To you car enthusiasts out there:
If I want to find out right now what the Volt is like, by visiting a new car showroom and looking at the 2009 or 2010 model cars, what car model(s) should I be looking at? I know I will not get the driving experience, but I should be able to see pretty close what the Volt looks like on the outside, same tires etc. Also on the inside, I might not get the details but how about a car with the same inside dimensions?

Were I to guess, it's going to feel much like a Malibu but sized more like a
Cobalt.

KariK,

I thought the Volt was based on the Opel Astra platform, so if you can find one of those, you're golden.

Actually, the Volt platform is based on the Chevy Cruze platform, which is the 2010 replacement for the much-maligned Chevy Cobalt.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10315077-48.html

In theory, the interior space of the Cruze should be the same as the Volt, except for the large battery hump in the Volt back seat. The driving experience would probably be significantly different, owning to the difference between gas and electric drive train, and because the Volt has an extra 400lb battery mounted in the chassis.

Swimdad,

Yes, the Cruze and Volt share the same platform, but you can't kick their tires. The Opel Astra is available today.

You can drive the Cruze in Korea today.. its called Daewoo Lacetti Premiere. Please dont tell anyone the Volt is based on the Cruze, they will start making unfortunate comparisons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Cruze

The Volt shares it's platform, chassis and many other parts with the Chevy Cruze. The Cruze has no doubt been designed with the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Ford Focus as benchmarks. I would expect the Volt and Cruze to drive and feel much like these cars only possibly (fingers crossed) a little better.