TestDriveNow Auto Critic Steve Hammes On The 2016 Chevy Volt (Video)

For the vast majority of Americans, electric cars simply don’t make sense, whether the issue is driving range, vehicle size or financial. But the Chevy Volt is the most sensible solution for those galvanized by the prospects of electric driving without the range anxiety. And now in its 2nd generation, the Volt conducts itself in an even more electrifying manner.

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Hybrids, plug-ins, electrics, fuel cells, range extenders…is there any doubt as to why today’s car shoppers are so confused buy the myriad of choices? Most don’t care nearly as much about how this stuff works as they are about the benefits – nor should they. What does it cost, will it save me money and will I like driving it – that’s the bottom line approach here. And this new Volt gets a price cut of more than $1,000, saves another $150 per year in fuel costs compared with the previous model and takes that next big step in refinement. It’s a very likeable car that also looks sleeker while retaining its signature Volt identity.

You can view the Volt, as the EPA does, as a plug-in hybrid, using both electricity and gas for propulsion. GM calls the new 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine a range extender, because in essence, the Volt is only driven by electric motors. Once the battery runs out of enough juice to power the car, the gas engine fires and you continue to motor for up to 420 miles. At that point you can either find a place to recharge the battery and/or pull into a gas station like a regular car. Of course unless you can find a free charging station – and they do exist at grocery stores and the like – electricity also has an associated cost. So the EPA rates this Volt at 106 MPGe – that’s miles per gallon equivalent for electric driving and 42mpg once the initial EV driving is over. That’s an increase of between 8% -13%. This is thanks in large part to a number of innovations to the all-new Voltec system, including a lighter, smaller lithium-ion battery with greater storage capacity, and a lighter, more efficient 2-motor drive unit providing a greater than 20% improvement in electric acceleration.