My first experience with daily driving an electric car.
Prices start at $36,620.00.
Is the Chevrolet bolt EV all new as of 2020?
No, 2021 will mark the last year of the first generation Bolt. The Bolt began production in 2017 and entered the market as a strong contender in the EV segment, beating out most of the competition in range when first debuted. In fact, 2020 comes with a battery upgrade for even more range, EPA estimate at 259 miles.
Chevy bolt ev Trim levels
The Bolt EV is offered in two trim levels:
- LT
- Premier (as tested with MSRP of $42,860.00, not including destination charge)
I was excited to experience life with an EV (Electric Vehicle). As a classic car enthusiast, I knew it would take a big mind shift in mentality to adjust…and accept. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Somehow it is so natural to jump in and go. My Premier Bolt was loaded with all the bells and whistles. It made life very easy for the entire week I had the car. So quiet, effortless power, and spacious. Wireless device charging, BOSE premium 7-Speaker System, and Infotainment package certainly helped.
What is the Chevy Bolt EV warranty?
- 8 year/100,000-mile Battery Limited Warranty
- 3 year/36,000-mile Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty
What engine comes with the Chevy Bolt EV?
150 kW Electric Motor
Equivalent to 200HP and 266 lb-ft (350 N-m) with 0-60MPH in 6.5 seconds. Mated to Electronic transmission selector for One Pedal Driving (L)
What are the interior features of the Chevy bolt ev?
It is an electric vehicle, you expect modern and a sense of “the future”. The Bolt is a basic car made for day-to-day routines for the average person. The first impression is that of familiarity, you don’t feel overwhelmed or “different” driving an EV. However, as you look closer the “modernness” hits you. Let me explain…
The instrument cluster or ‘Driver Information Center’, as Chevy calls it, is an 8′ multi-color display. It shows things like your speed, acceleration, and braking, again basic information, but displayed in a way like no other car I have seen. All settings, media, Bluetooth connection, etc.. are controlled through a 10.2″ screen in the center of the dash. Although I have never used this interface before — it was very easy! It reminded me of the Apps on my iPhone, again more familiarity and I picked up on it immediately.
Additional features included, heated driver, passenger, rear seats and steering wheel. Two USB ports and auxiliary input jack.
How does the Chvy bolt EV drive?
I have two perspectives to answer this question:
As a fairly tall, family man, extremely spacious for the driver. It has a very high roofline and comfortable buckets. The seating position is that of a minivan, it’s a higher seating position and it has a long sloppy windshield providing for a longer dash. Cargo space was sufficient, at least for hauling two kids back and forth from school and dance rehearsal. I even managed to stuff a stroller (a big one) and a pack and play together! It did everything I needed to do as a family man. My 5-year-old says it “Feels like a ride at Disney!”
As a car enthusiast, driving the Bolt exceeded my expectation from a fun perspective. The car can accelerate! (0-60MPG in 6.5 seconds to be exact). It truly pumps out sportscar figures. Connecting to my phone was easy, it allowed me to open up Spotify and crank my favorite music up through the BOSE sound system.
Final thoughts
A whole week with the Bolt EV: Over 300 miles of average person errands. I had to be mindful of my battery life, simply because I’m not set up to rapid charge. I had to connect to the 110 outlets at home and work every day to ensure I had what I needed in range. On the other hand, it has an incredible range (259 mile). If you’re in the market for an EV, the Bolt needs to be at the top of your list. With a starting price point of $36,260 vs the range capacity, it is a top contender in the market. The car is versatile, easy to function, fun to drive, and gives you the traditional car feel, not just a computer on wheels.
Bolt EV features
Bolt Basics
- Seats, Leather Appointed
- Driver & Front Passenger Heated Seats
- Seat, Rear 60-40 Split-Fold
- Heated Rear Seats
- Leather Wrap Steering Wheel
- Steering Wheel, Heated
- Steering Column, Tilt & Telescopic
- Armrest, Rear Center
- Lamp, Interior, Ambient Instrument Panel
Technology
- Driver Information Center, 8″ Diagonal Multi-Color Display
- Chevrolet Infotainment System 10.2″ Color Touchscreen
- Compatible Phones Include: Bluethooth Audio Streaming Voice Command Passthrough to Phone, Android, Auto & Apple Carplay Capable
- Hands-Free Smart Trunk Release
- 2 USB Ports, Auxiliary Input Jack
- Keyless Open And Start
- Remote Vehicle Start
- Onstar(R) Sercices & 4G LTE WI-FI (R) Available
- SiriusXM
Safety
- Tire Pressure Monitor System
- Theft Deterrent System
- Lane Change Alert With Slide Blind Zone Alert
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Rear Park Assist
- Pedestrian Safety Signal
- HD Surround Vision
- Rear Camera Mirror
*Features available with Premier Trim
For more information about the Chevy Bold, please visit https://www.chevrolet.com/electric/bolt-ev.