9 innovative features in the 2017 Chevy Volt

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Cadie Thompson/Tech Insider

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a teched-out car these days. 

Recently, I had the chance to try out the 2017 Chevrolet Volt. Pricing for the Volt begins at about $33,000  and I was blown away with the number of innovative features inside the car at that price.

Here’s a look at some of technology in the car that makes it such a great deal. 

The 2017 Chevy Volt has the range.

The Volt has an all electric range of 53 miles on a full charge. But with a full tank of gas and a full charge, the Volt can drive for up to 420 miles.

Once your charged up, you can select from a number of different ‘Drive Modes.’

“Normal,” “Sport,” and “Mountain” modes are all electric. To tap into the gas power, you can select “Hold.”

The Volt is compatible with Apple Car Play, so you have easy access to all of your data.

Connect your iPhone via the USB port and your apps supported by Apple Car Play will appear on the center screen. 

The 2017 Chevy Volt is also compatible with Android Auto. 

You can also access connect your smartphone to your car via Bluetooth.

Bluetooth connectivity makes pairing your phone to the car a breeze. My favorite thing about this feature was I could be listening to a song on my phone and then when I got in the car it automatically started playing. 

No cords, no waiting, just music. 

Voice control makes sending messages and making phone calls incredibly easy.

At first I was a little skeptical about how well this feature would work, but after connecting to Apple Car Play, I gave it a shot. 

I texted and called multiple people while taking the car out for a spin, and didn’t encounter any problems.

You can even wirelessly charge your phone.

Inside the armrest is a slot lined with a wireless charging mat. You can charge your compatible smartphone by simply placing it in this slot — notably, this won’t work with any iPhone on the market.

Built-in 4G LTE WiFi through Chevy’s OnStar service allows you to connect up to seven devices.

To connect your smartphone or other devices to the car’s network, powered by AT&T in the US, you simply select the network on your mobile device and enter the pin number.

This feature is especially valuable because it helps give your data plan a rest and also allows you to have a connection wherever you go. There’s a free trial period when you begin using OnStar, and data plans otherwise start at $10/1GB per month. 

In addition, you can push the OnStar button at anytime if you need roadside assistance. The OnStar service will also automatically notify emergency services if you are in an accident

A variety of driver assistance features help keep you safe on the road.

Sensors are located around the car to help sense when you might be about to get into a dangerous situation. 

These sensors enable features like lane-keeping assist, which gently helps keep you in your lane, and rear cross traffic alert, which alerts you of an oncoming car when you are reversing. 

It also has forward safety awareness, which uses camera technology to alert you when vehicles ahead are slowing down. Automatic braking will even kick in if you don’t notice in time. 

The back-up camera makes parallel parking a lot less stressful.

This is such a simple feature that comes in a lot of new cars today, but man how did we ever live without it? 

Once you shift to reverse, the screen automatically shows you what is behind you. It’s incredibly handy when getting out of tight spaces, and helps ensure you don’t hit something or someone behind you. 

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