2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Consumer Reviews
Pricing
LT (Most Popular) - $28,795 MSRP
$28,283
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In a class of it's own
hallcp, 12/24/2022
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Premier 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
72 of 72 people found this review helpful
Throughout 2022 I was looking for an EV to replace my aging 2014 Mercedes B-Class electric. Other than a short range of 85 miles and 2014-era infotainment this was the perfect car. Any replacement had to meet it's specs, specifically a small hatchback that was on the tall side with space for rear passengers and 50+ cf of cargo with those rear seats down. I was hoping to match the luxury feel too. I tried not to let price affect my shopping, but realistically $65k was probably the limit. Tesla Model 3, not a hatchback, limited cargo space; Tesla model Y, too long and wide; Mustang Mach-E was still too big, but closer. The Audi E-tron I test drove was slow and was very big. The Volvo C40 Recharge had tiny rear doors and a small unimpressive Infotainment screen. The RWD VW ID.4 was very slow and I read a lot about the software issues. (The AWD version wasn't available when I went for my test drive.) Hyundai Ioniq 5 was ugly and seemed to be all style over function, plus getting one was impossible. Kia Nero and Hyundai Kona were never sold in N.C. I even considered the Jaguar I-pace but getting into the rear seats is very acrobatic and Jaguar seems to have lost interest in supporting it. The Mini-E was too short range. I did not look at BMW's. The Mercedes EQB was not out yet. Which brings me to the Bolt. I had had a 2018 Volt so I knew the infotainment was simple and reliable. The 10.2" screen was taller and seemed bigger than others with a bigger diagonal measurement, like the Ioniq 5. Apple CarPlay was just about a must-have, being wireless was a bonus. The dashboard is really good-looking. Performance is brisk, range is 250+ miles, reviewers complained about slow DC fast charging, but I won't be taking many road trips. The price for the top-trim 2022 model I tried to order from the factory was $44k, but they didn't want to make any more 2022's with Super Cruise. By the time production of 2023's began the price had dropped to $38k (no incentives or rebates available), making it a super bargain. Downsides? Boring exterior styling is a baldfaced copy of a bunch of other similar sized SUV-wannabes. Even the top-trim seats lack adequate lumbar support, but a strategically placed pad fixed that, otherwise it would be a deal-breaker. The open sunroof is noisy, like all such sunroofs. Unexpected upsides? Storage beneath the rear cargo floor is really excellent. I average 4.2 miles per kWh in mild weather, very efficient. Super Cruise works great, and is much more confidence inspiring than Tesla Auto Pilot. Even though SC only works on select interstates, that's where I want it most. The overhead camera view is incredibly useful. You gets lots of light through the panoramic roof glass and the power window shade gives you the best of both worlds. Not sure if it's the tires or what but this is the quietest car I've ever had, smooth riding too. So at 3400 miles and three months of ownership I am still delighted with my purchase. We drive the Bolt over my wife's Tesla Model X most of the time. You can't beat the X for huge cargo volume and the Tesla charging network, but for driving and parking in town it's the Bolt hands down.
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So far I love my Bolt EUV
malari, 08/19/2022
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Premier 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
34 of 34 people found this review helpful
Outstanding little car, perfect for my 80 miles of commuting a day. The super cruise is awesome and as scary as it was at first it was proven to be equally adept. I would recommend this car to those that can charge at home.
