is still the best Chevrolet in the used car market. It has excellent marks in safety, style, and fuel efficiency, helped along by its revolutionary hybrid engine.

The Chevrolet Volt was considered one of the world’s best hybrid cars when it first came out. It’s a reputation that has remained firm in the decade that’s passed since its inaugural model, the 2011, was released. The Volt demonstrated once and for all that a hybrid car doesn’t have to be boring, with its smooth but fierce acceleration and instantaneous responsiveness.

Considering that hybrid vehicles are still on the pricier side, saving money by buying used is a wise move. But how do you know which hybrid is a tortoise and which is a hare? That’s where

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Chevrolet insurance costs

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The best used Chevrolet to buy: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

Chevrolet prides itself on its history of designing and building powerful gas-powered sedans and trucks. But with the hybrid market taking off at full speed internationally, it’s unsurprising that the American company would want to throw its hat in.

Expectations for the Chevrolet Volt weren’t exactly high, but by year’s end, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt was one of the manufacturer’s most awarded vehicles, including earning the top spot as Motor Trend Car of the Year.

What makes the 2011 Chevrolet Volt a good used car?

The Volt had a solid nine-year career before Chevrolet decided to focus more of its attention on SUVs and the all-electric Bolt. So out of the nine model years available, what makes the 2011 stand out?

There are four key factors that we take into consideration when deciding which car is the best of its type: true cost to own, safety features, reliability, and customization. Let’s examine each one:

True cost to own: When buying a car, whether new or used, we tend to stop considering expenses beyond the purchase price. But while some cars are more expensive to buy, others can be more expensive to own, and some are both or neither. We determined which of the Volts was neither.

Safety features: Older cars aren’t usually up to date with the best safety features, but some could very well be ahead of their time. So for the best used Chevrolet, we considered models with safety features that are still competitive in today’s market.

Reliability: A used car purchase is always a throw of the dice, especially where reliability is concerned. Previous ownership plays a huge part, of course, but so does the car’s reliability record when it was new. That’s what we considered when choosing the right Chevrolet.

Customization and styling: You may not be able to customize a used car the way you would a new one, but that doesn’t mean you have to be stuck with cars that are out of style! We considered which cars in the Chevrolet lineup had the best interiors that could stand up to the test of time.

MORE:

Chevrolet car-buying guide

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The true cost of owning a 2011 Chevrolet Volt

As mentioned, a car’s true cost of ownership starts with the purchase price but also factors in additional operational costs like maintenance, insurance, average repair costs, gas mileage, and more.

So even though the Toyota Prius is considered the darling of the hybrid world, the Volt has lower overall ownership costs over five years. In addition, its reliability is often praised, meaning it shouldn’t necessitate many costly trips to the mechanic.

On the downside, the Volt is more expensive to insure than many other Chevrolets, which does add to its overall ownership costs.

Purchase price

When it was new, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for a 2011 Chevrolet Volt started at $40,280. Used Volts these days cost around $13,220 on average, depending on mileage.

Costs of operation

The key to keeping expenses down in terms of financing starts with your loan. Make as high a down payment as you reasonably can. If you have a good credit score, both of these contributions will help keep down your loan payments and interest accrued.

Depreciation costs slow down as cars age because it’s largely calculated as a percentage instead of a dollar value. As the 2011 Volt is already over a decade old, the car will retain more of its value throughout your ownership. In addition, with the recent rise of gas prices, hybrid cars are more desirable, and that means their value is now higher.

Speaking of gas prices, fuel costs for the Volt are, as you’d expect from a hybrid, low when compared to most of Chevrolet’s lineup. Where you might have an issue, however, is the car’s battery.

Because the 2011 is older, its battery pack has seen its fair share of wear and tear. But that’s to be expected from any hybrid car over a certain number of years old. A properly maintained Chevrolet Volt should have a battery that only loses 10-30% after the first 100,000 miles and is fully expected to last up to 200,000 miles before it needs replacing.

Key Takeaway The Chevrolet Volt benefits from low operational costs, including slow depreciation, great fuel efficiency, and a sturdy battery.

Safety features of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt

Because the 2011 Volt is only available as a hatchback, it’s aimed toward a clientele that values practicality and safety as well as performance and handling, all of which the Volt has in spades.

And that means the Chevrolet Volt has a bevy of standard safety features, including the following:

Child door locks

Child seat anchors

Driver airbag

Passenger airbag

Driver knee airbag

Front head curtain airbag

Stability control

Traction control

Emergency and security services

Front and rear parking sensors

The

NHTSA

gives the Volt a five-star rating for overall safety, including perfect scores for side and rear crash test safety and near perfect for the front.

In addition, the

IIHS

crash safety rating is green across the board, with almost every category earning the highest score of “Good” (with one “Acceptable”).

Is the 2011 Chevrolet Volt a reliable used car?

Customers and experts nationwide agree that the 2011 Chevrolet Volt is one of the most reliable vehicles on the road. It’s scored well with a wide number of reputable car reviewers, who praise it for its solid build and low number of reported issues. Over the last 10 years, the 2011 Volt has only ever seen one recall, which is an extremely rare occurrence.

But a car’s reliability is not only as good as its maker but also its owner. Once in your possession, regular maintenance is the difference between extending the working life of your car and its early and often costly demise. Maintenance helps keep wear and tear under control, and you’re more likely to catch any issues before they develop into major problems.

Overall, a 2011 Chevrolet Volt can reasonably last between 150,000 and 200,000 miles.

MORE:

Basic car maintenance schedule

Customization and styling

In terms of customization and styling, unfortunately, you’re not going to see much variety among the 2011 models. The inaugural Volt only had one body style and one trim, which means customization options were limited.

But the Volt makes up for this with interior styling that takes on a sleek, simple approach that should appeal to a wide range of tastes.

How to find affordable insurance for a used Chevrolet

As mentioned above, the

average cost to insure a Chevrolet Volt

is typically more than most other Chevrolet vehicles. A Volt costs around $2,600 a year to insure, which is less than many new Chevys but leaves room for improvement.

That’s where

Jerry

comes in. Jerry’s much more than a fully

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