The Chevrolet Bolt was early on the EV scene and we lauded it for its relatively spacious interior, fun-to-drive nature and solid amount of range. Those qualities are still present with the latest Bolt, and they're joined by a nicer interior and excellent value. A small cargo space and mediocre seat comfort are drawbacks, but overall the Bolt is a smart pick for a low-priced EV.
Wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Part of the first Bolt generation introduced for the 2017 model year
What is the Bolt?
Electric vehicle enthusiasts might remember the Great EV War of 2016-2017, when Chevrolet and Tesla were racing to produce the first affordable long-range EV. The Chevrolet Bolt won the battle and enjoyed a nearly yearlong head start before the first Tesla Model 3 made its way to an owner's garage. However, the overwhelmingly higher sales figures for the 3 reveal Tesla won the war.
For 2022, Chevrolet is significantly revamping the Bolt to fix the issues that made the previous iteration hard to love. On the docket are new seats, a redesigned cabin and updated styling that, to our eyes, looks less dorky than it did before. Will the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt dethrone the sporty Model 3 at the top of our rankings of the Best Electric Cars? It's hard to tell without firsthand experience, but we'll be on the front lines for GEVW II.
What's under the Bolt's hood?
One thing hasn't changed for 2022: the powertrain. The Bolt EV uses a single electric motor that drives the front wheels and develops 200 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. It is fed by a 65-kWh battery pack that should deliver an estimated 259 miles of range. It has the same range as last year's Bolt and should be enough for most people's daily driving. We've also found that Bolt overperforms a little; we eked out 277 miles in our real-world driving test.
As with all EVs, charging using a standard three-prong outlet is a pitifully slow affair, adding roughly 4 miles of charge per hour. Chevy is offering a new charging cord for the Bolt that supports both 120-volt and 240-volt connections. You can potentially use this cord to recharge at home with 240-volt power instead of purchasing a separate charging station. Since not every household has a free 240-volt outlet, Chevrolet is partnering with Qmerit to provide complimentary basic outlet installation for anyone who buys or leases a Bolt (some exclusions apply). Fully recharging a nearly empty battery will take about nine hours this way.
Chevrolet has also upgraded the 2022 Bolt's onboard charger to draw up to 11 kilowatts, but you'll have to install a special charging station to pull that extra juice. Going this route drops the recharging time to approximately seven hours. The Bolt still supports DC fast charging too. On long road trips, you can use one of these chargers to potentially add up to 100 miles of range in 30 minutes.
How's the Bolt's interior?
The 2022 Bolt's interior is more conventionally styled, with a large central touchscreen nicely integrated into the dashboard design. Chevy has also replaced the previous drive mode shifter with buttons. Each button (Drive, Reverse, etc.) has a distinctive shape and placement so the driver can select the correct button without looking down.
One of our literal sore spots with the previous Bolt should be corrected for 2022. Previously, we found the front seats uncomfortable and too thinly cushioned. Chevy says it has redesigned the seats, and we're hoping that means more generous padding and support.
The Bolt is dimensionally unchanged, so there's just as much passenger headroom and legroom as before. We found the previous Bolt to be surprisingly spacious for four adults, though the cabin itself is on the narrow side. With no spatial modifications to speak of, the refreshed Bolt will be just as accommodating.
How's the Bolt's tech?
The Bolt EV is more generously equipped than its predecessor. A suite of safety features is now standard, including forward collision warning, emergency automatic braking and lane keeping assist. On the options list are blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera and — finally — adaptive cruise control. Unfortunately, GM's fantastic Super Cruise system is not available on the Bolt hatchback, but it is optional on the related Chevrolet Bolt EUV crossover.
The 10.2-inch touchscreen is the same size as last year, but the interface changes from a Bolt-unique UI to the Chevy Infotainment 3 interface found on other Chevrolet and GM products. We've found this system to be useful and easy to operate in other applications, and there's no reason to believe it won't be the same for the 2022 Bolt.
The upgraded system now supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you don't have to be plugged in to control your phone. A wireless charging pad, Wi-Fi hotspot and an integrated navigation system are all available. There's no word on whether you can watch Netflix on the main screen while the car is parked, but multimedia entertainment will likely remain Tesla's forte.
Edmunds says
We give props to the Chevrolet Bolt bolting (ha!) out of the gate back in 2017, but a few usability issues and aesthetic choices kept us from fully connecting with it. The refreshed 2022 Chevrolet Bolt solves the most significant drawbacks and should be a more appealing pick for an EV.
According to GeoTab’s data, if the observed degradation rates are maintained, the vast majority of batteries will outlast the usable life of the vehicle.
Estimated battery warranty remaining is 5 years or 58,000 miles for this car.
EV Tax Credits & Rebates
$10,100
Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.
Restrictions:
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection through the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) program offers $5,000 under Rebate+ Used to income qualifying applicants who purchase or lease a used eligible battery electric vehicle from a participating Connecticut franchised used automobile dealer or an original equipment manufacturer. Eligible applicants with a pre-qualification voucher may receive this incentive at point-of-sale through participating dealers, or apply for a consumer-direct rebate after purchase or lease of eligible vehicles.
Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
Reside in an Environmental Justice (EJ) Community or Distressed Municipality.
Participate in a qualifying state or federal income qualifying program.
Have an income level less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Original MSRP of vehicle, when it was new, is not to exceed $50,000.
Must be a Connecticut resident. Active-duty military members stationed in Connecticut will be eligible to apply.
Must retain ownership for a minimum of 24 consecutive months immediately after the vehicle purchase or lease date.
Leased vehicles must have a lease term of at least 24 months.
Vehicle must be registered with the Connecticut DMV for a minimum of 24 consecutive months.
Applicants are limited to one CHEAPR rebate every 24 months and two per lifetime.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit equal to 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000 for the purchase of a used plug-in electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer. Not every version of the vehicle models will necessarily qualify. Please check with the dealer/seller to determine the eligibility of your specific vehicle.
For the vehicle to qualify:
Price cannot exceed $25,000.
Need to verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Must be at least two model years older than the current calendar year in which the vehicle was purchased.
Must be sold through a dealership, private sales not permitted.
Not have already been transferred after August 16, 2022, to a qualified buyer.
For individuals to qualify:
Must meet income eligibility, depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status.
Must not be the first owner of the qualifying vehicle.
Has not been allowed a credit under this section for any sale during the 3-year period ending on the date of the sale of such vehicle.
Purchased for personal use, not a business, corporation or for resale.
Restrictions: Edmunds is partnering with Treehouse, an independent provider of home EV installation services. Edmunds visitors receive a $100 discount when they contract with Treehouse for their home charger installation. Discount excludes permit, hosted inspection, and load management devices. Valid for 30 days.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV 1LT 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
On May 21st, I purchased my first electric vehicle, a red Chevy Bolt and have driven about 400 miles thus far. After doing considerable research I narrowed all the options down to two choices. The Kia EV6 was my first choice and the Chevy Bolt was my second more practical choice. After consulting various dealerships, the difference in cost is what persuaded me. Out the door, the EV6 … would cost over $60K and the Bolt costed approximately $40K.
BUYING EXPERIENCE
My experience was all EVs were selling fast and getting more expensive. In fact, the day that I arrived at the dealer, five new Bolts had just arrived and 3 of them were sold that same day. I wanted the Red Color in the 1LT trim and bought one even if it did not have all the bells and whistles. It still comes with lots of great standard features. I have been making use of the lane keep assist functionality. I read that Chevy lowered the price $6,000 for the 2023 model, which is AMAZING! I highly recommend reading the manual in order to familiarize oneself with all the instrument cluster icons, `infotainment features, and safety guidelines of this vehicle. There is a lot of information to digest.
APPEARANCE
I LOVE my car! There are few electric vehicles or hybrids that I find easy on the eyes and I need to like the way that my vehicle looks.
AMBIENCE
The visibility in all four quadrants (front, sides, back) is excellent. The buttons to control radio volume, air-conditioning, and other accessories are generally where you would expect them as opposed to a central screen that forces you to take your eyes off the road. It has plenty of room for trinkets and four cupholders (two front, two back). It has a USB A and USB C charging port for one’s devices. It seats 4 adults comfortably, 5 may be a bit of a squeeze. Rear legroom and headroom are good. Unfortunately, there are no rear passenger air vents so it may take a little longer for temperatures in the rear seats to become comfortable in the summer and winters. The seats are very comfortable. There is much more room inside than one would anticipate at first glance. One also sits higher off the ground than they might expect. It does not feel cheap. When one closes the car doors, they feel substantial.
CARGO SPACE
I do not have measurements in cubic feet but I find it be adequate but on the small side. There also is no frunk. Like most EVs, there is no spare tire.
CHARGING
It takes about 7 hours with a Level 2 (240 V) charger to charge the battery from empty to full. At a glance there is a light on the upper dashboard that will blink green when the car is charging or turn solid green when the car is fully charged. The frequency of the blinking light provides an indication of the battery charge level.
DRIVING
It is so quiet at startup, sometimes I'm not quite sure if it is on. I am happy with the audio system and love the wide backup camera view. It accelerates very nicely. The ride is very smooth. The Bolt can recover energy either via a paddle shifter on the steering column, depressing the brake pedal, or selecting One Pedal Driving Mode. As the name implies, depressing the accelerator pedal will cause the vehicle to accelerate while relaxing the pressure on the pedal will cause the car to decelerate as if one were pressing on the brake. One Pedal driving Mode takes a little getting use to but it feels very natural now and is what I typically use. The paddle shifters is a bit more aggressive in slowing the car down than One Pedal Driving. There also is Sport Mode which makes the car even more responsive at the expense of battery endurance. Thus far, I’ve found Normal mode to be quite sufficient.
