2011 Chevy Volt: Early Reactions

This morning we saw the production version of the Chevy Volt for the first time. We had seen some earlier images released unofficially on the web and they disappointed us. Thankfully, after seeing more angles of the real thing, we’re a bit more optimistic for the Volt’s success. Below are our staff’s first thoughts from editors Joe Wiesenfelder, David Thomas, Mike Hanley and Kelsey Mays. Don't forget to voice your own thoughts in the comments.

JW: This is exactly what I expected. When you consider that the whole point of the Volt is its function, its form isn’t bad at all.

DT: Seeing the standard, eye-level front-quarter view above makes me think GM has a winner. This thing is sharp!

MH: While attractively styled, the Volt isn’t particularly distinctive — has GM learned nothing from the Prius?

KM: GM could sell Azteks if they had a 40-mile EV range; provided the feds grant a sizable tax credit, people will line up for this.

Comments

I like the look of it. It's not as bland as some of the other shots that have been floating around. If it's priced around $40K it will still be out of the price range for most car buyers...even with the tax break incentive and considering the current state of the economy. I't going to be interesting to see how it does...saleswise and reliability.

The interior completely turned me off. It looks so cheap and plasticky it's not even funny. After all the hype and the concepts,they end up coming out with this POS??? I'm absolutely baffled by GM. They had the chance to come out with a ground breaking industry changing product, but they blew it yet again. Overall the exterior looks like a gussied up Cobalt, which isn't bad, except for the fact that this is supposed to be a "look-at-me" hybrid that commands a price of 40 grand. Now it is bad. GM needs to go back to the drawing board with the interior and exterior of the Volt because both are very disappointing and sad.

CJ,
I understand some of your complaints, but any box on wheels that is a plug-in electric hybrid is a ground breaking product since no one else has announced one for sale officially.

It's not like GM's the first. People have been doing this with the Prius for years. It's just the first "official" one, and it's unimpressive at that.

CJ,
Everyone is entitled to an opinion but check out pics from the live reveal that are posted on other sites before calling it disappointing and sad. The design is really quite intriguing.

And will everyone stop quoting it as fact that the price is $40K. You can quote it when they release official pricing but until then it is pure speculation.

GM hsa outdone themselves! the body styling is spectacular and I'm sure Bob Lutz was thinking jet aircraft, streamlines and laminar flow. I like it much more than the concept car with its harsh edges and squity little headlights. Every square inch of the exterior looks spectacular and it will be difficult to wait the 2 more years to get one.
The interior impresses me less, but we must remember that this is a Chevy, not a Cadillac, so I suspect it is toned down intentionally.

CJ,

you seem to be another basher who cant be pleased. This car looks very good. The original concept could not have made it to production and it wasnt even a great looking car. The interior of this car is extremely high tech and looks better than the Pruis. What more could you want in terms of interior styling?

Sheth, you're right maybe I'm overreacting, but I really did expect a lot more. I mean, did you see that interior!?! It more like a plastic toy than a high tech hybrid. And I the exterior is anything special. This is a hybrid car that's suppose to command attention and stares when you drive down the highway, but it only invokes yawns.

CJ,
It's so true that you can't keep all the people happy all the time, and your dis-satisfaction with the Volt will mean one more Volt for the rest of us. I encourage you NOT to buy one.

oops I meant "the exterior ISN'T anything special"

I'll bet if it had a Civic badge CJ would be all over it.

Go ahead and buy it guys. CJ that means more Honda Insights for the rest of us...and more $ left in our pockets!

Considering how much emphasis they had to put on aerodynamics, I think it looks great. Much better than the Insight; and much, much better than the Prius. I really liked the purple Transformer Volt, and I hope that shade of purple becomes a production color: it just needs black wheels to match the roof.

The fake grille seems cheesy to me though though.

I guess when have all that extra material from the duds you've been making over the years, you can throw something together around hype and gas prices to get a winner.

Hahaha, Bloke. If it was a Civic, it would essentially not matter, because Honda already has a reputation for fuel efficiency and alternative technologies. For example when Honda's fuel cell vehicle the FCX Clarity came out there was little "buzz" from the media. GM OTOH doesn't have a reputation for Green Tech (the "live green go yellow" campaign didn't work). So a vehicle like the Volt is VERY important, and they IMO blew it. The interior alone makes me wary.

I was just interviewed about this and one of my responses was that it's a lot better looking than a Prius. So CJ saying it elicits yawns doesn't mean much to the people shopping this car.

All car interiors are made of plastic. Sheesh.

