Getting into the Bolt EV is a great idea for anyone who wants to be eco-conscious, and it has the versatility and power that you're looking for. But there are some things you should know before you buy one. Read on to learn about the Bolt EV's powertrain, interior, and exterior styling.
Price
GM's Bolt EV is the cheapest electric car in the U.S., and that's a good thing. It's also a refreshing outlier in a new vehicle market that's flooded with gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks.
The Chevy Bolt EV is one of the first "second-generation" electric vehicles. It's based on older engineering, but it's also been mildly redesigned for the 2022 model year. It adopts new turn-signal indicator combinations, a high-eye daytime running light, and a sleeker rear end.
For the 2023 model year, Chevy will offer the Bolt in two model ranges. The most affordable model has features that include power windows, heated outside mirrors, remote keyless entry, automatic climate control, and LED tail lamps.
The other variant, the "Redline edition," is more sporty. It adds heated leather seats, a heated steering wheel, HD surround vision, and ambient instrument panel lighting. It costs an additional $495.
In January, GM announced that it would invest more than $35 billion in EVs in the coming years. They've also announced a partnership with Qmerit, which will cover the cost of installing a 240-volt Level 2 charging line in eligible homes.
As far as pricing goes, the Bolt has been on the downswing. In the last three months alone, the price has dropped by more than US$6,000. The drop is in contrast to the price of the Nissan Leaf, which had a price cut of more than US$7,000.
Interior
GM is rolling out a significant update to the interior of the Chevy Bolt EV for the 2022 model year. The updated interior features a new instrument panel, flat panel of gear selector buttons, and upgraded soft-touch materials.
The interior has also been upgraded with more bolstering and padding. Its center console is now equipped with an eight-way power-adjustable front seat. There is also a flat-bottom steering wheel with an electronic shifter. The dashboard has an 8-inch digital instrument cluster.
The interior also receives a new lighting signature, with a "high-eye" daytime running lamp. The car is now fitted with a new turn-signal indicator combination.
Chevrolet is also offering the option of wireless phone charging and Apple CarPlay compatibility. The touchscreen infotainment system has sharp graphics and a vibrant view of music, apps, and other entertainment options. The Bolt EV is powered by a single-motor electric drive unit that pumps out 266 pound-feet of torque.
The Bolt EV isn't quite as powerful as the Tesla Model 3, but the Bolt still offers a more economical price. The electric-powered Bolt EV can go zero-to-60 in less than 7 seconds. It has a maximum range of 260 miles. Depending on the trim, you can opt for a six-speaker Bose audio system or a seven-speaker Bose audio system.
The Chevrolet Safety Assist suite includes forward collision alert, lane keeping and departure warning, and rear park assist. It's available for $495.
Powertrain
Despite the Chevy Bolt EV's lack of an automatic transmission, the car's electric powertrain boasts 200 horsepower and 266 lb.-ft. of torque, enough to propel the vehicle from standstill to 60 mph in just 6.7 seconds.
The Bolt EV has a range of up to 383 kilometers (roughly 215 miles) when fully charged. Depending on the charging station and the state of the battery, the charge time will vary. However, Chevy says it is able to charge to 100 kilometers (62 miles) in 30 minutes in mild temperatures.
The Bolt EV is a subcompact crossover SUV, but it's still very roomy inside. It can seat two adults, and there's plenty of storage space. When the rear seats are folded, the Bolt EV offers 56.6 cubic feet of cargo space.
The Chevy Bolt's regenerative braking system makes one-pedal driving a breeze. The regenerative braking can also be used when the car is parked.
The Chevrolet Bolt's regenerative braking may be useful in parking, but it can cause a bit of bouncing when the car hits a bumpy road. The battery pack can also jar on train tracks.
The Chevy Bolt's MyLink infotainment system features a 10.2-inch touch screen display and smartphone projection. It also has an 8-inch digital gauge cluster.
The Chevrolet Bolt EV also includes an eight-way power driver's seat, cloth upholstery, and a wireless phone charger. The front seats are also heated. The center console features a storage bin. There's also a knob for the stereo volume.
Exterior styling
GM's Bolt EV has been redesigned for the 2022 model year. Exterior styling has been improved, and the interior is more upscale. The price tag has also been reduced. Chevrolet says the new EV is five percent less expensive than the previous model.
The redesigned Chevy Bolt EV is available in two trims, LT and Premier. The base Bolt comes standard with LED headlights, power side mirrors, and remote start. The LT features leather seats, a 10-speaker audio system, and an 8.0-inch digital gauge cluster.
The Chevy Bolt EV has an EPA-estimated 250 miles of range. The battery is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV also comes with Super Cruise hands-free driving. The EV is also equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also supports wireless charging. The driver can easily find information about the battery and charging stations with the new UI.
The Chevy Bolt EV also has a flat bottom steering wheel for more comfort. It also has a sharp front end, and a reshaped taillights. The redesigned dash has clearer information buttons, and the switchgear has glossy black HVAC buttons. The EV has a new 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster. It also has a pushbutton for one-pedal driving.
The Bolt EV is equipped with a six-way power driver's seat, a heated steering wheel, and a heated front seat. It has LED taillights and automatic LED headlights. The 2LT trim adds heated leather seats, a 360-degree camera, and an eight-way power adjustable driver's seat.
Tax credit eligibility
Buying an electric vehicle is great but there's no getting around the fact that you'll need to know your tax situation for the year. Fortunately, there's a tool that will help you figure out if you qualify for the EV tax credit.
The best part is that the EV credit will go to the cost of the car rather than your tax bill. However, the new rules only allow you to claim the credit once. This means that you'll have to file a separate IRS form for each eligible EV you buy.
The new rules are designed to give EV buyers a credit of up to $7,500. You can only claim this credit if you have a valid tax return and are a joint filer. The EV tax credit is also not refundable. The credit can be claimed at the time of purchase or transferred to a qualified selling dealer.
The EV tax credit is only for vehicles that are assembled in North America. For a number of manufacturers, this means they will not be eligible for the Clean Vehicle Credit.
The most expensive EVs will likely not be eligible for the EV credit. You can only qualify for the credit if you purchase an electric car that weighs less than 14,000 pounds. You'll also have to pay attention to the battery pack requirements. You can't source the batteries from foreign countries.
Rear-seat space
Compared to the competition, the Chevy Bolt EV offers a roomy interior with plenty of rear-seat space. While the seating is not as cushioned as the seats up front, the Bolt carries four passengers well.
The Chevrolet Bolt EV comes standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Other optional features include wireless Apple CarPlay, satellite radio, and a seven-speaker Bose audio system.
The Bolt EV also has a small trunk. It has 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the back seat folded, but only 57 cu ft with the back seats upright. This can be increased by the Rear Seat Delete Package. There are also two sets of LATCH connectors in the rear outboard seats.
The 2022 Bolt EV and Bolt SUV share a similar interior design, but the Bolt EV is not all-wheel drive. The Bolt EV hatchback opens up the rear half of the EV, while the Bolt SUV shares the same roofline, but has unpainted fender flares.
The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV has a lot of cargo space, too. With the seats folded, it has a 57-cubic-foot trunk. The cargo space is almost as big as the cargo area in the Kia Niro EV.
The 2022 Chevy Bolt EV has a great value and an impressive electric range. It is almost as efficient as the Nissan Leaf.
For rear-seat comfort, the Bolt EV has better legroom than the Nissan Leaf. It's also better than the Ford Mustang Mach-E. But the Bolt EV doesn't have a lot of padding, making it feel a little flimsy at speed.