FREEWAY DRIVING
Merging onto the freeway is not a problem at all. With the instantaneous torque, there is little need to push the pedal to the floor besides the fun factor. At this point in time, EVs are lacking in range compared to their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. It has an advertised range of about 260 miles but this can vary up or down based on a number of factors. On the freeway, it is best to drive the Bolt close to the speed limit in order to maximize efficiency and range. The Bolt is most efficient at 55 mph and tends to become less efficient starting around 70 mph. I read that the max speed is 93 mph but driving at these higher speeds for a prolonged period of time will quickly drain the battery. The fastest that I have driven is 80 mph and the car accelerated smoothly and felt solid at this speed. This was not an attempt to ‘max it out’ but rather I was late for an appointment and it is common for the flow of traffic on the freeway to be around 75-85 mph.
GENERAL EV ADVICE
1) Have a game plan for how you will charge your vehicle. The ideal solution would be for
your home to have solar panels and your own Level 2 charger.
2) Projected EV range is sensitive and is affected by your climate control settings within the
car, external temperature (cold is worse than hot) and winds, terrain type (hills vs. level
ground), and speed driven.
It is a Bolt in the Arm!
5 out of 5 stars
1st a Colt, 2s Volts & Bolt, 02/06/2021
2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV Premier 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
Having leased and liked a Gen 1 and Gen 2 Volts, I traded one in because of the incredible incentives and value on the 2020s but got a sweet deal on a fresh from the factory 2021s. The Bolt Premier has exceeded my epectations and make the 2019 Volt seem like 1980s! The Bolt handles better, feels more planted, it's Michelin tires have so much better grip than the Michelin OEMs on the … Volt. The Volt is quick but the Bolt is a rocket ship. It is wolf in sheep's clothing! Apparently they improved the seats and dash for '21 and the seats are an improvement over the Volt but still are not like my Buick's! The car is exceptionally well made no visual flaws. The AC works well. The safety systems and infotainment systems are so extensive I've watched tutorials. Visibility is great because of the rare greenhouse styling. You sit up higher like in a SUV which is also better than the Volt. I wish the seats had lumbar support and that there was an adaptive cruise control option. My guess is that they will rectify that with the "22s. Why a $43K car doesn't have HomeLink either is a question. The salesperson and finance director were unusally knowledgble. It was my best experience out of 35 cars I've owned! The salesperson told me to drive it in L gear (actually there are not any gears) and the engine acts as a brake when you let your foot off the pedal. Apparently this is what Telsa owners do. Anyway it works great in stop and go traffic and urban driving. I am getting a charger installed in my garage as this Bolt charges about the same as the Volt, 50 miles at night. I need more than that. The interior feels spacious and if you stand next to a Volt it is actually bigger than it looks. There's more interior space than a Telsa S! It's well planted because of its width.
You'll like it more than you thought you would
5 out of 5 stars
Daddy Fix IT, 05/06/2021
2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV Premier 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
The Chevy Bolt is my second EV in 7 years. In car one, I went 126,000 miles all electric miles and I swore I would never go back to a gas car. Having nothing to do with my so called "Carbon Footprint," an all Electric car is simply just to drive and maintenace costs are counted in pennies. So last month it came time to trade in old "Sparky" for my next EV. I was beyond surprised by Bolt. … I had actually gone to the dealer to look at a used EV by another manufacturer. While waiting for the paperwork, I came across the Bolt in the showroom. The more I looked at it, the more I liked it. Fit and finish are well above what I would expected, 250+ miles on a single charge, and most critically, the interior space fit all of the work related stuff I have to carry to do my job. (Small car with gobs of room... Who knew?) Then came the test drive. I was hooked. Plenty of power, great handling, and the creacher comforts of the Premier package, make the Bolt irresistible. That coming from a seasoned EV driver (7years & 100+K EV miles) I knew what to expect and Bolt exceeded all of those expectations.
Quite simply, you will like the Bolt more than you think. :)
A Bolt from the Blue
5 out of 5 stars
Bob Brown, 07/20/2021
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV 1LT 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
The new Bolt EV lives up to its billing. It is comfortable, nimble, and beautiful. Mine is a new color for the year, Ice Blue metallic. The 2022 Bolt retains all the good features of previous years while fixing or updating previous years' features or problems. The cockpit, especially the dashboard, has a cleaner, unified look built around a larger central screen. The confusing … "shifter" has been replaced by simple paddle buttons recessed into the center console. Audio volume controls are surprisingly banished to the back side of the steering wheel where the fingers easily find and use them while never seeing them! The steering wheel is flattened at the bottom, which makes entering and leaving the vehicle easier. All the comfort and auxiliary functions are collected in a modest row of paddle switches below the screen. Charging routinely yields an indicated 268 potential miles. Gratifyingly, at non-interstate speeds and around town, the indicated miles turn out to be real, although obviously interstate driving can gobble up those potential miles. In all, the 2022 Bolt is a big car on the inside and a small car on the outside. It's really fun to drive, especially in S mode, which replaces the previous Low mode, allowing One-Pedal driving; in hilly terrain, it's a joy to see the miles expended going uphill being returned numerically to the potential miles!
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV, so we've included reviews for other years of the Bolt EV since its last redesign.
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