LOS ANGELES — The Chevrolet Volt was named 2016 Green Car of the Year today at the L.A. auto show, the first time a vehicle has won the award in two succeeding model generations.
Judges noted the 2016 model’s “sleek and sporty design, more energy-dense batteries, new electric motors, and quicker acceleration.” The car has a more efficient 1.5-liter engine-generator that creates on-board electricity to power the Volt’s motors for a total 420 miles.
The Volt beat a field of finalists that includes the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, Hyundai Sonata and Audi A3 E-Tron.
“Unlike the first generation where we had no owner base and had to figure it out, we now have a base of 80,000 loyal buyers,” said Steve Majoros, marketing director for Chevrolet cars and crossovers.
The Volt will be a cornerstone of marketing campaigns, he said. Additionally, “we have a lot more plans for electrification.”
The 2016 Volt is the second generation of the hybrid, which went on sale this fall with a range of 53 miles on electricity alone — beating the automaker’s prediction that the second-generation car would reach 50 miles under battery power.
“This is the first time in Green Car of the Year history that a vehicle has won the award in two succeeding model generations,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal. “Considering all the brands and models evaluated in the award program, that’s quite a statement. The Chevrolet Volt was a standout when it won 2011 Green Car of the Year and continues in that role today as the 2016 Green Car of the Year.”
