[BigAls87Z28]

Well, you can look at Leaf in a few different ways, #1, its about the same price as the Volt, but you get limited space and limited range. The Leaf carries all the negatives of the Volt with none of the positives.
Cars like the Tesla can get by on pure electric power because they are ment to be driven for limited amount of time, and parked in a garage. Leaf is an EV, but is designed to replace your daily driver.
The plug-in and extended range systems are going to be the road that we will travel for the future IMO. Honda showed off a Volt-like system in LA, and I thought that was pretty funny that the Japanese are now following the Americans in how to do things.
The Volt does not have to rely on the power-grid alone to get it to move.

You guys are right in that the true test wiill be in the hands of the public, putting it through its paces. The Volt team has brought the car out to several major cities in the US for the public to drive it. I got my chance to drive it when I was in DC, it was pretty cool.
Car Of The Year doesnt mean that it has to be in the hands of the public. Thats not a requirement for giving the award. There are lots of cars that car magazines and web sites get before the public do, giving you the closest to real-world testing one can get without plunking down the cash to do so.
Not giving the Volt the award this year because it has not been in the hands of the public for an X amount of time is not what this award is about.
When JD power and other quality awards come up, and the vehicle has not been on the road for more then a few months, then I can see your problems.
MT picked the CTS sedan in 2008 before it hit the hands of teh public, and in 2009, the GTR as well. The Fusion didnt get a full roll out for 2010, and it won the award.
So I think picking on the Volt is just another way of picking on GM.