PiP vs. Volt - cabin noise, handling, driver room from owners of both?

I was about to call you a moron for leasing a vehicle but I think I'll let the Prius fanatics flame you instead. Thanks for the review.


iPhone ?

 

I well agree with your assessment of the Volt. Sorry you ran into some animosity on both boards - stupid as it is, it seems to be inevitable. I think you made the right choice in leasing, as the deals that are available are quite appealing.

One place where I'd diverge; I do think buyers of the Volt and PiP are looking for basically the same thing, a vehicle that can do electric for some or all of their commuting while still being able to drive anywhere. It's a much more narrow spectrum of buyer that will accept the pure EV options with 70 miles range.

Enjoy the Volt!

 

To me, it seems there's more hate for the PIP on the Volt forum than there is dislike for the Volt here?
They really seem to hate the PIP on the Volt forum and it comes up almost every day it seems. It's almost like they're insecure... so they need to belittle the competition?

In any case- I feel obligated to call out posters who continually spread FUD on either forum. If they get called out every single time they lie- they eventually stop and accept the truth or just move on to another forum till the members there get wise to their antics..

 

Took a snapshot of this a few days ago;

Hey - let's not forget to show prof's to the Prius haters amongst the pickup owner too;

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Wish I got a buck every time the 6 miles EV thing pops up.

 

I'm on both, and there is definitely an anti-Prius bias on the GM-Volt forums. I think it may be a sort of inferiority complex, as the PiP seems to be doing better.

As far as leasing. I'm not one to lease a car, as I try to keep them until they die (except my 2007 Prius, 113,000 miles when I sold it - stupid reliable Prii). But in the case of the Volt, it's not a bad idea, as the 2016 model is coming up soon with an extended range and more seating. Plus the lease rates are almost too good to be true.

 

I think there are several reasons for this. First of all, the Volt's gasoline engine isn't directly connected to the drive-train, as it is with the Prius. No matter how efficient, there always some energy loss involved with burning fuel to generate electricity, and then converting it to kinetic energy through electric motors. Energy which is diverted into a battery along the way is even less efficiently used.

Secondly, the Prius uses an impressive suite of technologies, (Atkinson-cycle engine, exhaust-heat scavenging, low drag-ratio, aluminum parts, etc.) which collectively add up to a very significant increase in fuel efficiency, in comparison to other hybrids.

 

Can't blame the Tesla fans at all. Model S ROCKS!

DBCassidy

 

On a newly paved highway the PIP and Volt after fairly close in terms of cabin noise. Once you hit anything but new pavement the Volt is quieter. The PIP had way too many rattles for my liking. The HUD was blurry and the windshield would often triple lights at night. If I had paid $23k for the car instead of $38k I would have probably kept it.

In terms of driving comfort, handling, performance etc. the Volt wins hands down. It's actually a lot of fun to drive in a spirited manner. You simply cannot drive in a spirited manner in the PIP and stay in EV mode. Nor can you drive in EV mode on the freeway here in NorCal without annoying other drivers and/or annoying yourself. lol

PIP wins in terms of utility!

 

Just wanted to say I appreciate all of the comments, I'm waiting for the 2016 PiP or Volt, if the increase in interior is anything close to the speculation I'll go Volt, but still waiting to hear what Toyota has up its sleeve with the PiP or RAV4, Audi A3 eTron may be interesting but no word yet on EV mode.

 

We already know there is no new RAV4 EV. The PiP team has a post on here they are ending production of the current PiP in a couple of months. That means a 2016 PiP might not come out for a while if at all. Toyota may skip it and go straight to a 2017 PiP.

 

projection is for late '16, no question that it's coming though.

 

I received an email today about the new RAV4 hybrid, nothing about EV mode range?!

 

Like any other non-plugin, the EV 'range' will be a mile or so, and using it too often will hurt the over all fuel efficiency.

 

Well it's definitely not much but "a mile or so" is quite understated, even my 2004 Prius EV only is 5 miles <on a flat road at 25 mph>.

But seriously, we are talking plug-in hybrids; hence, consider, PiP is what 11 miles EV only, Volt 38, I know, I know it's technically an extended range, CMax 21 miles, shall I go on?

 

I only managed 2 miles out of my 2005 on EV mode, but that isn't comparable at all to a plugin's EV range simply because all the energy for those 2 miles came from gasoline, and not an outlet. That is why non-plugin hybrids don't, or shouldn't, publish an EV range.