Two companies, two plug-in hybrids, two disappointments. \u00a0First came the Chevy Volt, which reminds me of the old Mercury capsules: you don\u2019t get in, you put it on. There\u2019s no damn room in that car. Yes, the plug-in hybrid system is genuinely impressive, especially when you can pull a paddle behind the wheel for regeneration and slow the car almost as fast as braking while getting twice the power back to the battery. But there\u2019s no sunroof, the trunk is not particularly capacious, I don\u2019t know how well I\u2019d be able to fit in the back seat (if at all) and it\u2019s inherently compromised – it feels like it\u2019s smaller on the inside than out, as if all the space afforded by being a large-ish compact gets used in the service of the battery system.<\/p>\n
So we drove the Ford Fusion Energi instead, and that was even more compromised. Sure, full size, and sure, there\u2019s a sunroof, but it has two completely separate power systems and two completely separate batteries depending on whether it\u2019s in pure-electric or hybrid mode\u2026and based on that, the trunk space is virtually non-existent. No getting around it. So the Fusion Energi is shot. \u00a0At this point, it\u2019s going to have to be a regular electric-first hybrid\u2026and that means back to the Prius.<\/p>\n
Except the Prius V – for all the space, for the cavernous backseat, for the flat floorboard that means a legit five adults can sit in it – has no sunroof that opens and has a horrific proprietary entertainment system instead of just implementing CarPlay or Android Auto. And to even get the panoramic roof with retractable shades means the highest trim level and a technology package on top of that. So that\u2019s a special order, can\u2019t just get something off the lot. Which puts us back to square one.<\/p>\n
For a moment, square one meant the hybrid Jetta – which inexplicably means a seven-speed automatic transmission and better highway than city mileage, which kind of defeats the purpose of having a hybrid and makes me think it\u2019s a mild hybrid at best, something where the gas will always be running if the car\u2019s moving. Not particularly useful. \u00a0And I\u2019m wary of buying any Volkswagen that has more<\/em> electrical systems than the typical model, never mind a more<\/em> complicated transmission than the ultimately-disappointing Rabbit.<\/p>\n And then comes word that the ninth-generation Chevrolet Malibu will have a hybrid option based on the electrical system in the Volt. \u00a0Not a plug-in, this will be running the gas as often as a Prius, but it does get up to 55 mph before the gas motor has to kick on and will supposedly get an aggregate 47mpg with superior city mileage. And it uses CarPlay. And<\/em> it has the same regenerator paddle as the Volt. And<\/em> it has a real sunroof. \u00a0<\/p>\n Only problem is, it won\u2019t physically ship for a couple of months at least. But it\u2019s all largely proven technology; it\u2019s not like buying the first iteration of Chevrolet\u2019s electrical system (or even its first cut at a hybrid; there was a mild-hybrid Malibu some years ago). And it\u2019s possible I could buy it at invoice on an employer discount and continue my streak of never having to dicker over the cost of a new automobile. And<\/em> it would mean not having to install some sort of charger system in the house. And I could still pull through the drive-thru at In N Out with a clear conscience while still getting to Disneyland on one tank of gas.<\/p>\n For now, it\u2019s the leader in the clubhouse. Given that my family once went from 1970 to 1993 without buying any car that wasn\u2019t a Chevy, and that there was always one in the driveway or garage for the last 46 years, it just feels right. We\u2019ll see if that holds up once I\u2019m sat in the driver\u2019s seat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Two companies, two plug-in hybrids, two disappointments. \u00a0First came the Chevy Volt, which reminds me of the old Mercury capsules: you don\u2019t get in, you put it on. There\u2019s no damn room in that car. Yes, the plug-in hybrid system is genuinely impressive, especially when you can pull a paddle behind the wheel for regeneration … <\/p>\n