Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
35 City / 40 HWY
Horsepower
149
Seats
4
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Jacob P
You have the option between two different types of fuel.
I enjoy the vehicle because it is a hybrid car that is fuel efficient. I like that I can choose between gas or electric.
accountCircle Julie N
Love this fuel efficient car, and would buy it again in a heartbeat
This car has been highly reliable, and gets amazing gas mileage! The seats are comfortable and there is plenty of room, even for my 6 foot husband. It has good power, you don't really realize that you're driving an electric hybrid. It takes a bit of getting used to looking out the back hatch...there's kind of an odd blind-spot toward the bottom.
accountCircle Blaus M
The hatchback has enough room for everyday things like grocery store run.
This is the best car I have ever owned. Excellent gas mileage, electric enough for my daily commute. Brakes last a long time due to the way it slows down when taking the foot off the gas. Love how quiet it is. Very comfortable for a small vehicle. Wish they hadn't discontinued the model.
accountCircle rong w
Great EV: For now and For future
A great electric vehicle (in fact, plug-in hybrid). Had it for 5 years by now, total gas used 198 gallons only. Having a small internal engine on board (full mileage 300 miles) is the most essential point in my mind. 50 miles is sufficient for daily use
accountCircle Matt C
For a daily commuter, you can't be the ease of operation and fuel cost savings
I love being able to charge my car up at home but still have gas to go a little farther if need be. It's comfortable to drive and almost silent. I love what I save in fuel costs but I don't love that it requires premium gasoline. That's my only major complaint
accountCircle Teresa W
Chevy volt is the best car I ever had!
I love my Chevy volt. I rarely use even a sip of gas since my daily commute is within the electric range. It has plenty of power and has been totally reliable. The air conditioner cools fine but the heater is not as effective as I would like, but overall the best car I have ever had.
accountCircle Hiram O
It's an EV and doesn't usually use any gas at all. Therefore it's inherently better than anything that doesn't have a plug and also is more functional than a short range EV for being an only car for a family.
It's an EV with a range extender built in, so yeah it's amazing. I do 90% or so of driving only as electric and only need to buy gas every other month. The only complaint I have is that there's only 4 seats. Chevy already fixed this in 2017 but I can't afford a newer car so I'm stuck with my family that fills up the car already.
accountCircle Laura A
I like the console - the layout looks futuristic.
I really like my 2012 Chevrolet volt. It has been reliable and I like the features. I like the features of remote start, automatic windows rolled down when button pushed to let hot air out in the summer. I like the sleek look. Someone told me it looks fast sitting still. It is design is great. I am 54 years old and the only problem I can suggest is that the car sits low to the ground for better energy consumption. As I get older it seems harder to get in and out being the car is lower to the ground. Otherwise I love not having to fill up with gas every week. The volt is the car of even more future technology. I have "knock on wood", not had any problems with my volt.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Candace R
This car sucks your wallet dry
My car doesn't hold a charge the check engine light wont go off taken it to the shops and they say there is nothing coming up I have had my car since 12/17 and already had 4 recalls on it the air bag sensor is going nuts the charger that comes with the car doesn't work totally not worth 22k dollars save your money don't buy this Vehicle
accountCircle Cassandra L
Volts are awesome for people with battery anxiety.
The battery is not as big as the newer volts, so I do not get as much out of a charge as I'd like. It is also premium has, which I hate. The positives are that I love that I only gas up once a month, but I also only drive about 100 miles a month. So it is good for my driving.
accountCircle Judy V
Good car that would be rated much higher if battery lasted longer.
The car drives very smoothly. It is very quiet, to the point you can't always tell if it is on. It is very roomy for a small car. The hatchback trunk has a large amount of space. I was quite shocked by how much I can fit. One feature I love is that it comes with a pump to inflate your tires. I have a long commute and am constantly running over nails and other small objects on the road. I have used the pump on several occasions, although it has recently died out after 7 years of a good amount of use. I love that the car has both electric and gas so I never have to worry about being stranded if I run out of charge. The only problem with the car is that I wish the electricity lasted longer. When I first purchased the car the battery lasted close 45-50 Miles, depending on how I drive (ie: fast over hills or slow flat land). Now I only get about 25-30 off a full charge.
accountCircle Mackenzie G
Volt provides a nice drive but has some instability.
The car drives very smoothly. Brakes are not too sensitive or hard making braking in traffic or at a red light smooth. The energy ball will only stay at steady level up until 55 mph and which the ball raises and stays at an acceleration which waste gas quickly as well as electricity if using charge. This seems to have a bit of inconvenience. The car is very eco friendly and energy efficient however, it is not built for long drives like road trips or any real driving on interstates that require speeds above 65mph. Another issue is the latches holding the charger and gas tanks door gets stuck sometime when it gets wet. I find this inconvenient when I am going to charge my car and I have to pry the charger door open. The car does have a lot of space inside which makes for cozy and comfortable drives. The dashboard also is easy to read and channel through to find the car readings you need to see.

