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10 Reasons Why the 2016 Chevrolet Volt is the 2016 Autobytel Car of the Year

Benjamin Hunting
by Benjamin Hunting
February 1, 2016
4 min. Reading Time
2016 Chevrolet Volt Autobytel 2016 Car of the Year ・  Photo by Drew Phillips

2016 Chevrolet Volt Autobytel 2016 Car of the Year ・ Photo by Drew Phillips

Has it really been more than five years since the original Chevrolet Volt showed us that there were still signs of life at a post-bankruptcy General Motors? The 2016 Chevrolet Volt introduces us to the second generation of one of the automaker's most innovative models, an electric vehicle that quells range anxiety by way of its on-board generator, a gas-powered security blanket that adds real-world practicality to the EV equation. Almost every single aspect of the Volt has been refined for 2016, transforming an already excellent automobile into an even more intriguing option whose appeal extends far beyond the eco-conscious buyer base it was originally designed to court. Let's take a look at 10 reasons the 2016 Chevrolet Volt is Autobytel's Car of the Year for 2016.

1) The 2016 Chevrolet Volt gains an all-new drivetrain.

Both the 2016 Chevrolet Volt's dual-motor electric drivetrain and its gas-powered range extender have been completely overhauled for the current model year, with not a single component shared between the existing Volt and the previous-generation car. The upshot for buyers is a smaller and lighter 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine matched with an electric motor to deliver 149 horsepower and 294 lb-ft of twist. Keen eyes will notice that this doesn't present a significant gain over the older EV's numbers, but the superior design of the 2016 Chevrolet Volt's mechanicals means smoother, more efficient power delivery and an improved driving experience (not to mention nearly 100 pounds saved on the scale).

 Photo by Chevrolet Media

Photo by Chevrolet Media

2) The 2016 Chevrolet Volt boosts its battery pack.

In tandem with the 2016 Volt's revised drivetrain comes a brand-new battery pack. The T-shaped lithium-ion battery serves as the spine of the Volt's equally reconfigured platform, and while its general shape might be the same as it was the previous year, Chevrolet's engineers have found a way to cut nearly 100 cells from its make-up while at the same time swelling the size of those that remain in order to create 20-percent more storage capacity. The 18.4 kWh battery is 31 pounds lighter and now offers 12-percent improved efficiency as compared to the original Volt's 17.1 kWh unit, and its more modest mass helps contribute to the vehicle's svelte character.

 Photo by Drew Phillips

Photo by Drew Phillips

3) The 2016 Chevrolet Volt boasts better electric-only range.

How does that extra battery capacity and improved efficiency translate into the real world when behind the wheel of the 2016 Chevrolet Volt? The answer comes in the form of the car's greatly extended battery-only driving range. Whereas the first-generation Volt provided roughly 35 miles of pure EV operation during normal driving, the 2016 edition pushes that number all the way up to 53 miles. In fact, as with the original Volt, those judicious drivers acquainted with the benefits of maximizing the use of the car's regenerative braking system can add extra juice to the battery and might squeeze an extra 15 miles or so above the official rating.

 Photo by Drew Phillips

Photo by Drew Phillips

4) The 2016 Chevrolet Volt introduces a regenerative braking paddle.

Helping hyper-milers out on the 2016 Chevrolet Volt is a new regenerative paddle system. Initially introduced on the Cadillac ELR electric vehicle, the Volt's paddle shifter sits behind the steering wheel to the left, but instead of allowing you to row through a set of "virtual" gears, it offers more deliberate control over the car's regenerative brakes. These special stoppers translate the Volt's kinetic energy into an electrical charge that is then transferred to the battery. Although not intended to replace the brake pedal, the paddle makes it easier to bleed off speed and replenish the Chevrolet's power pack when coasting down a hill or when gently slowing to a stop.

 Photo by Chevrolet Media

Photo by Chevrolet Media

5) The 2016 Chevrolet Volt kicks in reasonable fuel mileage.

The decision to move to a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine (featuring direct fuel injection) in the 2016 Chevrolet Volt has helped improve the hatchback's fuel economy once its battery has been depleted and the gasoline generator kicks in to provide power to its electric drivetrain. Although the mechanics of how and when the generator might be directly coupled to the Volt's drive wheels are complicated, the important number to focus on is 41 mpg, the car's EPA rating in combined city and highway driving. This figure stands as a 7-mpg improvement over the 2015 Volt's 37 mpg combined score, and when evaluating the full range-extended drivetrain, the Chevrolet checks in with a 106 MPGe rating.

 Photo by Drew Phillips

Photo by Drew Phillips

6) The 2016 Chevrolet Volt asks for few compromises out on the road.

It's all well and good for the 2016 Chevrolet Volt to stand tall as a technological marvel, but none of that green credibility really matters if the Volt doesn't qualify as an automobile you'd actually want to drive on a daily basis. In this respect the Chevrolet Volt comes through with impressive performance: Aside from its ultra-quiet operation and instant-on torque delivery, you'd be hard pressed to identify the hatchback as an electric vehicle when compared to similarly sized (and priced) gas-only competitors. The transparency of its EV operation is a big part of what has made the Volt such a popular automobile for a wide demographic of buyers.

 Photo by Chevrolet

Photo by Chevrolet

7) The 2016 Chevrolet Volt is more practical than a sedan.

The 2016 Chevrolet Volt strays from the standard sedan template to introduce hatchback practicality into its appeal. With a wide-opening tailgate that allows easy access to a cargo area that isn't walled off from the passenger compartment (and which can be greatly expanded by folding the rear row of accommodations forward), the Volt is far more useful on a daily basis than one would expect from an extended-range electric vehicle. For 2016, the Chevrolet Volt also introduces a middle seat on the back bench, replacing the previous model's 2+2 interior arrangement. There might not be much room in the center back position, but at least you can stuff in a fifth passenger in a pinch.

 Photo by Drew Phillips

Photo by Drew Phillips

8) The 2016 Chevrolet Volt upgrades its infotainment and safety systems.

While the entire interior of the 2016 Chevrolet Volt has been given a makeover, it's the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system that will probably draw the most attention during your drive. MyLink's touchscreen LCD features smoother navigation through its menus (plus the implementation of Apple CarPlay for enhanced smart phone integration), and its graphics have been updated to reflect the cutting-edge promise of the Volt's technology. Buyers will also be pleased with the array of active safety gear introduced with the 2016 Volt, including a forward-collision warning system with automatic braking, a lane-keeping assist feature, and automatic parking with rearview camera.

 Photo by Drew Phillips

Photo by Drew Phillips

9) The 2016 Chevrolet Volt now offers standard 4G LTE WiFi.

In addition to its spiffy Chevrolet MyLink look, the 2016 Chevrolet Volt joins the rest of the Chevy line-up in offering a mobile 4G LTE WiFi hotspot as standard equipment. Accessible via the car's OnStar telematics system, the 4G LTE setup allows passengers to surf the web, check email, and even stream online video, all without having to tap into their personal data plans. It's also a boon for WiFi-enabled devices that may not have mobile Internet capability, and it's definitely a great way to keep kids entertained on long road trips.

 Photo by Drew Phillips

Photo by Drew Phillips

10) The 2016 Chevrolet Volt is still affordable.

The 2016 Chevrolet Volt starts at an MSRP of $33,170, but that window sticker really deserves an asterisk, because federal tax rebates attached to electric vehicles can subtract a substantial amount from the true cost of the hatchback. How much? A full rebate can slice up to $7,500, depending on your personal tax situation, effectively dropping the price of the car to $25,670.  Even in the low thirties, however, the Volt delivers a substantial technological tour de force combined with the very real possibility that you may never have to pay for gas on your daily commute again. As an affordable electric car with a gas-powered backup plan, the newly revised Chevrolet Volt is the real-world EV most of us have been waiting for and why it has been named as the 2016 Autobytel Car of the Year.

 Photo by Drew Phillips

Photo by Drew Phillips


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