Gallery: TEST DRIVE: The Chevy Volt vs...
Inhabitat just had the chance to take both a Chevy Volt and a pre-production prototype of the Plug-in Prius for week-long test drives so we thought a face-off was in order! The plug-in hybrid is similar in many ways to the Chevy Volt, but there are some important differences that will affect which one you want to buy. The Prius is designed for city stop-and-go driving, which will help recharge its 13-mile battery range. But if you drive the vehicle above 60 miles per hour, such as on the highway, the car switches to the gas engine for power, and the battery range is quickly run down. The Volt, by contrast, is designed to go 37 miles on one battery charge regardless of the speed you travel, and does better on high-speed roads. However, because the Prius is designed for city driving, you can get as much as a third of a mile of battery range recharge from braking gradually at a stoplight, whereas in the Volt the regenerative braking doesn't seem to do much of anything to increase your battery range. So, Prius for the city, Volt for the exurbs. But what else is different between these two very unique vehicles?
I’m really looking forward to the plug in Prius when it comes out in a couple of years. It suits my needs to a tee.
Reasonable article, and congrats on getting to test a pre-release plug-in Prius. .
A few points of correction, the Volt Regen is quite effective, but it is easy, to push through regen and force it to use the break pads. With a little learning you can gain a lot. When I drive to work, the car estimates 47 miles when I unplug it from charging. When I get off the highway after 12 miles of rolling hills, it estimates 48miles of charge.
The upscale nature of the Volt is more than just the display, its the ride, handeling and comfort. More like a Lexus than a Toyota.
Comparing the existing Prius price to the Volt is not really fair. We’ll have to see what the Plug-in_Prius price is, and if it qualifies for tax credits. In CO, with a state + Fed tax credit, my loaded 2011 Volt cost me about $30,000.