Phillies Nation Gets a Charge Driving the Volt

August 2, 2012 5:44 pm ET

Thrilled. That’s the word that comes to mind when driving the 2012 Chevy Volt. I’m not just throwing that word around, either. I’m serious when I say it was a joy to drive this car for a week thanks to GM Northeast.

I run a website called Phillies Nation that has me traveling from time to time around the Philadelphia region. In mid-July, we took a trip from Philly to Reading for the Double-A All Star game and Chevy allowed us to take the Volt with us. Everything about the car from the moment I got in it was exceptional. First, I had to make sure I turned it on correctly, but once I was past that, it was all good.

First off, it’s a joy to drive the first 35 miles and not worry about using any gas at all. All it takes is an overnight charge, which was slightly cumbersome due to my tight garage quarters. But really, that was no sweat. And no money was coming out of my wallet at the pump. So, I believe I got from Philly to Valley Forge before tapping into the gas tank.

The interior of the car is spacious and very modern. The display takes getting used to, as it’s different from every other car I’ve driven. But once you become accustomed to it, it’s no big deal. The navigation and touch-screen system stands out. And for me, an auxiliary jack is crucial – can’t go anywhere without my iPod! The center console provides plenty of room, and at 6-feet tall, I didn’t feel cramped at all (I’m no giant, but some cars just aren’t built for tall, lanky people).

The trunk space is fantastic, too. The sleek design turned heads – my girlfriend raved about how cool it was, and she was eager to jump in. But most of all, it comes down to driving. Beyond the incredible gas mileage (I think I used 1/2 a tank of gas in the 5 days I had the car), it handles very well and has some giddy-up, too. Now, it can’t be mistaken for a sports car by any means, but for a hybrid engine, it certainly gets up and goes. I had no trouble cruising on the open road and punching when needed.

Overall, it was a most enjoyable ride. Hopefully I’ll get to try one again!

-Pat Gallen, Editor-in-Chief, Phillies Nation

Check out the Phillies Nation episode filmed on the trip, and a special Volt cameo around the 6:20 mark.