Chevy Volt vs 2017 Toyota Prius Prime Plug-In Hybrid: Very Brief Comparison by a Volt Owner
Ivan Jue, who has contributed EV related articles to TorqueNews, shared this very interesting comment comparing his Chevy Volt experience with the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime Plug-In Hybrid. Here is Ivan in his own words.
I don't get it either. One of the biggest reasons I chose the Volt was due to the largest battery range. On most weeks, the engines of our '14 and '16 don't even switch on for our daily commutes, weekend events, etc. But I have gone to LA, Yosemite, or Reno (in winter) without worrying about lines at public chargers or worrying about making it to my destination. I consider the Volt as 2 cars in one--an EV on most days that switches to a hybrid when the battery is flat.
The Gen 2 Volt is really crammed full with probably the biggest engine and battery combo for use in North America. Engine can handle the steep mountains without suddenly reducing power and speed. The fuel tank size reduces the inconvenience of filling up whenever the ICE is used in an emergency. Aside from the road trips, I usually refill every 3 months (or every 4000 miles).
Battery is the largest possible (with the necessary thermal management system). The compromise is in the interior (which is fairly small, especially with the tiny perch for a center seat).
The Prius Prime is frighteningly close to what the Gen 1 Volt was (though with less range). No CarPlay or 4G, seats 4, and has ~20 mile range). I read that there is a last minute push to modify the rear seat so it can seat 5, however.
Editor's note: Why do you think automakers are obsessed with Plug-in hybrids with less than 30 miles of EV range?
Also See: Chevy Volt vs Toyota Prius Plug In: Prius Owners Praise Volt as an Excellent Alternative