Volt named one of top 10 underappreciated vehicles

Chevrolet’s Volt has been named to a laundry list of awards and accolades, but a recent dubious distinction is its being named to Cars.com’s list of Top 10 Underappreciated Cars and Trucks. Hey that’s not bad right? Sort of like an honorable mention with implications that it is just waiting to be discovered? Not sure, but here’s what Cars.com’s Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder wrote about the Volt as republished in the Chicago Tribune: All plug-in cars are expensive, but so are luxury vehicles, and the reasons for driving both prove to be surprisingly similar. As owners, we know the Volt has downsides, as all cars do, and we accept that they’re deal-breakers for some shoppers. But Volt resistance seems to be more about partisan pretzel logic and safety misperceptions than about the car itself. GM’s sales expectations were too high, but the Volt definitely deserves more success than it’s seen so far. Many people have said the Volt deserves more success than it’s seen so far, but it still has detractors throwing mud at it. If you’re interested, the complete list of vehicles Americans have not appreciated enough are: 1. Ford Flex–This seven-seat gem is terrific, yet it’s outsold five-to-one by the Ford Explorer. 2. Suzuki Kizashi–An efficient sedan that’s fun to drive and has a stunningly high-quality interior. 3. Mazdas (all models)–These fun-to-drive vehicles are just as good as the competition but lag competitors, sometimes drastically, in sales. 4. Kia Optima–With its handsome exterior, high-quality interior and generous standard-equipment endowment, there’s no question why the Optima was chosen as Cars.com’s Best of 2011. 5. Hyundai Genesis–It was awarded our top honor when introduced in 2009, and has only improved since. 6. Nissan Quest–With a troubled past, the new, competitive, high-quality Quest has yet to build a name for itself. 7. Dodge Challenger– Voted Cars.com’s Shoppers’ Choice Award winner in 2012, it is roomier and far more comfortable than virtually all of its direct, better-selling competitors. 8. Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen–A surprisingly versatile, fun car that beats many of its trendy crossover competitors. 9. Chevrolet Avalanche–It does the work, serves as a five-seat SUV or full-length pickup truck, and comes from a trusted truck brand. 10. Chevrolet Volt–Though GM’s sales expectations were too high, the Volt definitely deserves more success than it’s seen. Of all of them, Mazda can say the loudest “ouch!” Its entire lineup is considered underappreciated, but Cars.com says there is sort of a silver lining to it all. “Good products usually sell themselves, but that’s not always the reality,” said Wiesenfelder. “There are so many great options on the market and these 10 vehicles are no exception. Our editors recommend that car shoppers research and test drive these models if they’re already shopping for similar cars. They might even get a good deal because these are not moving off lots as fast as some of their competitors.” So, being named to the 10th car listed on Cars.com’s write-up of 10 underappreciated vehicles is not meant to say the Volt is bad. On the contrary, the publication says it is a good car, but not enough people are catching on in a timely manner. Since we all know it is a great car, perhaps the question that persists is: what’s it going to take?

Source: GM-Volt.com