How many miles to the gallon does a Chevy Volt get?
The Chevy Volt delivers roughly 40 miles per gallon (mpg) when running on gasoline alone and about 100 miles per gallon-equivalent (MPGe) when operating on its electric drivetrain. Exact figures depend on the model year and driving conditions.
How the Volt measures fuel economy
The Volt is a plug-in hybrid, meaning it uses electricity from its battery for short trips and a gasoline engine for longer drives. EPA ratings distinguish MPGe (electricity-effective efficiency) from traditional mpg (gasoline efficiency). Over the years, the Volt’s MPGe and gasoline mpg have varied slightly with design tweaks and weight changes.
Electric efficiency and MPGe
Electric operation is reported as MPGe. The Volt’s MPGe has hovered near the high 90s to low 110s across model years, reflecting its ability to run on battery power for daily commuting before the gasoline engine kicks in.
- 2011–2015 Volt models: MPGe generally in the high 90s combined when running on electricity; gasoline-only mpg typically in the mid-30s when the battery is depleted.
- 2016–2019 Volt models: MPGe typically around 106–112 combined on electric power; gasoline-only mpg around 42 mpg when operating on gasoline alone.
These ranges reflect EPA estimates and real-world results can vary with driving style, climate, and charging habits. A common pattern is strong electric efficiency for short commutes and modest gasoline efficiency once the battery is exhausted.
Gasoline-only mpg by model year
When the battery no longer powers the vehicle and the car runs solely on the gasoline engine, mpg figures apply. This section outlines typical EPA gasoline mpg by generation.
- 2011–2015 Volt: gasoline mpg generally in the mid-30s combined (about 35–37 mpg).
- 2016–2019 Volt: gasoline mpg around 42 mpg combined, reflecting improvements in efficiency and design.
In practice, gasoline-only efficiency improves modestly with later generations, but the vehicle’s overall efficiency hinges on how often you use electric driving and how often you plug in to recharge the battery.
Summary
The Chevy Volt offers dual-fueled efficiency: around 100 MPGe when using electricity and about 40–42 mpg on gasoline alone, depending on the model year. Early models leaned toward ~35–37 mpg in gasoline mode with MPGe near the high 90s, while later models improved gasoline mpg to about 42 and MPGe into the low 110s. Real-world results depend on charging habits, driving patterns, and climate.