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Understand Its limitations and you’ll be happy
“Grandpa” Len, 03/24/2023
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV LT 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
78 of 80 people found this review helpful
This is my fifth EV; Nissan Leaf, BMW i3 & i3 Rex, Tesla 3 LR RWD, Bolt EUV. If you drive long distances and require regular charging on public charging networks (EVGO, ChargePoint, Electrify America) this IS NOT the car for you. The Bolt EUV is older technology and is limited to 55KW Superchargers, far slower than more modern technology. If you need quick, reliable readily available Superchargers your ONLY choice is Tesla. The rest are very early in the installation/maintenance learning curve and you’ll be frustrated if you rely on them. If you don’t have access to a Home Level 2 charger you may want to skip ANY EV if you want a car that will go anywhere, anytime without thinking about it, especially if you must rely on a standard 120 outlet to charge. ANY EV will be highly limited without the proper charging tools. A hybrid/plug in hybrid is a FAR better choice. Getting back to the EUV, let’s put it in context. The Nissan Leaf I owned came out in 2014 with an 80 mile range on a 24KW battery and a slow 3.3KH charger. It was built on a gas car body, converted for EV use. It was a “first effort” car, meaning buyers knew there were compromises in the design and execution. I enjoyed being a pioneer, but as a car it wasn’t really usable. In cold weather realistic range was 60 miles or less. It accelerated to 60 in over 11 seconds, a marginally acceptable level for city driving. The car was leased and heavily subsidized by Nissan, with a list price in the high $30,000 level. I moved to the BMW i3 BEV (battery only power) with a stated range of 82 miles. It was better built than the Leaf, fun to drive, used new “cutting edge” production engineering and design. The battery was larger than the Leaf and it would accelerate to 60 in a bit over 7 seconds - good enough for city driving without issue, and mostly OK for highway use. The downfall of this car was the stated range was vastly overstated. I normally got 50-60 miles range in most instances, and under 50 in cold weather. The car’s sticker price was $52,000 with the options I ordered,BMW agreed to take it back in trade toward a i3 REX, the same basic car with an auxiliary 2 cylinder gas engine and a 2 gallon fuel tank. The idea was to have the gas engine charge the battery to extend the original range, which was 76 miles or so, due to the heavier gas engine. That car also suffered from poor EV range, and the gas engine was limited to about 60 miles additional range, limited by a 2 gallon tank. The small tank was required to qualify for the EV tax credit - the battery rating had to be greater than the gas engine range boost. It was not practical and the gas engine was a BMW scooter design, with lots of problems with overheating during my ownership. I then decided to get a Tesla, which had very long wait times when I bought my other EVs. The 2018 Model 3 only had RWD when I bought it, a 300+ rated range, and drove like a sports car. 0-60 speed was a bit over 5 seconds and I very much enjoyed the car’s unique features. I had some minor issues with the car, but overall my nearly 2 years with the car were fine. Tesla was without peer competition at that time. The charging network was, and still is, the best in the world. Over the air updates were free and frequent. So why did I sell it? My wife bought a 2021 BMW 330e, a plug in hybrid with a very small EV only range - about 22 miles. Despite the very short range, for our typical use that range meets most of her daily driving needs. The biggest difference was that the BMW is a far better CAR than the Tesla. Fit and finish are far better than Tesla, road noise is FAR better than Tesla on ALL road conditions. I realized how noisy and uncomfortable the Tesla suspension is in comparison and decided to move on. I will buy another Tesla if the upgrade the CAR aspects of their line, and I am on a wait list for the CyberTeuck. NOW we can talk about the Bolt EUV. Compared to EVs of only a few years ago the EUV is EXCELLENT. It’s quieter than the Tesla, and all the other EVs I’ve owned, and drives VERY smoothly. This isn’t talked about much, but it should be. GM may be building an entry level EV with the Bolt, but it rides very well. Again, the frame of reference is an everyday gas powered car. The ride is “mellow”, not harsh or pretending to be a performance sports car. Just a gentle, calm, quiet ride on all roads. The hatchback is well done too. The rear deck level is high enough to be very easy to put things into and remove from the car without bending. Some review say the storage space isn’t very large - it’s not compared to an Escalade, but compared to compact hatches/SUVs it’s fine. The seats also fold in a 60/40 split, adding plenty of room when needed. It fits in compact parking spots easily. The best part is the range. Driven in town at sub 50MPH speeds I regularly get 280+ miles from a charge. Order the comfort and driver confidence packages, a combined $1400 upgrade, and you’ll have a wide array of features that you’ll use every day. The ONLY downside is the slow DC charging, as I noted at the start. Compare the EUV to anything else and you’ll have a hard time passing it up. It’s also likely that in the coming years technology will improve all EVs, just like computers, so wait until then before you buy a high priced EV. Reread my Leaf/i3/Tesla comments for perspective before buying any EV. Final point - driving an EV is VERY different from a gas car. Pick-up and passing power is instantaneous. The 200 HP UEV rating accelerates like a 300+ HP turbo charged sports car. Passing is easy, it the ride is gentle and quiet. Give it a try, regardless of what brand you buy I think you’ll be pleased. If the DC charger were faster I’d give this car FIVE STARS without hesitation. The slow charger may mean that you will need/want a second car for long and frequent road trips. Having that limitation makes it a FOUR STAR rating.
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Superb Commuter
B Davis, 10/23/2022
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Premier 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
17 of 17 people found this review helpful
This is a lot of car for the price, a Premier EUV is comparable in features to a Honda CR-V EX-L and comes in at $1000 less. It's much quicker and more fun to drive, and the cost to operate is a lot less. As long as you don't need it for road trips, I don't know of a SUV that's a better value both short and longterm.
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Great EV
EV Rider, 11/18/2022
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV LT 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
Read all the reviews and saw the videos. Bought it without driving it and love it. This is my 2nd EV (Leaf) and love all the tech and the 1 pedal driving. Getting about 270 Miles per charge.
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