[VoltenRock]

Test drove a '17 LT with comfort yesterday. I had driven one before, and couldn't figure out why the Gen 2 felt less "sporty" than Gen 1 despite a bump in power. On paper, it should be a no brainer -- lighter weight, more power, etc.

It dawned on me during the test drive that the culprit seems to be the steering wheel itself and an overly-boosted electric assist.

My '13 Gen 1 steering feels super "tight" and weighted (and even the steering wheel itself feels more solid). The Gen 2 has light, effortless steering. It reminds me more of steering in certain larger floaty sedans. I also had a chevy cruze hatchback while on vacation over the summer (I did like it) and the steering feels very similar (which should be of no surprise).

Anyway, I definitely appreciate a tighter, weighted steering, but this is a matter of personal preference. Older BMWs had this, but then started abandoning it for some odd reason. I'm sure I'll get used to it if I get a '17 but I did find the difference between the generations notable.

Anyone with a Gen 1 who moved to a Gen 2 notice the same?

 

[Barry]

I did not have the same impression. My '13 Gen 1 has super light, effortless steering. Although it is still tight and excellent. Driving a Gen 2 for a week, I did not think the steering was any lighter or less sporty. I did find the acceleration of the gen 2 to be quite impressive, giving it a sportier feel overall to me. Maybe there is some variation in steering feel from car to car.

 

[VoltenRock]

Hey Barry, are you driving a Premier? Maybe it's because my '13 is (mostly) loaded and the LT was basically a base model. I doubt there would be any handling differences, but the steering wheel might be of higher touch material quality in the Premier. It could be model-to-model variation also. I'll be test driving another one and will check it out.

 

[Qinsp]

As far as I could tell, a 2013 with 18" wheels and decent tires is just as fast around an AutoX track as the G2 cars. It comes down to the driver.
My son who has a bit more track experience was in the 2016 and my daughter was in the 2013. On a 42 second lap, there was just under 1 second difference, advantage 2016.

 

[JRRF]

Older BMWs had this, but then started abandoning it for some odd reason.

Older BMWs had tighter steering because BMW used to be an enthusiast's car. BMW got away from this for the same reason the G2 has lighter steering -- to sell more cars. BMW pissed off the car magazines and enthusiast crowd, but laughed all the way to the bank. In the meantime they created a lot more "M" models with more horsepower and tighter steering, and bumped the price differential of all of them. Another cachink in the bank.

 

[Barry]

Hey Barry, are you driving a Premier? Maybe it's because my '13 is (mostly) loaded and the LT was basically a base model. I doubt there would be any handling differences, but the steering wheel might be of higher touch material quality in the Premier. It could be model-to-model variation also. I'll be test driving another one and will check it out.

Mine '13 not a premier, but has everything else including leather wrapped steering wheel.

 

[Mr X]

Yes exactly this. I remember Gen 1 having a nice tight, sturdy and weighted drive. Gen 2 has always felt very light, cloudy and loose.


It's the one thing I miss about my 14

 

[stephenrx7]

1 second on a 42 second autox course is long time!

 

[llninja]

I've resisted the urge to test drive the G2 and the ELR for fear of convincing myself that I just have to get one. The G1 is an awesome car if you stop comparing it with anything.

 

[Qinsp]

1 second on a 42 second autox course is long time!

She was closing in on him. She started in the 50's, and Tom started at 45. Tom had about 20 AX laps in his car before that day. Allison had 3. Our CT6 with 4 adults in it ran 40.8.

 

[wws]

Could it be a difference in tires and/or tire pressure?

 

[timoshev]

Lighten steering to sell more Volts?? Oh, please.... Try tires, wheels and slightly reduced front end weight.
I noticed no difference from Gen 1 to 2, although hard driving might accentuate any differences. In any case you can tailor the chassis with various mods to customize it to your taste. Or drive a Bolt EV right out of the box.

 

[VoltenRock]

Ok, quick update -- test drove another LT tonight. For whatever reason, it felt a little "tighter" in the steering. I did not notice the same thing from the same spec'd car from yesterday. Both cars had the same packages (comfort), both were siren red (the "fastest" color), but one had light ash/dark ash and the other jet black. The light ash steering wheel looked and felt "looser."

Bottom line -- jet black is faster.

I'm blaming psychology on this. The same way a red volt is faster, a black interior drives sportier.

 

[voganni]

Haven't driven a G2, but always loved the steering in Hal. Has a nice feedback, not too much assist. Our Camry and my Leaf both have/had almost no feedback/road feel. This seems typical of many electric power steering systems. My Volt is much nicer. Since it's given me 73000 flawless miles, I figure I better keep it.

 

[jbakerjonathan]

Ok, quick update -- test drove another LT tonight. For whatever reason, it felt a little "tighter" in the steering. I did not notice the same thing from the same spec'd car from yesterday. Both cars had the same packages (comfort), both were siren red (the "fastest" color), but one had light ash/dark ash and the other jet black. The light ash steering wheel looked and felt "looser."

Bottom line -- jet black is faster.

I'm blaming psychology on this. The same way a red volt is faster, a black interior drives sportier.

I'm wondering if the tires of both cars had the same air pressure. Higher pressure - lighter feel.

 

[viking79]

All I know is I picked up a 20 year old BMW Z3, and the steering on that has 100x better feel than the Volt. I don't mind the Volt, but after driving the Z3 for a while the Volt feels like an over boosted POS. However, driving the Z3 more than 30 minutes becomes tedious, and the Volt is much preferable for general driving

 

[JRRF]

However, driving the Z3 more than 30 minutes becomes tedious, and the Volt is much preferable for general driving

Alas my contention about selling more cars, and why BMWs (and Volts for that matter) are made with lighter steering than they used to be.

 

[jcanoe]

Most vehicles today have electrically assisted power steering. Sports car enthusiasts, other driving enthusiasts prefer the more connected feel of either fully manual steering (does this even exist anymore?) or the driver feedback that is possible with hydraulic assist power steering.

 

[DonC]

My friend who had a Volt 1.0 noticed this when he got his Volt 2.0. The new Volt is faster but feels slower! My guess is that it's the suspension. Generally the new Volt has a more comfortable ride whereas the original was more tuned to the sport side.

 

[Random]

After reading this thread yesterday afternoon, I tried to remember my 2014 Gen 1 steering vs. the 2017 Gen 2 premier (June, 2016). I put Mich. Pilot A/S on both VOLTs when new. As best as I can remember the Gen 1, I do not see much difference in the Gen 2 steering feel. Possibly the Gen 1 steering wheel leather was a bit softer, although I really like the Gen 2 heated steering wheel.

I definitely remember Gen 1 as a little better in some ways that make no sense, because I cannot define those ways other than jet black, warm and cozy; and not being able to squeal the tires seemed like better control off the line (but, of course there was less power). Suspension, interesting, maybe part of it.