#Chevy volt range 2017 generator
#Chevy volt range 2017 driver

So calling the NSX a green car is pushing the definition of “green,” though the $200,000 price tag certainly points to luxury. The twin-turbo V6 in the rear actually creates a ton of heat, despite all the venting, so you cannot bring your delicate chocolate sculptures home in the NSX’s tiny trunk. The Volt plug-in hybrid boasts class-leading range and impressive driving dynamics, but the back seat is a no-go. The two electric motors that power the front wheels are there for the power boost-and maybe to save a little fuel. Range, city/highway (miles) 382.70 / 373.80 EPA Fuel Economy, combined/city/highway (mpg) 42 / 43 / 42 EPA Fuel Economy Equivalent (for hybrid and electric vehicles), combined/city/highway (MPGe). That hybrid system is not there to save the planet from a fiery climate-change-induced death. Saving the best (in some ways) for last, the 2017 Acura NSX took the prize for best green luxury vehicle, but let’s be honest.

This clever if complicated system returns 48 mpg for $37,000. The car is a plug-in battery-electric/gasoline hybrid, featuring an electric-only mode with a range. And when you get onto the highway, a clutch engages to connect the gasoline engine and the first electric motor to drive the wheels at sustained high speed. The Chevrolet Volt was redesigned for the 2016 model year.

It has a second electric motor that is powered by the 2-liter gasoline engine to recharge the batteries that drive the first motor, which drives the car. It’s got an electric motor that drives the front wheels at low speeds for short distances. The best hybrid award went to the 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid, which has an innovative drivetrain. This car is likely to become very important for VW in the wake of the diesel settlement that was just approved. VW chose to use its Golf hatchback as a platform for several variants, including the all-electric version, so if you like any other VW Golf, you’ll probably feel comfortable driving the e-Golf, which has an EPA-rated range of 83 miles. Some EVs were built to stand alone and stand out, like the Nissan Leaf (a favorite of mine in this category). In the plug-in EV category, the 2016 VW e-Golf took the award for being fun to drive and less than $30,000. The paddle makes that easy, and mileage freaks will become obsessed with it. Regen braking takes some getting used to, and even then it can take some finesse to use well as both a way to stop the car and a way to get back some energy.

#Chevy volt range 2017 driver

It allows the driver to use regenerative braking when she wants to restore battery power. A few journalists I talked to liked the Regen on Demand lever on the back side of the steering wheel, where you might otherwise expect a paddle shifter. The second-generation Volt has 53 miles of all-electric range, with 420 miles of total driving range. (No, Tesla did not send a vehicle to be tested.)

#Chevy volt range 2017 generator

The overall winner was the 2017 Chevy Volt, which uses electricity plus a small gasoline generator engine and carries a price tag around $40,000. On July 19, members of the Northwest Automotive Press Association got together in Portland, Oregon, to drive 14 fuel-efficient and high-tech vehicles and compare them head to head.