: there are some purely electric cars, there are hybrids like the Volt that combine gas and electric, and there are a variety of other tweaks and combinations to suit the needs and styles of the buyer. The Volt has long been one of the most popular of the hybrid options, and the company appears to be taking the next step with this new generation to make it a more broadly appealing car, rather than just something for hybrid fanboys.
The reviewer indicated that he wasn’t a fan of the first generation of Chevy Volts, but this second generation version appears to be a lot more grown up.
The car doesn’t go to great lengths to try to appear sporty, but rather focuses on making a sleek and stylish design, and turning it into a modern four-door sedan. It also smoothed over the harder lines on the car, making it more visually pleasing.
Its hatchback version has room for growth, which is tricky in an American market where hatchbacks aren’t as possible as they are in Europe and elsewhere.
As far as the interior goes, the Volt has more cargo room in the back, and it was able to do so without significantly altering the interrior. It also added a fifth seating area, although it would be somewhat for a full-grown adult, the review notes.
There’s also the displays on the front: two of them, in fact, and they are sleek with touchscreen options that connect with entertainment systems.