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The electric Chevrolet Bolt and slightly bigger Bolt EUV have had a tumultuous few years starting in November of 2020. It experienced its first recall and instructed owners to only charge their vehicles to 90 percent due to a fire risk.
In April of 2021 GM published a product safety recall bulletin, advising drivers to take their Bolts to an EV-certified dealer to get a software update after May 5. After battery diagnostics are run, drivers were advised they could safely go back to charging to 100 percent.
In July, after more battery fires, owners were asked to park outside until further notice and that charging should be again restricted to 90 percent. In the same month NHTSA said that dealers will replace modules on all 2017-2019 Bolts with batteries made at LC Chem's plant in Korea. GM then announced a full recall to replace every battery pack, which ended up giving drivers an extra 13 percent of range.
But that's all in the past, as is GM's EV tax credit for now, which chopped up to $7,500 off the cost of a Bolt. For 2023 Chevy announced a $5,900 deduction in the price of the Bolt to make up some of that lost credit. The 2023 Bolt EUV has a price of $28,195 and the upgraded Premier model now starts at $32,695.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Premier
The Premier trim adds luxury features like heated and ventilated front seats, rear parking sensors and a rearview mirror camera. The Sun and Sound Package adds navigation, a sunroof and an upgraded audio system for $2,500. Super Cruise hands-free, eyes-up driving is now available for an extra $2,200.
Even the bigger 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV crossover is small for a family of four. The front seats are roomy and comfortable, but with two child seats in the back row, the front passenger might have to scoot up a little. The seats are easy to install with accessible LATCH connections on the outboard rear seats. The materials are plain, but simple and clean-looking and there are plenty of storage spaces in the door and center console.
The 2022 Bolt EUV comes with an 8-inch driver information cluster and a 10.2-inch touchscreen with available wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Volume and tuning knobs make for easy adjustment while driving. The climate control system also features physical toggle switches. Wireless charging is optional but both USB-C and USB-A ports are standard.
On the road, drivers will realize why electric vehicles are so much fun. The Bolt has a single motor making 200 horsepower. It has a range of 247 miles on a full charge and can regain 95 miles of range in 30 minutes on a DC fast charger. That's a little slower than many modern EVs, but the range could last weeks, especially if the owner is working from home.
Electric vehicles also handle better than most of their gas-powered counterparts. The batteries are in the floor, making the center of gravity very low. That means this basic and inexpensive small crossover handles like a speedy Volkswagen hatchback.
The Super Cruise hands-free assisted driving system is excellent, the best system on the road currently. It worked almost flawlessly over a week with the vehicle, navigating the expressway and two-lane highways easily. Even with the system is not on, it's still watching. A car crossed the middle lane into oncoming traffic, the Bolt automatically hit the brakes and moved towards the shoulder to give clearance.
Chevy Safety Assist is standard with automatic emergency braking, lane keeping, lane departure, following distance indicator, forward collision alert and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control is standard on the Premier trim.
The 2022 Chevy Bolt and Bolt EUV compete with the less expensive electric vehicles on the market. The Nissan Leaf starts at $28,040 before the EV tax credits and has a range of 212 miles, which Nissan is still eligible for. However, because of the rule changes in the Inflation Reduction Act, those credits will adjust depending on where the vehicle and battery were produced.
The Hyundai Kona Electric starts a little higher at $34,000 and has a range of 258 miles. The 2022 Mazda MX-30 only has a 100-mile range and is smaller than the Bolt EUV. The Mini Cooper SE is the most fun of the group, but also very small.
Overall, it's hard to beat the 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV for its combination of range, tech, tight handling and cargo space. For those looking to spend a little more, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 are all faster, though the
About the writer
Jake Lingeman is a Newsweek Autos managing editor based in Detroit. His focus is reporting on the auto industry. He has covered ... Read more