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The 2027 Chevy Bolt features punchy acceleration, an excellent infotainment system and an amazingly spacious interior. The Chevy Bolt is back for 2027, for a limited time. Overall, I liked the bolt a lot, just driving it around the Bay area to see if this reborn affordable EV is worth your time. It is big size for city. The price is hard to beat, under $30,000 for the base model. And, importantly, the revived bolt smooths out many of the roughest edges of the famous car but outdated version that was discontinued in 2023.
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The small crossover now claims an EPA range of 262 miles from a 65-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate battery. It's a 15-mile boost. It also features 150 kilowatts fast charging, with the ability to recharge from 10%-80% in 26 minutes. The old bolt was never a road tripper. The new one makes it much more possible. But I also came away with some small frustrations after using the 2027-volt RS as my daily driver. Here's what I liked the most about one of the cheapest EVs in America and some downsides to keep in mind.
Pro: The punchy power you need it
The bolt uses a single, front-mounted motor that delivers 214 hp and 169 lb-ft of torque. This is enough for this small "crossover" to quickly hustle to highway speeds, make tight merges, and pass slow-moving traffic. The claimed 0-60mph time is 6.8 seconds, which means it's not a Porsche Tycoon. But it's also a solid two seconds faster than the gas-powered Chevy Trax. This is one of the best features of the EV. Low-cost, low-power one’s benefit from instant torque that is inherent in electric motors. If you're used to a gas car that's just about comparable, the bolt will feel fast.
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I will not miss it while the steering wheel-mounted paddle that boosted regenerative braking in the old model is gone. The bolt provides two intensities of one-pedal drive, and you can turn off the function completely if it's more your speed.
Pro: Small on the outside and surprisingly large on the inside
At 169.6 inches in length, the bolt is a big size for the city. It's almost two feet shorter than the Vernal Equinox EV, and I enjoyed how easy it was to Street Park. Importantly, the bolt still feels nice and spacious inside. I'm a little over 6 feet, and I didn't want space for the front seat. The back was also quite spacious in terms of both knees and headroom. When I tested Bolt's main competitor, the Nissan Leaf, I remember being struck by how cramped the rear seats were; it's not designed for big adults. The numbers back it up; the bolt has a few inches more rear seat feet than its rivals, from 39.1 inches to 31.8 inches. If you're a ride-share driver, it's a better option.
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PRO: Tons of interior storage
You can never quite find a spot for all your junk? The bolt has a place for it. Its interior is positively filled with tiny little holes for your sunglasses, purse and what you have. There are 3 stash spots built into the passenger side dashboard, and several stash spots in the center console. It's a nice touch for someone like me who always finds their cup holders overflowing with parking receipts and other crap. Another nice touch: The cup holder is adjustable. Depending on the size of the cup of the day, you can move some of the included inserts to another position or create a spot that fits your iPhone perfectly.
PRO: Google Built-in Infotainment
General Motors' new EV is famous for its lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. I know it's a shame for some. But at least the company makes up for it with an attractive and easy-to-use infotainment system. The best part of that is the Google built-in, which displays familiar apps like Google Maps on Bolt's central screen. If you're not going to let me, use my phone to navigate, at least don't suck at me the navigation System Bolt does exactly that, like any other new GM product.
CON: A bit of a bumpy ride
But the bolt is not exactly luxurious on the road. Any car company needs to make a trade-off when creating a budget car, and this is an example. On rough roads, the bolt is a bit bouncy for my taste. This wasn't necessarily a dealbreaker, and it didn't take much away from the overall experience, but it was remarkable. It does not help that the seat is a little firm and does not help the cushion stroke all well from the road. On the smooth highway, however, I have no complaints and the bolt is a nice place to spend time.
CON: Interior with a sense of budget
Despite thoughtful touch and storage options, the bolt interior comes off a little budget. Of course, this is not so surprising, because it is intended to be a budget EV. The seat in front of my tester was wrapped in faux leather, and it was good. But almost everything before was made of hard plastic. Ditto for the back seat where the elbow rest lacks padding and the back seat pockets are nowhere to be found.
Verdict
The bolt is not perfect. But in the EV world dominated by the $50,000 option, Chevy’s small crossover is an undeniably attractive addition to the American auto market. It's a shame it hasn't stuck for long. GM will only make bolts for about next year before its factory space is reorganized to make gas cars. So, if you like what you see — shortcomings and everything — you will act faster.
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