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the elephant in the room: Why should you care about being green, when gas is so cheap right now? Well, saving money is always a good thing. The new Prius boasts even better fuel mileage, while the Volt can drive significantly further on a single electric charge. There’s the feel-good standpoint: efficient transportation simply makes sense for our planet. Plus, you are covered in case gas prices reverse course and start getting higher.
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Both cars have been heavily restyled. The Volt now has a sleek, almost sporty shape that defies its Earth-first underpinnings. Meanwhile the Prius, with its menacing headlights and sharp angles, has a downright aggressive look for a car that once should have had smiley faces plastered on the hood.
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But it’s what’s under the skin that separates these two eco superstars. Chevy call the Volt an “electric car with a backup plan.” It’s powered by an electric motor, making 149 hp, with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder that acts as a generator.
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The increased battery-electric range, not the engine, is the Volt’s main selling point—it’s now a claimed 53 miles, up from the previous car’s mid-30s. This comes courtesy of a battery-capacity increase. With the average one-way commute just under 19 miles—according to a 2013 U.S. Census Bureau report—this means owners won’t have to mess with a gas pump if they recharge daily.
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The gas engine is EPA-rated at 42 mpg combined. We haven’t finished testing ours yet, but so far the trip computer has been showing mileage in the mid-30s mpg. With the Volt’s small, 8.9-gallon fuel tank, Chevy claims a potential EV/gas range of 420 miles.
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With our 240-volt connector, we observed a charging time of 4.5 hours. A portable home kit allows for 120-volt charging, but that will take at least twice as long. Still, an overnight charge is feasible that way.