I'm aware that a Tesla Model S is twice the cost but nonetheless I consider the Model S to be lightyears ahead of the Volt, if for no other reason that it does 300+miles on electricity alone.
Which is a ridiculous way to look at it. Engineering is all about system optimization: maximizing a performance function while keeping a set of metrics within limits. Having a twice-as-large cost limit gives you an enormous advantage in optimizing the other metrics.
IMO, hybrid car with an ~80 mile range and a ~50 HP gas engine that only runs at a single RPM and charges the battery's would be a great option. Instead the volt is just a 1997 Prius with a slightly larger battery. Yay for stagnation.
Note: Less than 40 HP can maintain ~85MPH on the highway. The battery can also kick in for a little extra acceleration, but you want some extra to recharge the battery ahead of time.
Instead, they add a 'full' engine and a full transmission which costs extra and adds more weight.
There is no other production car that has as large an electric range. Combine it with the superchargers and other chargers, and you can go quite far without gasoline.
For some people, getting rid of petroleum as fuel is the goal.
None of this diminishes the Volt (I'd prefer one over my Prius), it's just not an aspirational vehicle.