Could small cars finally make a comeback?
For years, it seemed like sedans, hatchbacks, and station wagons—traditional cars, non-SUVs—were headed the way of the dinosaur. And, for years, that’s how things actually headed, and now, no matter which automaker’s showroom you walk into, you’ll more than likely see it filled with SUVs. These days, however, we’ve begun to hear a different sentiment from automakers’ PR teams, suggesting that more manufacturers are keen to bring back real cars to their lineups, recognizing a shift in consumer desire towards more affordable, less unnecessarily large and inefficient, smaller cars. That’s good news, if true, not just for driving enthusiasts who everlastingly yearn for adrenaline from behind the wheel, but also for budget-conscious buyers who increasingly feel like new-car prices have gotten entirely out of hand.
Although there have been plenty of notable losses in the enthusiast car world since the SUV virus attached itself to the automotive industry’s membrane, like the rally-ready Ford Focus RS and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, there are few fallen soldiers more prominent than the Chevy Volt for those who really don’t care about cars, but still need one. The loss of the Chevy Volt wasn’t as significant as it is because it’s a sexy car people miss dearly, obviously, but rather because it was one of the first mass-produced EREV-style plug-in hybrid cars in North America.
General Motors
The Volt was also genuinely affordable for what it offered, with the model starting at just $33,520 as late as 2019—its final production year—and has since proven to be remarkably durable, supremely efficient, and with admirable travel distance capability, thanks to its range extender: a combustion-powered, 1.5-liter four-cylinder. With a full battery charge and a tank of petrol, the Volt could travel up to 420 miles without stopping, and its range on battery power alone was an impressive 53 miles. In full EV mode, the Volt was EPA-rated for 106 MPG-e, and it could even achieve up to 42 MPG in gas-only mode.
General Motors
Why the Volt deserves a second chance
With four doors, a spacious interior, respectable cargo capacity, that kind of efficiency, just shy of 300 lb-ft of torque, and a price tag under $35,000, it’s a real damn shame that this segment didn’t take off as it should have at the time. It seems now that, with the automotive industry shifting its direction the way it is, that’s where we’re headed anyway—towards more innovation and normalization of hybrids and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Nowadays, though, because almost everyone has given up on compact PHEV hatchbacks and sedans, the only remaining market entry like it is the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid. So now, Toyota has this segment entirely to itself—the segment that everyone else gave up on, but is now set to be a hotbed of innovation and volume sales ambition—and the plug-in-Prius’s sales figures are actually increasing for the first time in over a decade.
Automakers will need to act swiftly if they intend to catch the incoming wave of EREV-powered compact-car desirability. Few are as ready to do so as Chevrolet, which has already built a respectable pedigree in the segment with the two previous generations of its Volt and has well-proven technology available to be genuinely competitive against likely Japanese, Korean, European, and even domestic foes. It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see the Chevy Volt return in the near future, with its aim set squarely on the PHEV Prius and a base price tag somewhere in the low- to mid-30s. So, let’s take a look at what that could look like, just for fun, and how it could actually succeed in captivating frugal commuter seekers and automotive enthusiasts alike.
Cole Attisha Using Adobe Photoshop, Midjourney 7.0, and Gemini 2.5 Flash Image
Here’s what it could Look Like
With Adobe Photoshop, Midjourney 7.0, and Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, I’ve created a few renders depicting what a revived Chevy Volt might look like, incorporating the original Chevy Volt’s familiar silhouette and the updated design language of contemporary Chevrolet models. Of course, what would an imaginary car be without showcasing the endless possibilities for what Chevy could do with the new Volt, including something along the lines of a Volt SS—perhaps as somewhat of a spiritual successor to the cult classic Cobalt SS? So, I gave it some aggressive yet subtle aero bits to give it a racier look, and, of course, I’ve also nicked the wheels off a Blazer EV SS, because why not have some fun with it?
Cole Attisha Using Adobe Photoshop, Midjourney 7.0, and Gemini 2.5 Flash Image
Even if Chevy left the base Volt’s powertrain entirely unchanged from its discontinued state, its respectable torque should be more than enough to keep things moving at a steady pace. Though the discontinued Volt offered drivers just shy of 150 horsepower and an impressive 294 lb-ft of torque, I do hope that if the model does get a renewed shot at life, it’d make somewhere closer to 200 horsepower to more closely rival the plug-in hybrid Prius’s 220-horsepower. Of course, who wouldn’t also love to see a spicier, more athletic variant with a wild side, that could allow more frugal driving enthusiasts to have their cake and eat it too. It could offer the comfort and convenience of the standard Volt combined with a taste of the lightning-quick driving dynamics of electrified GM performance models like the Chevy Blazer EV SS and the Cadillac Optiq-V.
Cole Attisha Using Adobe Photoshop, Midjourney 7.0, and Gemini 2.5 Flash Image
Final thoughts
Although it was never the sexiest or most fashionable car in the world, the reality is that the Chevy Volt was one of the best cars out there when it came to making your life easier, which is precisely everything that a car should be. With a spiffy redesign and a hotted-up SS version to top off the model range to add at least a little bit of sex appeal to the idea of owning a Volt, I could see the model finally getting the attention and seeing the volume sales success it’s always deserved. The Volt was genuinely ahead of its time when Chevrolet debuted it, and now that the time is finally right, it’s nowhere to be seen. I think that’s a shame, Chevrolet, and I really do believe it’s a model worthy of redemption.
About the author
Cole Attisha
Staff Writer, Autoblog