The Chevrolet Volt is a compact car built from 2011 to 2026 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 100% of those on record. Between 2011 and 2020 it grew 8 cm longer and gained -97 kg. Engines offered: Plug-in hybrid. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 5.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Volt is
The Chevrolet Volt is a compact car that Chevrolet built from 2011 to 2026 — 16 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2016. It has been offered with Plug-in hybrid power. Its closest siblings in the Chevrolet range: Nova, Sonic, Cavalier.
Where the Volt is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 1,808 Volts on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1G1 | 2011-2019 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Chevrolet VIN decide which of these 2 lines your Volt belongs to. What every character in a Volt VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Chevrolet Volt adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Volt generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Volt's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Volt that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-2015 | 450 cm | 269 cm | 1704 kg | - | - |
| 2016-2020 | 458 cm | 269 cm | 1607 kg | +8 cm | -97 kg |
Between 2011 and 2020 the Volt gained 8 cm in length (+1.8%) and -97 kg in weight (-5.7%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Volt that is -97 kg against 8 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Chevrolet Volt tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Volt owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Chevrolet Volt have? Power & range
The Chevrolet Volt is offered with 1 powertrain — 1.5L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Chevrolet Volt, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plug-in hybrid | 1.5L · 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | Regular Gas or Electricity |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Volt by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Chevrolet Volt. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Volt | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 15 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 1,859 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 5.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,251/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 334 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Chevrolet Volt?
The Volt is a compact car, built from 2011 to 2026 across 2 generations. Engines offered: Plug-in hybrid.
Where is the Chevrolet Volt made?
Across 1,808 cars in our records the split is: the United States (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Volt have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2016. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Volt grew 8 cm longer and gained -97 kg.
What is the Chevrolet Volt warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Volt reliable?
It scores 5.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Volt?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Chevrolet
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado | 1999–2026 | 444 | 27 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Chevrolet Equinox | 2005–2026 | 64 | 109 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Chevrolet Camaro | 1981–2026 | 204 | 25 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Chevrolet Traverse | 2009–2026 | 75 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | 1995–2026 | 169 | 24 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 1981–2026 | 153 | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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