The car that helped bring electric driving to the masses is getting its first full makeover since hitting the market in 2010. The second-generation Chevrolet Volt has a lot of improvements, but only one really matters in this segment: a significantly improved electric range.

The 2016 Volt sees its battery range jump from 38 miles to 53. Beyond that, the gasoline engine generator kicks in to keep juice flowing to the motor. Yes, that's only a little more than half what you'd see in a car like the battery-electric Chevy Spark or Nissan Leaf. But it should be plenty for most motorists. General Motors says current Volt owners make 80 percent of their trips without ever firing up the engine, and the increased range will push that figure to 90 percent.

EPA

"The car's better in every way," says Pam Fletcher, GM's chief engineer for EVs. It's cheaper, too: The new Volt starts at $33,995, about $1,000 less than the current version.

Strictly speaking, the Volt is a plug-in hybrid, not a full electric—it's got two motors that run on electricity, and a gas-powered engine. The dual motor setup's been revised to be 100 pounds lighter and 12 percent more efficient than the outgoing system. The motors will work in conjunction more often, and thus more effectively.

Customers don't want something that screams 'I'm different, I'm electric.' Pam Fletcher, GM's chief engineer for EVs

On the engine side, Chevy tossed the iron block 1.4-liter unit that came with the original Volt and needed premium gas, in favor of a 1.5-liter direct-injection, aluminum block unit that uses plebeian fuel and pumps out 101 horsepower. Running on gas alone, the car delivers a highly impressive 42 mpg.

The car's noticeably quicker, too, boasting a 19 percent improvement in its 0 to 30 mph time (now 2.6 seconds) and 0 to 60 mph (8.4). Along with other little improvements, like an (uncomfortable) fifth seat and more powerful electric heater in the seats and steering wheel, Chevy updated the styling. Five years into the car's life, it's time to conform a bit. Customers "don't want something that screams 'I'm different, I'm electric,'" Fletcher says.

The second-generation Chevrolet Volt uses an all-new battery system that maintains its signature t-shape configuration but uses nearly 100 fewer cells. The battery system will provide improved range while weighing 30 lbs. less than the previous battery system. General Motors

The EPA-verified range of 53 miles stems from incremental improvements, not a major breakthrough, Fletcher says. A lot of that work happened during the run of the first generation car, when Chevy cycled through four battery chemistries.

For the new car, Chevy worked with partner LG to further improve chemistry and packaging in the 18.4 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion pack. It cut the number of cells by one third to 192 and revised the hardware that manages them, creating a lighter, more powerful battery.

Today, Volt drivers are going about 900 miles between gas fill-ups, Fletcher says. In the new car, expect that to rise to 1,500.