As we all know, electric cars are not cheap. They’ve had to be sold with government incentives in order for them to be competitive against traditional gasoline powered cars. But, since EVs have been on the market for quite some time now, their prices are dropping.
Which leads us to this, the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV. It costs less than a basic pickup truck and it might just be the most important car for GM. Why? Because it’s an EV for those that actually have and need to stick to a budget.
Performance
Motor – Just like the older Chevrolet Bolt, this reincarnated Bolt EV uses a single-motor drivetrain. It powers the front wheels and it gains a slight bump in power. It now produces 210 hp (156 kW). However, it lost a bunch of torque. The old one produces 266 lb-ft (196 Nm), this new one only has 169 lb-ft (124 Nm). That difference is noticeable. It doesn’t matter whether you put it into Sport mode or turn off the traction control, this new Bolt doesn’t have the same wheel-spinning, neck-snapping acceleration of the old one. The power delivery is gradual, even in Sport mode.
Does that matter? Not really. This car may have a sporty RS badge on it but it’s not meant to be sporty. It’s a city runabout. And in cities, the power is perfectly fine. On highways, you’ll need to step on the accelerator pedal a bit harder but it’ll get up to speed just fine. It’s just missing that initial kick that the old one had.
Battery, Range, & Charging – The battery size remains the same as before at 65 kWh but it is now made up of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP). This change in battery chemistry and the lower torque figure results in the 2027 Chevy Bolt having a rated driving range of up to 422 km (262 Miles). Of course, like many other EVs, that number depends on a number of different factors such as driving style, climate control sausage, ambient temperature, and so on. So, you might get more or might get less in certain situations. I averaged an overall efficiency of 14.5 kWh/100km (4.28 Miles/kWh) during my time with the Bolt EV.
The big news story with this new Bolt is the faster recharge speeds. 55 kW was the maximum charge speed of the old Bolt. This new one is about 3 times as much at 150 kW. That means, 10% to 80% in about 25 minutes instead of what felt like 25 hours with the old one. It also gains the NACS plug. AC charging remains the same at 11.5 kW.
Braking – Some of the energy can be recuperated through regenerative braking. The Bolt doesn’t have adjustable levels like Kia or Hyundai vehicles but you can adjust the strength of the one-pedal mode. However, Chevy got rid of the regen on demand paddle that was once on the left side of the steering wheel. But I’m not going to shed a tear over it because I never used it in the old Bolt to begin with.
As for the physical brakes, they feel firm the harder you press on the pedal but it has a long enough travel to allow for smooth stops. Additionally, the Bolt EV does not have a strange feeling transition between regenerative braking to the physical brakes nor does the pedal move on its own like in some other EVs.
Handling – What about the handling then? Again, not sporty in feel, which is fine. It has light steering for city maneuverability, soft suspension to absorb bumps rather than resist body roll, and an overall relaxing driving demeanor.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – Speaking of relaxing, this new Bolt EV utilizes a modified version of the old Bolt EUV chassis rather than the standard Bolt EV that was once offered. That means it has a longer wheelbase which improves the ride quality a little bit. It’s by no means a luxury ride quality but it’s not going to throw your spine out of alignment either.
Interior Space – The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV is a spacious little hatchback. In the front seats, there is ample room for taller individuals. But, Chevy could have added more padding to the seat cushion because my butt would feel numb after just 30 minutes of driving. Worse yet, the center console arm rest and the door panel arm rests are so hard that they feel as though they’re made from granite.
In the back seats, it’s not too bad. Because the new Bolt is based on the old Bolt EUV, it has about 3-inches more rear legroom than the original Bolt EV. Behind my tall driving position, my knees brush up against the back of the front seat but they don’t feel squished.
Behind the seats, the 2027 Bolt has 458 L (16.2 cu-ft) of cargo space. Fold down the seats and that number increases to 1,594 L (56.3 cu-ft). But unlike other EVs, you won’t find any cargo space under the hood.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – Overall the 2027 Chevy Bolt EV is a quiet vehicle. Not many exterior noises intrude into the cabin. You may hear the faint whine of the electric motor as you accelerate or decelerate but it’s not intrusive like a gasoline engine. Wind noise is negligible and road noise isn’t any louder than in any other compact car.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt is available in the LT or RS trim levels. The LT starts at $39,999 CAD ($27,600 USD) while this RS demo vehicle starts at $42,599 CAD ($31,600 USD). However, there are a number of different packages and standalone options that can be equipped. As a result, a fully loaded Bolt EV can end up costing closer to $48,000 CAD ($37,000 USD). Still, that’s not too bad especially when you take into consideration the government rebates, if they’re available in your area.
Gadgets – For the starting price of just $1 under $40,000, the 2027 Bolt EV gets a decent amount of standard convenience features, more so than the US spec. Here in Canada, it has standard heated front seats with an 8-way power driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel, the 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, a single-zone automatic climate control, adaptive cruise control, power windows, power locks, keyless entry and remote start.
Adding packages such as the Technology and the Evotex package will add more convenience features such as leatherette upholstery, ventilated front seats, surround view cameras, a rear camera mirror, a wireless phone charging pad, automatic wipers, and ambient lighting. There’s also the Super Cruise option which allows for hands-free driving on most highways in the US and Canada.
Interior Design – The cabin of the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV looks similar to the previous model but it received a substantial update to the center console. Gone is the drive selector, which is now on the steering wheel stalk, and in its place is a large storage bin. There is a smaller storage bin that is mounted slightly higher and it features ridges that dividers can slot into to create cup holders or storage dividers. On the dashboard, there’s a larger 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen while the driver gets an 11-inch display. Both look sharp and vivid even in direct sunlight. The infotainment system is Google based and it’s fairly easy to navigate around. But I found that I needed to really press hard and be deliberate with my swipes, otherwise the screen doesn’t register my touches. But at least I don’t need to touch this screen to change the climate temperature or turn on the heated seats. Chevy has given us physical buttons and knobs.
Exterior Design – The 2027 Bolt doesn’t see a substantial change from the previous model. It basically looks the same. The only slight tweaks are with the headlights and the taillights. This new one no longer has the front turn signals which “fade” out and the turn signals in the back are integrated into the brake lights. Otherwise, as I said, it looks basically the same as before.
Safety – As standard, the 2027 Chevy Bolt EV already comes equipped with almost every safety & driver aid that is available on this car. Adding the Technology package adds traffic sign recognition, rear pedestrian alert, and surround view cameras. The Super Cruise package adds front & rear parking sensors in addition to Super Cruise itself. This is a hands-free driving system that can be used on most highways across Canada & the US. Of course, it’s not an “autopilot” system so you still have to pay attention to the road ahead.
Warranty – The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV is covered by a standard 3 year / 60,000 km basic with the battery and electric drive components covered by an 8 year / 160,000 km warranty. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For information on American warranty, click here.
Conclusion – So, after a hiatus of a few years, Chevrolet has taken the sensible hatchback and given it a tech makeover, faster charging capability, and priced it so that normal working people can actually afford it.
Thank you to Chevrolet Canada for providing the 2027 Bolt EV. www.Chevrolet.ca
2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV gallery
