The financial factors are personal, and really don’t seem to be playing into your decision making. And, while the Acura is fun to drive, nothing is fun to drive on LA Freeways at 14 mph, stop and go with a clutch. That’s just a symphony of frustrations. In your world, with your needs, a fun car is really an indulgence that your Dad might have time for, but it sounds like for you a boring, economical, automatic shift car with carpool rights is the ticket. The Volt gets you past the range limits of affordable all electric cars.
A lot of responders here don’t live with and fight against the traffic of urban California, and they just don’t have that vital piece of knowledge to help make the decision. I live near San Francisco and try to drive only between 10 am and 2:30 pm, before 6 am or after about 7:30 pm. Otherwise, I use a motor scooter that can go on freeways, and I split lanes everywhere. That works if you’re up for it.
Good luck with your decision.