Why would you choose a Prius over a Chevy Volt?

Oops, can't post a link until tomorrow.

 

General considerations:
If you haven't done so already, I'd recommend test driving both cars at a range of speeds - especially both city and freeway speeds.
If you get a chance, it might also be a good idea to try them both out in less optimal conditions - some cars are fine normally, but less so when dealing with the weather.
If you go on trips often, maybe you'd like to bring your usual baggage, and load both cars up, see how you feel about it.
If you're going to have people in the back seat, try sitting back there with the front seats adjusted comfortably. If you're considering the middle seat, try sitting in the middle, with people on either side.

There's also more subtle perks for plugins (that might not seem as special until you're used to it), like less frequent trips to the gas station, the silence when on electric drive, less frequent maintenance visits...

Any chance you can get an extended test drive of each?

 

Interesting that no one is talking battery replacement cost after warranty. We should, unless those are throw away cars after 8-10 years.

IMHO, Volt is a superior car for most commuting needs (and I considered it highly) UNLESS you consider the battery issue.

While some people tried to make price predictions: Replacing my Chevy Volt Battery in 2020
They didn't consider cost of labor to replace them. That is a deal killer IMHO.

 

Battery replacement cost is an unknown at this time.
What we do know is that with Volts on the road for almost 4 years, there is virtually no battery degradation.
GM coddles the Volt battery, only allowing access to about 65% of the capacity.
Between that and active battery management, I wouldn't be surprised to see the battery packs, in general, last well over 20 years.

If there is an issue out of warrantee, current price is listed at $3000 as I recall.
This could well be subsidized by GM, or may simply be that GM estimates future costs will be in that area.

In short, bringing up the battery pack replacement reminds me a lot of people bringing up the battery pack for the Prius when it first came out.

 

After 103,000 miles on my 4 year old Volt I wouldn't be surprised if the battery capacity has degraded 5-6% although it's still small enough that it's hard to tell if it's degraded at all.

I fully expect to drive it at least another 3-4 years and 75,000-100,000 miles before selling it. I expect no more than 10-15% battery capacity and output power loss at that point. I'm not worried about finding a happy buyer.

At that point I'll probably get a Tesla Model 3 with the larger size pack option that likely will have 250+ miles of range.

 

Someone said the Volt is small...LOL
As if the prius is a full size sedan or something haha

 

It's not the same. Before buying my prius, I researched the battery issue and was reassured that battery cost is only $2000 and it's a DIY job (for handy people like myself), and it can be fixed much cheaper with used ones or even individual cells.

Battery replacement in Volt is not DIY to put it mildly. The whole car needs to be taken apart. Please correct me if I'm wrong. The labor cost itself would be several $$$$. Now, for people keeping the car till warranty, it's not an issue, other than resale hit.

 

I thought the Volt battery drops out from under the car after removing the support panels. That's how it went in anyway. Regardless, very very few people are going to replace their own batteries in any hybrid or PHEV.

 

I guess you don't read the gen2 forums. People replace batteries all the time.

 

F8L's understanding mimics my own. The batteries are shown being mounted from the bottom on the assembly line and I'd expect them to be dropped out the same way.

 

One of my best friends and I wanted to buy either a volt or a PIP. He ended up buying the volt, me the PIP and we both made great decisions.

He uses his around the city 90% of the time. Round trip to and from work 30 miles. He is almost all electric. He mainly drives himself, sometimes a second person.

I on the other hand drive a lot, round trip to work is 65 miles. Once a week I drive in the mountains 200 miles round trip. I haul a lot of stuff.
I need a great hybrid, with lots of room and can also work on batteries.

He needed a good electric car, that when it runs out of juice, can run on gas.

 

Really? Attitude like that is not going to make any friends.

Sit in the back. Tell us how much of a difference the extra legroom makes.

 

Is that the total for the round trip from home to work and back home again?
If so- even in the coldest weather the Volt would make the 20 mi trip in all electric mode.
FWIW- I got about 50 mi AE (All Electric) range out of my Volt this summer most days.

4 adults? Is the driver over 6ft tall?
The rear seats in the Volt don't have nearly as much leg room as the PIP- if a tall driver pushes his seat way back- an adult behind him would be very cramped for leg room. I'm 5'11" and sit pretty far back- my 17/18 year old girls sit behind me and don't complain- but an adult might.

The rear storage in the PIP is much larger than the rear storage in the Volt. Both cars have rear folding seats.
The 2011-15 Volt's are 4 seat vehicles, 2016 might be a 5-seater.

The Volt is heavier, has larger tires and is quieter on the road, both have some visibility issues.
Neither come with a spare tire.
You can disable the traction control on the Volt by pressing a button on the overhead by the mirror, you can't disable the traction control on the PIP (without putting in in a special diagnostic mode that's not intended for road use).
The Volt come with OnStar- pres a button and you talk with a live person.
The Volt can run with electric heat or engine assisted heat- the PIP only has engine heat available .
The PIP gets around 50mpg while running on gas- the Volt get's low 40's MPG on gas.

 

I don't anymore but would you say that small sample of hobyists represents the larger set of Prius owners such that it would negate my point? I havnt been in there in awhile so I honestly don't know.

 

Yeah. Not really a problem getting to the battery pack. Harder than a Prius for sure but you're not required to take the whole car apart.

 

Good video. Thanks for posting.

 

The Advanced PiP comes with Toyota Safety Connect, which is comparable to OnStar, including access to a live operator by pushing a button.

 

help! i've fallen, and i can't reach my beer.

 

Damn it. You reminded me that I left my beer at work. Sierra Nevada Porter. Mmmmmm

 

mmm, you have beer at work? who are you, homer simpson?