Chevrolet Volt Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
5dr HB
149 HP 37 MPG 4 Seats
Photos may not match model

2012 Chevrolet Volt Owner Reviews

4.56
54 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 69%
4 stars 24%
3 stars 4%
2 stars 2%
1 star 2%
accountCircle Avalon B on May 10, 2021
Anti-power brakes: I do not like the brakes on my car the rear visibility.
My biggest vehicle problem is the low gas range. I also dislike the low battery range. The car is slightly older and therefore does not connect my phone correctly (acts like an iPod). I do not like the color (white). I also do not like the power brakes. Sometimes they do not start when the car does and the car roles which is scary.
accountCircle Steven F on April 2, 2021
It is one of few that is truly all electric and of those few it has an on-board generator that powers the batteries with gas. So, unlike Tesla, it is good for around town and still functional on longer trips as a traditional, gas-powered vehicle.
I like that it has a fully electric motor and an on-board generator for when your battery dies. I am 6' 8" and the driver's cockpit is bigger than my Ford F250; more legroom. Great gas mileage, heated seats, dependable, digital speedometer, tire pressure gauges, modern interior design and the overall look of the exterior. I also like the hatchback because I have a dog. I have had problems with the keyless entry not responding or locking me out but other than that it is the best car I have ever owned.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Brittany H.

It is great for short trips (~20 miles) and saves us quite a bit on gas. It is comfortable. Our model only has 4 seats. It does not have a middle seat in the rear, which makes it a little more difficult with a car seat.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Brittany H.

There is no middle seat in the rear, which makes it more difficult to have a car seat in the car. It only goes about 20 miles on it's charge. Repairs to the charging port can be expensive. The charger it comes with takes it all night to charge the car but the faster charger was expensive to install.

Ranks #7 Hybrid & Electric by Owners

The 2012 Chevrolet Volt has an average owner rating of 4.59 out of 5 which ranks it #7 of 22 other Hybrid & Electrics.

1
Tie
car
5
1
Tie
car
5
7
car
4.56

Ranks #9 Hybrid & Electric by Fuel Economy

The 2012 Chevrolet Volt has a combined MPG of 44 which ranks it #9 of 22 other Hybrid & Electrics.

1
car
126 MPG
2
car
110 MPG
9
car
40 MPG

Is The 2012 Chevrolet Volt A Good Car?

Yes. It is by far the best car I have ever had. Super quiet, excellent size. Charge lasts a long time when driving on small roads.
Candice B.

How Reliable Is The 2012 Chevrolet Volt?

It is very reliable. So far I have only had to run the regular maintenance a couple times. And change tires.
Sydney P.

Is The 2012 Chevrolet Volt A Good Value?

I bought it second hand and the price was adequate. Would pay that again. Sad that the Volt is discontinued.
Vera D.

Related Articles for 2012 Chevrolet Volt

From the Vehicle History blog

car
Chevrolet Volt Recalls: Everything You NEED To Know

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the replacement cost for a 2012 Chevy Volt headlight ?

Answer: As the owner of a 2012 Chevrolet Volt, You may have found Yourself in need of knowing the headlight replacement cost for Your vehicle. Replacing a bulb for low or high beams on this make and model can cost You...

What's the replacement cost for a 2012 Chevy Volt battery ?

Answer: If You are looking around how much You're going to spend replacing a battery on the 212 Chevy Volt, I can help You with that. If You are going to have a mechanic replace the battery for You, You can expect to...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety