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2018 Chevrolet Volt review

Research, photos, specs, and expertise
7 photos

Chevrolet Volt highlights

Customer rating

RepairPal reliability rating

Pros

  • Smooth and punchy powertrain
  • Quiet and composed ride
  • Excellent infotainment system

Cons

  • Small back seats
  • Not many storage solutions
  • Power seats not available

Battery range (EPA estimate)

53 miles

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Everything you want in a commuter

Everyone wants a car that can do it all. Something that looks good, has fun handling, is quick off the line, loaded with tech, and reasonably good at avoiding the fuel pump. This ideal car does exist, as the 2018 Chevrolet Volt. Use it right, and you might never need to buy gas again. Or, drive it like you would any car, and the Volt will provide competence and a fun factor that will surprise you. With solid standard tech, and a handful of new colors for 2018, the Chevrolet Volt could make you love driving again.

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2018 Chevrolet Volt trims

Curious how Chevrolet Volt trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similarities

LT:

  • 149-hp, 294-lb-ft of torque 1.5L
  • Rear Defroster
  • Cruise Control
  • Cloth Seats
  • Power Mirrors
  • Traction Control
  • Side Airbags
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Rear View Camera
  • View our Chevrolet Volt LT inventory

Premier:

Chevrolet Volt photos

5 reasons to buy the 2018 Chevrolet Volt

1. Nimble and fun 

A commuter car doesn’t have to simply be a transportation appliance. The 2018 Chevrolet Volt brings the fun, with sharp steering, flat handling in corners, and a small turning radius. It’s a great combination for a fun and twisty road, but more practically, it’s excellent for navigating tight city streets and heavy urban traffic.  

2. Quiet and comfy 

The Chevrolet Volt is poised and controlled over all but the roughest pavement. While the suspension gives you a sporty feeling of tightly controlled movements, it is also softly sprung to absorb most bumps in the road. The gas engine doesn’t operate when the battery has plenty of power, and when it turns on, the 1.5L four-cylinder is impressively quiet. Inside, the seats are deeply cushioned, offering a welcome place to relax after a long day at work.  

3. Breakup with the gas station 

No one likes having to stop at the gas station. You won’t have to fill up in bad weather with the 2018 Chevrolet Volt. Charge at home, and you’ll have an EPA-estimated all-electric range of 53 miles on a full charge.

That’s enough for most drivers to not need gas during their regular commute. If you need more range, the gas engine allows long-range flexibility with an EPA-estimated 42 MPG combined.
 

4. Driver assistance tech 

Since the 2018 Chevrolet Volt is a road trip champion, it makes sense that it offers many standard and optional driver assistance features to take up some of the workload during long drives. The LT Driver Confidence Package adds three different features that mainly help when backing, and monitoring blind spots on the highway. The Driver Confidence Package II adds automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. The first is great in heavy traffic, while the second is wonderful on long sections of boring highway drives.  

5. Loaded Premier trim 

Is the base model just not your type? While the base LT trim does have a lot to offer, the Premier trim adds needed and desirable upgrades. The 2018 Chevrolet Volt Premier trim has standard leather heated front and rear seats, leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, self-parking tech, wireless charging, an upgraded Bose® sound system, and 17-inch polished alloy wheels. 

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Ratings & reliability

Customer ratings

4.5 out of 5

17 customer reviews

RepairPal reliability rating

4
Excellent

RepairPal gave the Chevrolet Volt an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Chevrolet Volt 6th out of 6 among Alternative Fuel Vehicles.

View RepairPal's full rating of the Chevrolet Volt

Chevrolet Volt features and specs

Curious how Chevrolet Volt trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similarities

Premier 2WD 4D Hatchback

Standard Features

  • ABS Brakes
  • Air Conditioning
  • Alloy Wheels
  • AM/FM Stereo
  • Android Auto
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Automated Parking
  • Automatic Transmission
  • Auxiliary Audio Input
  • Bluetooth Technology
  • BOSE Sound System
  • Cruise Control
  • Front Seat Heaters
  • Heated Steering Wheel
  • Leather Seats
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Parking Sensors
  • Power Locks
  • Power Mirrors
  • Power Windows
  • Rear Defroster
  • Rear Seat Heaters
  • Rear View Camera
  • Remote Start
  • Satellite Radio Ready
  • Side Airbags
  • Smart Key
  • Traction Control

Optional Features

  • Automated Cruise Control
  • Blind Spot Monitor
  • Lane Departure Warning
  • Navigation System
  • Rear Sunshade

Drive Wheels

Front wheel drive (2WD)

Engine size

1.5L

Horsepower

149

Torque (ft-lbs)

294

Engine type

Plug-in Hybrid

Fuel capacity

8.9

Wheelbase

106.1"

Overall length

180.4"

Width

71.2"

Height

56.4"

Leg room

F 42.1"/R 34.7"

Head room

F 37.8"/R 35.8"

Front tires

P215/50R17

Rear tires

P215/50R17

Seating capacity

5

Transmission

Automatic

2018 Chevrolet Volt FAQ

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We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to indicate that a particular vehicle is currently available or recommended for you.​

Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.

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