I don't see how the interior is anymore plastic than any other vehicle. I think the big price has all about the technology. Japan financed the research on the Prius, I don't know about the Insight.

CJ saying something... it doesn't mean much to anyone.

If this is the only thing that GM loyalist have to cheer about then give it to them. It will be almost 2 years before it's even on sale. I wouldn't pay $40k ($35k or even $30k) for any car and I don't care who makes it.

Dave T, I know all car interior are made of plastic. My beef is that cheap white shiny plastic that adorns the center console of the Volt. Like I said it looks like it's from a $19 toy you buy for a kid, not a $35+ grand high tech hybrid. Now here's a nice interior (and it's not a Honda):
http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2006/2006-Volkswagen-R32-Interior-1024x768.jpg
I know it's a non-hybrid, but it looks good (and yes it's full of plastic). There's a lot GM could have done to make a modern futuristic interior, without it looking cheap, and they failed.

I repeat myself - go look at interior pics from the live reveal on other sites...cheapness does not come to mind.

I agree with CJ that the interior looks incredibly cheap from the photos, but the design looks intriguing enough. I'm not willingly to make a final judgment until I can see it and touch it in person. Considering the potential market, I think GM did a pretty good job on the exterior. The concept was unique, but hardly attractive or practical. Though not official, GM is still talking maybe $35K so I don't see a whole lot of younger buyers in that range. This design is well in range for who's REALLY likely to buy it: suburban commuters.

Like I've always said. It will be bought by the wealthier white suburbanites that will park it next to their Suburban and claim that they're "green".

volt is ugly and very chaep i rather buy a prius of insight for 20 k less And BETTER QUATILTY !! which is something gm Fails in !!!!

Hybrid vehicles have always been an elitist, image vehicle...but really why are you bringing up race?

LOL - Yes Bob! You certainly are a person we can look to for what quality and value is since you can't spell or even use the correct words to express your opinions. Also I'm so sick of hearing about Toyota's fabled quality - have you even been inside some of their newer crap??? Back on topic I think the Volt’s a winner.

The interior looks cool to me. I am sure that white plastic piece will be available in many other colors. Having spent lots of time in a prius lately (and falling in love with it), I can tell you (cj)amazing looks aren't the #1 priority in a hybrid, and this looks great while the pruis and insight look kinda frumpy. If you want to turn heads or drive a car that "chicks" flock to, there are tons of exotics, luxury, and sports cars to choose from. This will give you a different type of cred (any hybrid will for that matter).

As far as the interiors. The Prius that I have spent time in has a little over 10K on it and rattles horribly. And the PLASTIC isn't that great. BUT, its okay for a car that puts such an emphasis on weight savings.

40K (if it is that much) is not that scary since I would not have to make regular visits to a gas station with my commute. I can't wait to drive it and the next Prius.

Broq

WOW! That's bad design!

It's not the amount of plastic, it's the quality of finishes together. The center stack is polished and glossy. Modern. But there are some element that are very low quality finishes. It would work better is the center stack was glossy black, but Ipod still has the biggest influence with it come to functionality.

It pains me to read these blogs and read how sacred a hybrid is when it comes to opinion. On one hand this car is a great step in the right direction, but on the other, it's a blend of old world Chevy blah.

It's a design by focus group and lacks an overall design direction that set Prius apart. If this is suppose to be a new direction for a company in NEED of new consumers,it should look different. But why risk losing your core?? Chevy is trying to please two masters. And personally, at first glance it a bunch of shiny lights on the outside and some glossy surfacing on the inside. It still carries the baggage of the brand and will until is launches. Is it attractive? For some, but the Prius is ugly too. Ugly is harsh.

What they both are, are polarizing.

Hybrid design is either hot or cold. Sure you will get some hybridheads desperate for something to say they are green.

It doesn't have to be pretty. It's a statement.

If you are looking for something that get great MPG and still doesn't look like you settled for the only thing they had at the time.

WAIT.

Other car companies are making hybrids and by 2010 almost every major...and some minor companies will have something that will rival and beat the one.

No one is holding a gas pump to your head and making you buy something you don't like.

So don't. Look and keep walking, driving, taking the bus commuting or whatever you do.

I imagine it will sell fairly well, initially. The market for any car in it's price range will be limited. no matter what type of car it is. Even if it's priced around 35k it will still be out of the price range for most americans. It's groundbreaking in some respects at least until some other manufacturer comes along and sells one for 25k. most people care less about the whole "green" thing - and that includes most Prius drivers. The bottom line is saving money at the pump. This will do that but with a hefty price tag.

