2013 Chevrolet Volt: MPG and fuel economy
The 2013 Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid rated at 37 combined MPG by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It returns 35 MPG in the city and 40 MPG on the highway.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2013 Chevrolet Volt. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 37% better combined MPG than the average car in the Compact Cars class for the 2013 model year (27.1 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2013 model year is the Ford Focus Electric at 105 MPG.
- The Chevrolet Volt has gained 5 MPG since its first rated model year, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt at 37 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car saves around $5,000 in fuel over five years compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year.
- Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2013 Chevrolet Volt. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 37 MPG |
| City MPG | 35 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 40 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $1,850 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 81 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium Gas or Electricity |
How the 2013 Chevrolet Volt compares
The 2013 Chevrolet Volt returns 37 combined MPG. Cars in the Compact Cars class for the same model year average 27.1 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 37%.
The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2013 model year is the Ford Focus Electric at 105 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Chevrolet Volt alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2013 model year (across all classes) returns 23.4 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2013 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 405.4 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $925 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $1,850 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $3,083 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Chevrolet Volt
The EPA has rated the Chevrolet Volt across 9 model years, from 2011 Chevrolet Volt through 2019 Chevrolet Volt. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
The 2011 Chevrolet Volt returned 37 MPG. The most recent 2019 Chevrolet Volt returns 42 MPG. That is an improvement of 5 MPG over 8 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 42 MPG | 2019 Chevrolet Volt |
| 2018 | 42 MPG | 2018 Chevrolet Volt |
| 2017 | 42 MPG | 2017 Chevrolet Volt |
| 2016 | 42 MPG | 2016 Chevrolet Volt |
| 2015 | 37 MPG | 2015 Chevrolet Volt |
| 2014 | 37 MPG | 2014 Chevrolet Volt |
| 2013 | 37 MPG | this page |
| 2012 | 37 MPG | 2012 Chevrolet Volt |
| 2011 | 37 MPG | 2011 Chevrolet Volt |
Compare against other Compact Cars for 2013
If you are cross-shopping the 2013 Chevrolet Volt, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Compact Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Ford Focus Electric leads this group at 105 MPG, 68 MPG ahead of the 2013 Chevrolet Volt.
Specifications
The 2013 Chevrolet Volt runs a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (variable gear ratios), sending power through front-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Compact Cars
- Engine
- 1.4L 4-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic (variable gear ratios)
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium Gas or Electricity
- Annual petroleum use
- 2.7 barrels per year
- Start-stop system
- Yes
Common questions about the 2013 Chevrolet Volt
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2013 Chevrolet Volt.
-
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Volt fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2013 Chevrolet Volt returns 37 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Compact Cars class for the same model year by about 37%. -
What MPG does the 2013 Chevrolet Volt get?
The EPA rates the 2013 Chevrolet Volt at 37 combined MPG, 35 MPG in city driving, and 40 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2013 Chevrolet Volt per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $1,850 for the 2013 Chevrolet Volt. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Volt require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 2013 Chevrolet Volt as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump. -
Has the Chevrolet Volt become more fuel efficient over time?
Yes. The first EPA-rated Chevrolet Volt, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, returned 37 combined MPG. The most recent 2019 Chevrolet Volt returns 42 MPG, an improvement of 5 MPG over the run. -
How much CO₂ does the 2013 Chevrolet Volt emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 81 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 1,215 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2013 Chevrolet Volt?
City driving returns 35 MPG and highway driving returns 40 MPG, a gap of 5 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns. -
What engine is in the 2013 Chevrolet Volt?
The 2013 Chevrolet Volt has a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine (EPA description: PHEV). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2013 Chevrolet Volt have?
The 2013 Chevrolet Volt comes with a automatic (variable gear ratios) transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 2013 Chevrolet Volt compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2013 model year is the Ford Focus Electric at 105 combined MPG. The Chevrolet Volt returns 37 MPG, a gap of 68 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.