The review author said "The two things that bugged me the most were the lack of an analog AUX input for my iOS podcast player and the lack of a tire pressure monitor. Both are present on the Chevy...

In CA, unless you pay for a separate meter ($$$, depending on many factors), if you typically are in the upper tiers and cannot time shift loads (e.g., due to people being home during the day and...

I would be careful with the "irrational" label--- it could simply be that they were "wrong" (big difference). A reasonable/rational consumer will not spend infinite time/effort to education himself...

I'm in California, so didn't really investigate that issue too much. My understanding is that in Auto mode, it will use battery for seat warmers, but will fire up ICE immediately if you turn on...

@adric22: #1 seems a bit paranoid-- if you're that worried, ditch the car! (Just teasing you, but kinda serious too). #2: The car does not allow the SOC to get dangerously low, and the long battery...

Good Q. It may be BS, but Ford claims to have a super efficient regen system which might show up on the EPA test driving circuits. Just a guess. Another guess it that since the max power of Fusion...

@pjwood:

I have an 85 mile (basically all highway) round trip commute that I do 2-3 times a week, including today. This morning, on a full charge, I burned 0.57 gallons one way in "automatic"...

By implication, you mean mountain mode in CS mode. Why would you do that (maybe you actually live in the mountains)?

In any case, when you get into CS mode (normally, via Hold in a '13, or via MM...

Just did my first empty-to-full charge. Took 2:10 and consumed 7.04kWh (per the charger). At 20% charge loss, that would be 5.6 kWh usable window for ~20 miles of EV. In real life, I will use...

Additional details on Energi performance is here:

http://media.caranddriver.com/files/2013-ford-c-max-energi-plug-in-hybrid-test-review-car-and-driver2013-ford-c-max-energi-plug-in-hybrid.pdf
...

Agreed. The battery placement / trunk situation gives the whole design a embarrassingly kludgey/retrofit feel, IMHO. But I guess that is the price paid for having Energi bits as afterthoughts...

Well, I find your tone a bit smug. "Slack off" is relative, but not subjective. I have experience in many cars from <100HP to >700HP on the street and track and the Volt's relative zippiness is...

The Volt accelerates strongly to about 60MPH then falls off a bunch in my experience. When accelerating from say 65mph to 80MPH to pass someone on the freeway, the Fusion feels MUCH faster and...

Roughly $2K down (total drive-off payment) and $500/month for 24 months. Volt is MUCH cheaper now given lease incentives. For most people, I would recommend the Volt.

@Sundance: no RWD in Fusion. My error (corrected above now).

@ Firehawk: Let me explain this way: around town, the ICE kicks in only when your wife would look at you like "Why are you going so...

You're right. I just did the same "test" and concluded the same. It's just the traction control making things feel weird. I was mistaken.

I actually never did a 0% to 100% charge. I did a bunch of little drives in between. This morning, the car reported 55% remaining all-EV capacity and chargepoint reports that it took 3.4 kWh to...

Hi Folks.

I have a 2012 Volt that GM is buying back. My first instinct was to get another Volt, but decided to shop around a bit to see what was now available. I like the styling of the new...

FYI, my buy-back deal is complete. I turn in car next week for a cash settlement. Despite my unlucky experience, I am still a fan of the car.

I don't have a new car deal lined up, but I have to...

It is curious that people get so ruffled when other suggest that the Volt is based on the Cruze and is a totally different car. Other than obvious drivetrain and touchscreen differences, the cars...