[Ken]

Fold down rear seats. Not sexy, but makes a much more versatile vehicle for anyone who sometimes has to move some medium-bulky items as well as commuting. This feature would definitely make me choose a Prius over a Civic hybrid - though I sure hope the Volt is out before my current car dies so I don

 

[DaV8or]

Don't worry. The current concept they're showing now has fold down rear seats. I'm sure the production car will too. They have said that it will be a four door hatchback for sure. This pretty much ensures a fold down rear seat.

 

[BigRedFed]

Out of luck on the Civic

Fold down rear seats. Not sexy, but makes a much more versatile vehicle for anyone who sometimes has to move some medium-bulky items as well as commuting. This feature would definitely make me choose a Prius over a Civic hybrid - though I sure hope the Volt is out before my current car dies so I don

 

[igotzzoom]

Fold down rear seats. Not sexy, but makes a much more versatile vehicle for anyone who sometimes has to move some medium-bulky items as well as commuting. This feature would definitely make me choose a Prius over a Civic hybrid - though I sure hope the Volt is out before my current car dies so I don

Amen to that! I have a saying..."Once you go hatch, you never go back!" I wasn't sure if the Volt was going to be a conventional 4-door or 5-door, but the fact it's the latter is definitely a plus in my book. The photos I've seen so far of the production prototype looks like it has fixed rear seats, but I would have to say GM should consider folding rear seats mandatory. I know the bulky T-shaped battery is probably going to give it a snugger cargo area than a Prius or Fit, but it seems buyers for these type of vehicles expect some level of utility and practicality out of them.

 

[LCampise]

Big enough for a bike...

Does anyone have a sense of if -- with the rear seats folded down -- a bike will fit? This is a huge issue for me! Thanks. -Leon

 

[DaV8or]

Does anyone have a sense of if -- with the rear seats folded down -- a bike will fit? This is a huge issue for me! Thanks. -Leon

Just based on the pictures and cars of a similar size and design, I would say yes, one bike will fit. I saw the original concept in the flesh and that car could have held a bike and the production one seems to be a bit bigger. We'll just have to wait and see for sure though.

 

[Altazi]

Is there a car that I could go see now that would be very close in interior space and arrangement to the Volt, except for not having 5 seats? I recall someone saying that it was smaller than a Malibu, and my son's 1998 Malibu seems pretty small to me already. If the Volt is much smaller than a Malibu, I might have to skip it altogether

 

[zzyzzx]

They make cars where the back seats don't fold down???

 

[BestTimesNow]

Here's a video showing the hatch back and other info from the WSJ

http://online.wsj.com/video/aerodyn...olt/8C3A7F0E-C902-4D7A-A530-BF3CC0B5BF88.html

 

[zzyzzx]

Looks like a hatchback with nice amount of space in the back!
Now if I could only get them to make one with 2 doors instead of 4.