It’s a little odd to be writing a review of a vehicle that was discontinued a few weeks ago by its manufacturer when General Motors announced this would be the last year for the Chevrolet Bolt.
Was that decision because it was a bad vehicle that proved unpopular? Unlikely, as the vehicle sold well for the automaker – despite some battery issues.
With that, the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV we tested will be the last year for this model. It comes in two trims, the base LT and the Premier we drove, so get them while you can.
As tested, that trim is priced at $51,083, which includes more than $5,000 in add-ons.
Those include the Sun and Sound package ($2,495) that adds the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus system with Navigation and a 10.2-inch touchscreen, a Bose premium 7-speaker system with subwoofer and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof. The Super Cruise Package ($2,300) includes Super Cruise and enhanced automatic emergency braking.
The Bolt is eligible for government rebates in Canada, which in Quebec where I live means a reduction of $12,000 on the final price tag.
Powertrain: The Bolt features a 65kWh battery that can provide an estimated autonomy range of up to 397 kilometres when fully charged. A display in the gauge cluster will show you the current range of your charge, which depends on driving habits, power usage for things like air conditioning and heat, and other factors.
The electric drive unit provides 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, good numbers for a vehicle this size, especially the torque, which helps with acceleration. Overall, it’s a very smooth powertrain for the Bolt EUV.
Exterior: The bright metallic colour of our tester definitely gives the design some pop, and contrasts nicely against the black trims. The 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels are also a nice design element.
Like most EVs, the front grille is mostly replaced with solid body panels, although there are still openings on the lower half. The black trim around the upper grille area resembles a handlebar mustache, to me.
Black accents are found on the side mirrors, lower trims and on the rear hatch.
The charge port for the Bolt is at the front left side of the vehicle, forward of the driver’s door.
Interior: The cabin is not as tight as you might expect given the compact stature of the Bolt EUV, and it was nicely appointed in the Premier tester.
It features a two-tone colour scheme and perforated seating for a well-appointed cabin.
The overall design is good, with all controls nicely laid out around the centre screen and easily reachable in the centre console. The one issue is the location of the USB ports, which are so far back in the little storage are under the screen area, they are quite hard to reach.
Rear passengers have a surprisingly generous amount of leg room for a vehicle of this size, even with the front seats as far back as possible.
There is also ample cargo room behind the rear seats, so the Bolt EUV can handle quite a good volume of cargo.
Infotainment: The upgraded system on the Premier trim features that Bose setup and a 10.2-inch touchscreen, featuring clear menus that easily navigable.
The setup includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless device charging.
It’s a very good system overall, that has all the features consumers expect from their vehicle these days, without the need to always be scrolling through menu after menu to find what you are looking for.
Drive: The Bolt EUV offers a pretty good drive. As mentioned earlier, acceleration from the electric motors is very good, meaning passing slower vehicles on the highway is done quite rapidly when you hit the throttle.
The steering feel and response are both good, and handling is also decent for the Bolt. The ride is comfortable even over the miles of broken pavement around town. Playing avoid the pothole proved the Bolt was pretty nimble.
Conclusion: The Bolt EUV is a pleasant vehicle all things considered, with good performance, a decent range for an EV and a spacious interior. With some rivals in this category that have definitely taken the spotlight, it may have fallen off some people’s radar, but it remains nonetheless a good option for consumers seeking an EV. And who knows, as GM winds down production, there could be some interesting incentives to get these out the door.
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Premier
Price as tested: $51,083.00
Freight: $1,800.00
Configuration: Electric Motor/Front-wheel drive
Engine/transmission: Electric drive unit
Power/torque: 200 horsepower/ 266 lb-ft of torque
Battery: 65 kWh
Estimated range: 397 kilometres
Warranties: 3-years/60,000 km (basic)
Competitors: Hyundai Ioniq 5, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia EV6, Mustang Mach-E, Nissan Leaf
Website: Chevrolet Canada