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The February issue of Car and Driver magazine has a comparison test between the Volt and the Prius Prime. I don't want to ruin the suspense, so I'll just say one squeaked out a win over the other.
Car and Driver comparison, 2017 Volt verses 2017 Prius Prime.
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Have not read the article yet but am really interested in doing so. The Volt has always been my first choice in a hybrid but because of my situation the Prime may be a wiser choice. We are planing on moving from our house to a condo in the next 2 years and am unsure of the availability to recharge in the future. Hopefully with the rising popularity of EV's condo boards will be forced to retrofit their buildings to allow for charging. No crystal ball so maybe Prime is the better choice for me.
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I read the article. It gives great praise for the Volt, not so much for the Prime. It states that the Volt's rear room is cramped, even with the 5th seat, which is small and perched up with your head under the glass (all true). The Prime's backseat has much more room, but only seats two instead of three. Basically, the Prime is slow and UGLY. The Volt is fast and looks good. They end by saying that the Volt does cost more money, but it is money well spent over the Prime, AND it is the best Plug In Hybrid Built to Date!!
That should get the Prius fanboys all riled up. haha
Cue the wailing about "It's not REALLY a hybrid if it plugs in!" (C'mon, we all know it'll be said soon enough....)
Prime has 25 miles of EV range vs 53 for Volt, and Volts EV mode is more powerful and capable (without any compromise in max power or speed). So, for most users, Volt is definitely a better car. Prime may be a better option for someone that regularly drives over 150 miles per day without charging ... a very small demographic, if at all.
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I was having a bit of fun when I said one "squeaked" out a win over the other. Actually the Volt won by a rather large large margin, 209 to 175. The Prius Prime only won in interior space and as tested price. In all areas the Volt won decisively, particularly in the electric only acceleration and looks, where C&D say the Prius ¨looks like something you´d find lurking in the Mariana Trench¨. The Volt was also more fuel efficient in C&D´s 150 mile trip.
Even for a 250 mile daily trip, I would certainly use the Volt over the Prius. Prolonged driving in the Prius hurts my spine and the constant swaying from winds and big rigs seemed like the Prius is a rag doll. I haven't driven the Prime yet to see for myself if the ride is comfortable for long trips.
I used to say that my Sienna is more comfortable to drive on long trips than my Volt, but now, I feel much safer and more comfortable with the 2017 Volt, even though I can't see cops further away, but who cares, I'm always driving within the speed limit with my Volt.
I used to say that my Sienna is more comfortable to drive on long trips than my Volt, but now, I feel much safer and more comfortable with the 2017 Volt, even though I can't see cops further away, but who cares, I'm always driving within the speed limit with my Volt.
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They even said the trunk space difference was small. I have used Edmunds dimensions to calculate trunk volume for the Volt and the Prius and found that GM was very conservative and Toyota was wildly optimistic with their given volumes. I believe, measured the same, the cargo capacity of the Prime is likely very similar to the Volt. Also interesting is that the interior measurements for space front and rear seem very similar...maybe even favoring the Volt. This is at odds with the perception of the testers (as well as others). I know I've put 4 in my Volt a bunch of times now and people rave about the rear seat (although, nobody is particularly tall and I do recognize the headroom isn't great in the Volt).
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I am only 5 feet 9 inches. When I sat in the back of a 2017 with my family when we compared it against the Pacifica, I immediately noticed that my hair brushed the headliner. I found that to be incredibly annoying. Also, when I looked up, I noticed that my head was actually "under" the back glass. I found that to be incredibly disconcerting. When we got home, I did the same test in my 2012 Volt (we were in my wife's Saturn Outlook at the dealerships) and my hair doesn't brush against anything, nor am I perched under the glass. There is obviously more seat room in the 2017, but I believe that extra seat room was gained by pushing the occupant farther back under the glass which gives less headroom.
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Height alone is not enough information. What's your inseam?
And age and location for good measure.
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Funny, LOL. I have been in a 34 my whole adult life.And age and location for good measure.
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Yeah, I'm 5'9" and I'm nowhere close to touching the glass. With a 34 inseam (I'm a 30), you must have very tall hair.
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Nope, being prior military, I keep it pretty short. I looked it up to verify the numbers and there is indeed less headroom in the rear than my 2012. Hair was NOT touching the glass, but was brushing the headliner. In the back, your head is actually UNDER the glass, which is pretty weird feeling. I kept thinking about having an accident. Wouldn't be a problem for a child or some teens, but most adults, yuck.
2017 rear headroom = 35.8
2012 rear headroom = 36.0
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2014 ELR rear headroom = 34.7 in. Explains why the 17-yr-old thinks it sux.
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Prius forum has been fun to watch. Not saying this is as fun to watch as the meltdowns which followed after the McLaren P1 got destroyed by the Porsche 918, but still amusing.
https://priuschat.com/threads/car-and-driver-volt-prime.175178/
https://priuschat.com/threads/car-and-driver-volt-prime.175178/
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I suppose if I lean forward, I get close to the headliner. If I sit normally (head under glass), I have quite a bit room. I'm fairly sure GM has a good justification for the head under glass, but I certainly understand anyone's feeling of unease about it.
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The Link which was not included with original post: https://www.magzter.com/article/Automotive/Car-and-Driver/Tortoise-And-The-Hare?
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