Inside Line: Comparison Test: 2011 Chevrolet Volt vs. 2010 Toyota Prius PHV

Inside Line: Comparison Test: 2011 Chevrolet Volt vs. 2010 Toyota Prius PHV
Electric car fans love the fact that gas stations are everywhere. It gives them plenty of chances to thumb their noses as they glide past in silence. They may enjoy their smug little ritual, but they're in the minority. The fact is, electric cars aren't very realistic for most people. They may get you to work and help you run a few errands, but their limited range means keeping a second gas-powered car around just in case.

The answer to this problem? Plug-in hybrids like the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and 2010 Toyota Prius PHV (plug-in hybrid vehicle). They combine two systems into one. They'll run on electricity when they can get it and keep on truckin' on gasoline, sans leash, when the batteries are spent.

But we must warn you; it takes more than the usual number-crunching to sort out what's what. When it comes to comparing plug-in hybrids like the Volt and the plug-in Prius, you can't merely focus on the gasoline side and assume the electricity is free.


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upwardsupwards - 12/11/2010 11:09:53 PM
-5 Boost
Volt wins.


LexusLexus - 12/12/2010 12:02:41 AM
+4 Boost
The Volt win because the Prius PHV is Not available for sale as of yet. And if you actually read the comparison the Toyota Prius is more efficient in both electricity and gasoline mode. It was dead heat comparison but the Prius lost because it Not available yet.

Give credit where credit is due.


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 12/12/2010 12:07:50 AM
-6 Boost
If you go through the numbers the Volt is also the more enjoyable car to own. The Electric motor in the Volt being more powerful (and thus less efficient) then the prius's gas and electric motors combined, never mind with the gas motor engaged and assisting it. Plus apparently in winter driving scenario's, the Prius PHV can only get 8 miles on a charge.


upwardsupwards - 12/12/2010 4:05:24 AM
-3 Boost
biased comment. 40 miles per charge easily beats a mere 13, the people that buy these cars will buy them mainly fore pure electric driving or else they would buy a conventional hybrid. The Volt is the clear winner here with a much faster pure electric range better handling and a faster 0 to 60 rating.


800over800over - 12/13/2010 3:53:54 PM
+2 Boost
upwards....by your calculations (the only ones that count i guess) the tesla beats them both....fun to drive/faster/further on electric only.

Either way the article says that the Prius is more efficient and loses because it's not on sale.


WorldofLuxuryWorldofLuxury - 12/12/2010 12:23:01 AM
+1 Boost
Technology-wish, I have no problem giving kudos to Toyota. If I only knew more to back myself up.


I95SPEEDINGTICKETSI95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 12/12/2010 12:31:29 PM
+7 Boost
Exactly


upwardsupwards - 12/12/2010 1:37:51 PM
-7 Boost
"GM still has some work to do"
1. You don't know the resale value of a car that's not even produced yet.

2.This car will be out in a year or two with only a 13 mile P.E.R compared to the Volts 40 in two years GM easily find a way to increase it by 25%.

Some comments are pure biased.


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 12/12/2010 2:18:09 PM
-5 Boost
"No bias, just facts

1. Volt has a resale value of ZERO!"

This is when I stopped reading.


katzilla52katzilla52 - 12/12/2010 12:00:28 PM
+10 Boost
I remember that GM used to advertise "230MPG" on Volt. But, now we find out that it is NOT.....

Was their original ad. was false???



Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 12/12/2010 12:21:23 PM
-4 Boost
nope, it's still capable of 230mpg, if take miles per gallon literally and ignore the cost of electricity.


upwardsupwards - 12/12/2010 1:41:09 PM
-3 Boost
Our if your commute allows you to take advantage of using no fuel at all why bother with a car that burns fuel?


800over800over - 12/13/2010 4:57:57 PM
+2 Boost
Joe....that's like saying an F150 gets 230 mpg as long as you never drive it.


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 12/13/2010 8:57:40 PM
0 Boost
hahaha no it isn't! miles per gallon formula requires the vehicle to be driven! lol 0miles/any amount of fuel will never be 230mpg.


Agent001Agent001 - 12/12/2010 1:29:39 PM
+8 Boost
How ridiculous. Buy the regular Prius III for 22k street price and zero percent financing and be happy with 50mpg.

Then take the remaining 15k and put a downpayment on a wind farm.

001


geoff448geoff448 - 12/12/2010 3:07:20 PM
-2 Boost
chevy volt actually looks legit.

I dont know why companies feel the need to make anything with an electric motor in it look like shit. Id buy the volt, looks great, has working breaks and water pumpss toyota FTL


ConfuseusSayConfuseusSay - 12/12/2010 5:00:48 PM
-3 Boost
I need a commuter car not a vacation car. I want an EV not a hybrid. Gas and oil sucks!


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 12/12/2010 6:17:35 PM
-7 Boost
Hmmmm, I'm thinking of putting together a $5000-$8000 ev recumbent trike for these purposes... with the right motor/battery choice I'm confident it'll annihilate any of the current ev selection. With a safety flag or two and some super bright custom LED tail lights/head lights I plan to overcome most of the safety issues of riding a bike on major roads. If I run out of power I still got pedal power :D


upwardsupwards - 12/12/2010 9:04:02 PM
0 Boost
Good luck MR Limon.


HarborChevroletHarborChevrolet - 12/12/2010 5:52:20 PM
-2 Boost
Volt's got my vote!


truckmantruckman - 12/12/2010 10:13:45 PM
0 Boost
The concept of the Volt is way ahead of the Toyota's, unfortunately Chev hasn't refined it enough to beat the new Prius.


truckmantruckman - 12/12/2010 10:13:45 PM
0 Boost
The concept of the Volt is way ahead of the Toyota's, unfortunately Chev hasn't refined it enough to beat the new Prius.


800over800over - 12/13/2010 4:48:28 PM
+4 Boost
This is my fav quote from the article....apologists for the Volt can have the sportier car:

"Driven the same way, our Prius PHV used 34 percent less gasoline in gasoline-hybrid mode and 41 percent less electricity in EV mode than the Volt."


800over800over - 12/13/2010 4:50:25 PM
+4 Boost
And here's my next fav:

"Assuming a 15,000-mile driving year — 1,250 miles per month — we distilled our measured consumption rates and their UFs down to a single monthly fuel cost:

2011 Chevrolet Volt $99.87
2010 Toyota Prius PHV $68.24"



FijianFijian - 12/13/2010 8:29:14 PM
-2 Boost
Every Toyota is a strip down model.Everything including the floor mats are an option (being cheap got them in this mess) about floor mats.They scam you with options.The Loaded Prius V costs about the same as a Volt and still does not have many options that are in the Volt.I owned a Lexus LX 470 purchased brand new with all the options.When the stereo broke I took it in and to my suprise only the face plate was Nakamichi.The unit was a Matsushita.What a scam.
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