The Chevrolet Bolt was once the EV everybody cherished to hate. Dealers provided steep reductions simply to maneuver them off the tons whereas everybody cooed and gushed over flashier choices just like the Tesla Model 3. Then there was that complete catching-on-fire factor.
But now that vendor costs on just about each new automobile have gone cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, the unique Bolt EV seems to be like a reasonably sensible deal. That is, if you could find a dealership that isn’t charging outrageous markups.
Overview
The Chevy Bolt debuted for the 2017 mannequin yr with nice fanfare. After a number of years of bulletins, ideas and sneak peeks, Chevrolet lastly had its manufacturing EV. Yes, there was the Chevy Spark EV earlier than it, however it was a low-volume compliance automotive. If you haven’t already forgotten about that one, you need to.
With 238 miles of vary, as estimated by the EPA, the Bolt was method forward of older fashions just like the Spark EV, Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus EV. Chevy gathered a shelf filled with awards together with the MotorTrend Car of the Year, North American Car of the Year, Automobile Magazine All-Star, and a spot on Time journal’s checklist of Best Inventions of 2016.
As a automotive, the Bolt is a subcompact four-door hatchback, which put it in direct competitors with the Leaf, Focus EV, BMW i3 and Volkswagen e-Golf. Chevrolet outpaced all of them, promoting greater than 23,000 Bolts in its first yr.
The Bolt has remained largely unchanged in six years in the marketplace. Instead of a serious redesign, Chevrolet opted to upsize a brand new mannequin and name it the Bolt EUV, so now it’s a household of Bolts. Consequently, the Bolt stays some of the reasonably priced EV in the marketplace, at the least when measured by MSRP.
Exterior
Like nearly all first-gen clean-sheet EV designs besides Tesla, the Bolt is sort of frumpy. Somewhere alongside the road, focus teams instructed Chevrolet, Nissan, and BMW that an EV ought to appear like one thing your Birkenstock-wearing center faculty English trainer would drive. The Bolt was designed within the outdated Daewoo studio in Korea which had beforehand produced the Spark, so it’s an evolution of the Spark look.
Still, the design of the Bolt has worn properly. It seems to be a bit of bit futuristic with its principally flat pane from the windshield all the way down to the headlight belt line over the bumper.
Like most autos designed to create inside quantity in a subcompact construction, the wheels are pushed out to the corners of the automobile giving more room for bigger doorways. The backside line is, nobody’s shopping for a Bolt to look tremendous cool. Those folks purchase Teslas or now, Rivians and Lucids.
Interior
The futuristic look of the Bolt’s exterior extends to the cabin. Within the bounds of economic system vehicles, the Bolt’s inside is completely good. The seats are comfy, and the infotainment touchscreen is beneficiant at 10.2 inches in all trims.
The entrance seats and steering wheel are additionally upholstered in perforated leather-based and heated while you purchase the 2LT, which is very nice in most of North America. As a nod to the Bolt’s electrical driveline, you get push-button gear choice on the middle console.
Rear seat area can be good, courtesy of the egg-on-wheels exterior design. You can match two adults again there in respectable consolation, or flip the rear seats down and get 57 cubic toes of cargo capability. Most folks pack lower than that to go away to school.
Powertrain
The Bolt is a front-wheel drive design, and there has by no means been any provision for AWD. Honestly, AWD is an affectation more often than not, and it could detract from vary and effectivity. The electrical motor offers 200 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, giving the Bolt a full of life and fast demeanor.
There is not any transmission as such, only a differential and ultimate drive. With this, the Bolt will hit 30 mph from a standing cease in beneath 3 seconds, and 6.5 seconds to 60 mph. For a good comparability, that’s about the identical as a mid-80s Ferrari 308.
The official vary estimate for a 2022 Bolt is 259 miles, however I’ve by no means didn’t beat that quantity after I had one as a loaner. Getting nice vary will not be one thing you need to do by crawling alongside the shoulder at 45 mph, both. Just keep away from doing too lots of these 0-60 sprints and use the one-pedal driving functionality for regeneration.
