Overall rating:

For all intents and purposes, it's a rebadged Vauxhall Ampera, but the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid is a smidgen cheaper and represents the same, practical leap forward in electric/combustion engine mobility.

Key Facts

Pricing: £28,545
Engine: 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with electric motor and generator
Transmission: CVT (continuously variable transmission) automatic, front-wheel drive
Body style: five-door hatchback
Rivals: Vauxhall Ampera, Toyota Prius PHV, Nissan LEAF
CO₂ emissions: 27g/km
Combined economy: 235mpg
Top speed: 100mph
0-62mph: 10.0 seconds
Power: 85bhp (engine) 148bhp (electric motors)
Torque: 273lb.ft

In the Metal:

Take away the Ampera's boomerang headlamps, add a couple of bow tie badges and you've got the Chevrolet Volt. The thick set rear and wide stance at the front ape the Toyota Prius's profile in many ways, but that makes for a nice low drag coefficient of 0.28. A gloss back roofline and tailgate, white dashboard and Chevrolet switchgear further distinguish it from the Vauxhall.

The Volt's relationship with the Ampera is even clearer inside because they're all but identical. The centre of the dash is a white, iPod-style arrangement with buttons that operate like a touch screen in that there's nothing to physically push down. A thick centre console runs through the cabin (the T-shaped battery pack is underneath it) and the top of the dash is staggered and sweeps down into the doors.

Driving it:

Obviously it doesn't make any noise in electric mode but the Volt is whisper quiet in every other sense. The sound deadening is really impressive and even when the battery gives up the ghost and the engine kicks in you've a job to notice it. Accelerate harder and the internal combustion unit hums away noticeably, but it's never intrusive.

There are several different driving modes selectable via a button on the central facia. Normal is the default while Sport sharpens the throttle response and Mountain sets the Volt up to tackle heavier gradients. The latter is like an old-fashioned manual choke in that it increases the revs and power at idle. There's also a hold mode that locks the car into electric power only when there's enough charge.

The Volt is pokier than you expect it to be. Instant torque from the motors (there are two of them and three clutches, all of which work in tandem for peak efficiency), combined with the engine's modest power output make for an impressive surge of acceleration from low to mid range, but it runs out of puff a bit at the top end. As for the handling, it's safe, comfortable and predictable, which is what it needs to be. The steering is light and easy, as is the action of the pedals, but it's in no way exciting.

What you get for your Money:

New technology doesn't come cheap, hence the Volt's price of £28,545 - after the Government's £5,000 electric car grant. It's £450 less than the Ampera, which is something, but that's still a hefty chunk of change. It's well kitted out, though, with full leather, satnav, climate and cruise control, front and rear parking sensors to name but a few. There's no options list to speak of either.

Worth Noting

Don't be fooled by the 235mpg figure. The Volt was measured on the European combined cycle - the same as every other car - but if you don't charge it up then you won't reap the benefits and you'll probably see around 45mpg from the petrol engine on its own. As for charging times, you're looking at two and a half hours from a fast charge point or seven hours from the mains.

Summary

Plug-in hybrids solve the practicality issues that come with pure electric cars, which is why they make more sense for the immediate future. If your usage is modest, you could run the Chevrolet Volt on electric power all the time, but there's always the reassurance of a tank of petrol if you need it. It's refined, comfortable and more potent than you'd expect, so the only real snag is the price.