Used 2019 Chevy Bolt EV Hatchback

As automotive manufacturers slowly develop their EV portfolios, vehicles such as the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt bridge the gap between yesteryear's low-range city cars and the fully electric future. The Bolt is one of two cars — the other being the Tesla Model 3 — that offers more than 200 miles of range at a relatively affordable price. Its long range, combined with an ever-expanding network of fast-charging stations, means the Bolt is one of the few electric vehicles realistically capable of long-distance travel.

If you typically stick closer to home, the Bolt's 238 miles of range mean you won't have to plug in every night, which is a reality for many EV owners. You also don't have to plan too far ahead if you decide to head out of town on a day trip. And while the EPA rates the Bolt at 238 miles, we've easily surpassed that during our long-term test of a Bolt (the record on a single charge at the time of publication stands at 334 miles).

A long range and low price mean that cost savings had to come from somewhere, and the Bolt's interior materials are below average, even for a compact car. Most of the interior panels are hard plastic, and trim pieces on our long-term vehicle started to loosen after just 15,000 miles. The front seats are also fairly uncomfortable, so you might not actually want to take the Bolt on the long-distance road trips it's capable of.

Now, the Tesla Model 3 is more comfortable, sportier and capable of a longer range. But long-term reliability is a question mark, and it's unlikely that Tesla will be building many (or even any) of the promised sub-$40,000 versions for the 2019 model year. So, realistically, the Bolt is the lone member of the long-range, low-price EV category.

Notably, we picked the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV as one of Edmunds' Best Electric Cars and Cheapest New Cars for this year.

The 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV is an all-electric four-door hatchback that is offered in just two trim levels: LT and Premier. Both share the same mechanical running gear, including the electric motor (200 horsepower, 266 pound-feet of torque) and the large 60-kWh battery that is good for an estimated 238 miles on a full charge.

With the LT, you'll get a 7.2-kWh onboard charger, 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, heated mirrors, a rearview camera, remote start, and keyless entry and start. Inside, you'll find automatic climate control, height-adjustable front seats, cloth upholstery, 60/40-split folding rear seats, a cargo cover, ambient interior lighting, a configurable gauge cluster display, a 10.2-inch touchscreen, OnStar communications (with a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot), Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, and a six-speaker sound system with two USB ports, an auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio.

Options for the LT include the Comfort and Convenience package, which consists of heated front seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Driver Confidence package adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors. Another noteworthy LT option is a cargo-area floor cover for extra storage capability.

Step up to the Premier, and you'll get everything described above, including the LT options. You'll also get roof rails, leather seats, additional ambient lights, heated rear seats, a center rear armrest, a top-down parking camera system, and a camera-based rearview mirror function.

Premier options include the Infotainment package, which has a seven-speaker Bose audio system, wireless smartphone charging, and two charge-only USB ports for rear passengers.

Optional on both trim levels is the Driver Confidence II package, which consists of a forward collision warning system with pedestrian detection and low-speed automatic emergency braking, a lane departure warning and lane keeping system, and automatic high beams.

Another significant option that's common to both trim levels is DC fast-charging capability, which allows the car to use SAE Combo 400-volt Level 3 charge stations that can fill the battery to 80 percent in little more than an hour. We consider this option to be essential for a car with as much range as the Bolt because, as more of these stations get built, DC fast charging will open the door to interstate travel.