The EPA charges the Bolt at 120 MPGe in mixed driving, however that’s actually a meaningless statistic. What issues is, you’ll be able to cost the Bolt (slowly) on 120V wall present, and if in case you have a 240V Level 2 charger at house, you’ll get up to a full cost each morning. The Bolt additionally helps DC quick charging, and you’ll juice up for 100 miles in half-hour.
Safety and Technology
Chevrolet outfits the Bolt with the newest in security and driver comfort options. The base trim comes with a fundamental rear-view digicam and automated headlights, in addition to a full suite of superior collision mitigation programs. In the upgraded 2LT trim, Chevy provides lane help with blind-spot monitoring, plus rear parking help and a 360-degree digicam system.
As talked about, in each the 1LT and 2LT trims, you’ll get pleasure from a ten.2-inch touchscreen with voice management. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come customary. Like nearly all EVs, the Bolt will present you every kind of knowledge on the way you’re doing with power effectivity, and what your cost occasions might be.
It’s laborious to speak about security and never point out the actual fact the Bolt EV had an issue with the batteries catching on fireplace. That solely occurred when two comparatively uncommon manufacturing defects have been current in the identical battery. To handle that, Chevrolet is changing the faulty batteries and has a software program repair that stops even faulty batteries from catching fireplace earlier than they are often changed.
Driving Impressions
Driving the Bolt is when this automotive actually sells itself. In some other context, we’d name this automotive a scorching hatch. For instance, this yr’s four-door Mini Cooper S comes with 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, undoubtedly in the identical efficiency envelope because the Bolt.
The Bolt performs as much as its specs, with nimble dealing with and loads of scoot at any pace. When you attain your vacation spot, it’s bought nice visibility and it’s straightforward to park. As we talked about, there’s loads of area beneath the hatch to haul no matter you’re shopping for, inside cause.
The different factor concerning the Bolt driving expertise has to do with EV vary. Obviously, when whole vary is at 100 miles or much less, you’re continuously trying on the vary meter and planning your subsequent charging cease. But at 259 miles (or extra) you’ve bought respiratory room to make that sudden facet journey.
Speaking personally, I usually want to enter town, and that entails a 75-mile journey every method, over a small mountain vary. With a Bolt, I can get into town, run my errands, and get house once more with a cushty margin. That peace of thoughts is essential while you’re speaking about driving enjoyment.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV Specifications
Dimension | L: 163.2 inches/W: 69.5 inches/H: 63.4 inches/Wheelbase: 102.4 inches |
Weight | 3,624 kilos |
Powertrain | Permanent magnetic drive motor, single-speed gearset and front-wheel drive |
Fuel Economy | 131 MPGe metropolis/109 MPGe freeway |
Performance Specs | 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque |
Price | Base value: $26,595; As examined: $31,260 together with $995 vacation spot cost. |
On-Sale Date | Available now |
Wrap Up
Right now, Chevrolet is promoting the Bolt 1LT at $31,500, plus $995 in vacation spot charges, however with $5,900 in money allowances on the hood. That’s rather than the Federal tax credit score that now not applies to GM autos. Your state authorities can also provide EV tax credit, and your native vendor will find out about these.
Theoretically, your bottom-line value on a base trim Bolt needs to be proper round $26,595, or $29,795 when you purchase the improve 2LT trim. By the best way, with simply $3,200 separating the 2 trims, you need to undoubtedly go for the 2LT.
However, discovering a vendor promoting any new automotive at MSRP is a problem proper now. Many vendor web sites simply say, “MARKET PRICE — CONTACT US.” That’s by no means a superb signal for locating a cut price. So whereas the 2022 Chevy Bolt would be the most reasonably priced EV in the marketplace by MSRP, truly getting that deal could also be near unattainable.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV — Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Chevrolet Bolt being discontinued?
Not presently. The 2023 Bolt has been introduced with pricing and have upgrades.
Will a brand new Chevrolet Bolt catch fireplace?
It’s not possible. There is a software program replace that stops the hearth that would happen if the battery defects are current. Out of 108,443 Bolts offered within the United States by way of June of 2022, simply 19 have caught fireplace.
Is the 2023 Bolt a greater automotive than the 2022 mannequin?
The 2023 Bolt is nearly similar to the 2022 mannequin. A brand new colour might be out there, together with some new equipment like flooring mats and an illuminated charging port.
Source: www.thedetroitbureau.com