2011 CHEVROLET VOLT
BY DAVID COLMAN
 You’ll be reading reams of technical information about this car in the months to come, but what’s it really like to drive? Based on a 100 mile round trip between Sausalito and Marshall, the Volt offers a workable solution to everyday transportation for 4 with the added bonus of 25-50 miles of gas-free operation daily. Volt operates in 2 different modes. There’s battery power, which is good for that gas-free 25-50 mile romp, plus gasoline power for an added range of about 350 miles. If you drive short trips every day, it could be months before you need to refill the Volt’s 9.2 gallon gas tank.Â
 Of course, you’ll need to recharge the batteries every night, a 10 hour job if you use 120V household current. If you want a 3 hour home recharge at 220V, you’ll need to install a special battery charger which costs $600. Chevy will do a free site survey to assess what the installation of this charger will entail. Labor and parts can run the job as high as $2,000.
 The combined range estimate of 379 miles means you never have to worry about getting stuck with a dead battery, because the Volt’s diminutive 1.4 liter gas engine immediately comes to the rescue when the lithium-ion battery pack runs out of charge. So unlike the electric-only Nissan Leaf, which will stop dead after just 118 miles, the Volt will travel 4 times as far without giving you “range anxiety” ulcers.
 The best part of owning a Volt is staying green without being a dolt. Unlike the Leaf’s ToonTown caricature face, the Volt looks slick and futuristic without pandering to stylistic digression. The Volt’s shape cheats the wind like few other cars on the road. With a Co-efficient of Drag (CD) of 0.28, Volt is actually a slicker shape than Porsche’s slippery Cayman sport scar (CD 0.30). Everything about Volt is tailored for exceptional mileage, like its model-specific Goodyear Assurance tires (215/55R17), which come with a standard tire pressure dashboard monitor to insure proper inflation. Of course, you still have to monitor the monitor, and add air as needed, but Chevy eases the job by providing a neat portable pump in the hatchback’s trunk. Volt carries no spare tire, so the Goodyears are run-flat specials.
 Inside the cabin, Volt is a work of art, with dash-top pads that flow seamlessly into the door structures. The junction between these disparate surfaces is so tight the Volt looks like a Bentley inside. You can festoon the door panels with leafy green inserts that match the “New Mown Grass” stripes on the seats, or you can forego the New Age look for a more subtle combination of cloth or leather. The center stack of the console which mounts the standard 7 inch navigation screen is a model of computer keyboard design, with touch activated areas controlling every needed interior function from HVAC to communication to navigation. If you need gratification for your green keen, the screen can be configured to display the state of regenerative braking, your efficiency as a driver, or your mileage on the current run. Another 7 inch wide screen directly in front of the driver contains pertinent information about state of battery charge, range to battery expiration, and a slew of other minutiae (like tire pressures), all at your beck and call with the twist of a dial.Â
 The Volt is a remarkably mature product. It handles well on the secondary roads of Marin County, despite the hard rubber compound which makes the Goodyear tires squeal in tight turns. In full power mode (“Sport” setting with Low gear selected), Volt is just adequate for passing slower traffic on 2-way roads. You won’t have your heart in your throat, but you won’t feel overly confident until the 3,781 pound Volt is back in its proper lane. 0-60mpg runs take about 8.8 seconds, and top speed is governor-limited to 100mph.     Â
 2011 CHEVROLET VOLT
ENGINE:Â 1.4 liter DOHC in-line 4, gasoline/electric hybrid
HORSEPOWER:Â 149 hp
TORQUE:Â 273 lb-ftÂ
FUEL CONSUMPTION:Â 93 MPGe (all electric), 37 MPG (gas only), 60 MPG (combined composite)
PRICE AS TESTED:Â $43,485/ $35,985* (*includes $7,500 federal tax credit)