The exterior of the Chevy Volt looks much better than the CURRENT Prius. However, the interior, especially that ugly white plastic, needs much more work; it reminds me of some cheap playskool toy. Maybe the approx. $40k price tag includes the following:

1) Cost of R & D/technology for being the lone financier of this project
2) Inflation by 2011
3) A descent profit for a struggle automaker.

Why would anyone think GM would get the interior right. If it wasn't for Chrysler, GM would have the worst interiors hands-down. I recently test drove a Malibu and came to the conclusion that if this is GM's best effort than it's no wonder they are getting crushed by Toyota.

I would like to make one "correction" for those who suggests a big $$$$ tax incentives on Volt, including Dave T. here. The tax incentives currently in place - it's for AMT. For those who don't know much 'bou AMT - sorry, I ain't a tax expert. However, in very high level explanation, you can benefit from this AMT iff (if and only if):
(1) You MAKE A LOT OF $$$ in salary + investment +...;
(2) You are SINGLE;
(3) You have essentially no tax deduction/income tax claim when you file your taxes every year.
So if you are looking for the tax incentive as a way for people to purchase the Volt, and think that you can get it for $35000 or even less...

FORGET IT!

(Unless you are 1 of those rare #1+#2+#3 iff people!)

I almost spent my $ on an Altima Hybrid 'coz it's like a Camry Hybrid but with $2350 tax incentives (vs like $0 for Toyota), my accountant did the Math and most I could claim is $200...IFF I don't put any $ in 401K or health benefit accounts :(

The Volt can and only be a halo hybrid vehicle. It doesn't have the practically in terms of $$$ like the Pirus or (future) Insight, or even the Civic/Altima/Camry Hybrid.

Exterior styling looks pretty good to me. And it in no way looks like a Prius or the new Insight. It looks original, and it looks like a Chevy.

Aside from this, it has zero reputation to fall back on and will be an expensive gamble to those who spend the extra 15 grand over the vernerable Prius.

Interior is passable, even unique. But I can see where folks refer to it as "cheap" because it does look so out of the ordinary.

Amuro Ray, I think you are confused on the AMT situation. You would not get the credit unless you are over the Alternative Minimum Tax threshold. Here is an excerpt from the IRS:

"The Credit and the Alternative Minimum Tax

Also the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit cannot be used to offset the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). A taxpayer cannot claim the credit unless the taxpayer's regular tax liability exceeds the taxpayer’s AMT liability.

Even if a person is not subject to the AMT, he may not be able to claim the maximum allowable credit, or any credit, for the qualified vehicle that is purchased. The amount of the credit that one can claim depends on the particular facts and circumstances.

For example, A, B and C each purchase the same make, model, and model year of qualified hybrid motor vehicle to use as their personal vehicles. At the time that A, B and C purchase their vehicles, the maximum allowable credit for the vehicle is $3,150. A, B and C each have regular tax of $12,000 for the taxable year in which they purchase their vehicles. A’s tentative minimum tax is $8,000, B’s tentative minimum tax is $11,000, and C’s tentative minimum tax is $12,000. Because A’s regular tax ($12,000) exceeds A’s tentative minimum tax ($8,000) by $4,000, A can claim the maximum credit allowable for the qualified hybrid vehicle that A purchases. Because B’s regular tax ($12,000) exceeds B’s tentative minimum tax ($11,000) by only $1,000, B can claim a credit of only $1,000 for the qualified hybrid vehicle that B purchases. Because C’s regular tax ($12,000) does not exceed C’s tentative minimum tax ($12,000), C cannot claim any credit for the qualified hybrid vehicle that C purchases.

Also, if you claim the credit as a personal credit, the tax code limits the amount of the credit that you may claim to the amount of your regular tax liability. Therefore, if your regular tax liability is zero, the amount of the credit for which you are eligible will be zero. The credit cannot be used to reduce your regular tax liability below zero, and cannot be carried forward or back to another taxable year.

If the vehicle that you purchase is subject to the allowance for depreciation, then the credit is part of the general business credit and the rules applicable to the general business credit apply."

I think the situation described above you don't benefit from the AMT, I truly don't think anyone benefits from that provision, but you just have more tax liability so you have something that you can deduct the Hybrid credit from.

As for the car... I don't see what is bad about the interior. I don't get why everyone thinks it look "plasticky" or what. It looks fine to me, I think the center console looks just like any white Apple product, maybe with a greater sheen to it. I do think Chevy could use some tips from other car makers on how to soften angles and make an overall more pleasing look. They did a half decent job with the Malibu, but not so much here.

very dissapointd with the production volt please offer a sport version or a pontiac with styling closer to the camero thanks