In the sprawling metropolis of Phoenix, Arizona, traveling via automobile is a hard reality. With gas prices remaining steady, new car buyers are looking for options that can save them money at the pump. Consumers are particularly curious about the Chevy Volt and hybrid vehicles in general. Phoenix Chevy dealers are not only pushing the environmental and fuel saving benefits of their electric and gas-powered vehicles, but also the incentives offered by General Motors.
“We have very good rates right now on a 36 month lease that many customers are taking advantage of,” said Ivan Torres, a sales associate at a Phoenix-area Chevy dealership. “There are only two or three on the lot right now, so sales are doing fine.”
Low Rates, High Potential
Jim Rule, Internet Manager at a Chevrolet dealer in Chandler, also said their inventory is low because of very low lease rates on the 2012 models. “They ran some pretty aggressive lease programs and inventory was depleted within a couple of weeks,” Rule said. “We would lease the 2012’s for $3000 out of pocket and $270 per month, which is unheard of on a $40,000 vehicle,” he said.
But James Hogan, an internet sales consultant at Midway Chevrolet, said in an e-mail that the 25 percent discount at his location is in the form of $7,500 in federal tax credits, $750 from USAA, $1,000 from Farm Bureau and an additional $1,500 if you are a California resident. Hogan wrote they also have very competitive lease rates, starting at $1,529 down & $299 per month on 36 month lease for those with Tier 1 credit.
A Smooth Ride
Ivan Torres said the first thing test drivers generally notice is how smooth the engine runs on electricity and the power it has without using any fuel. Indicator lights will tell you if you’re driving in the most fuel efficient manner. “There is a meter on the dash that tells you exactly how fuel efficient you’re being based on how to press the pedal,” he said. When coasting or driving under 25 miles per hour, the meter has shown fuel efficiency as high as 120 miles-per-gallon, he said.
Fully Charged
J.D. Power and Associates ranked the 2012 Chevy Volt as “having the highest appeal among sub-compact cars and compact cars.” The ranking considered several factors, including driving dynamics, safety and gas efficiency. Based on a national average of 13.2 kilowatts for a full charge, charging the battery in full costs only $1.60 per day and can get you upwards of 40-50 miles without having to use any gasoline.
“Most people who are interested in the Volt are green people or those just looking to save money on gas,” said Rule. “Depending on the terrain and how you drive it, I’ve had people come back and tell they gotten over 80 miles on a single charge,” he said.
Rules and Torres both specifically pointed out the major difference between the Volt and other “hybrids” is that it can also run its gasoline generator after the battery is depleted, whereas other electric cars are simply dead and must be re-charged.