I’ve spent this week with the heavily-refreshed 2022 Chevy Bolt all-electric sedan, one of, if not the most affordable electric vehicles in America. A year or so ago, Chevrolet dropped the Bolt price by about $6,000. The Bolt is also available in an SUV configuration, called the Bolt EUV.
Looks
Chevy did a nice job refreshing the exterior, especially the front end. They added nice looking 17” wheels, and although a little too egg-shaped for me personally, the side view is a nice mix of chrome and black accents, and the Bolt has a spoiler at the rear.
My review EV is the 2LT version, the top of the line. There is also a 1LT available which is about $4,000 less.
Powertrain
Under the hood there is a 66-kwH battery that drives an electric motor. The stats are impressive: 200-horses, 266-pound feet of torque, a 0-to-60 time of 6.5 seconds, and you get 259-miles of range, although it won’t do that if you are running the air conditioner hard.
Interior
The interior is very well done with soft touch materials all around. Leather seats are quite comfortable and both front seats are power and heated, but not ventilated.
There is a very configurable driver info system that gives you a ton of information on range, a digital speedometer, and you can find out how efficient your driving habits are.
Credit: Chevrolet.
Center dash is a 10.25” infotainment touchscreen. From there, you operate the Bose stereo system, the navigation system, the energy screen which gives you in-depth info on range and charging, all the apps, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
The center console houses the wireless phone charger, you can hit the Sport mode button that really enhances the acceleration, but drains the battery quicker. There are also a couple of cupholders, USB-C ports, and the electric parking brake.
Credit: Chevrolet.
Also there, is the button for one pedal driving, which I love by the way. With it engaged, when you get off the accelerator the Bolt immediately begins to slow down and the brakes send a charge to the battery. When you get good at this technique, you’ll seldom have to touch your brakes and it gives you another way to extend the battery range.
Front and back seat head room are really good. Back seat legroom is fairly limited. The cargo area is roomy and has some underneath storage and the entire cargo area is covered by a shade that is pulled out of the way when the tailgate is opened. The back seat is split and folds down, rear occupants get air conditioning vents and two USB-C ports. The tailgate is manually operated by the way.
Credit: Chevrolet.
Standard Equipment
The Bolt 2LT comes nicely equipped with a heated steering wheel, tilt wheel, LED headlamps, the 17” wheels, remote start, automatic headlamps, and keyless entry. The only option on this one is Adaptive cruise control.
On the safety front, you get automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, front pedestrian braking, forward collision alert, rear parking sensors, rear cross traffic alert, lane change alert, and blind spot monitoring.
Ride and Drive
The Bolt drives really well, it is quiet inside especially for an electric car, ride quality is great, the acceleration is pretty amazing, and the visibility is fantastic. Overall, this would make a great daily driver.
Charging
As I always warn people, make sure you have a level 2 charger at your home. Charging times using a 110-outlet is slow (4 miles of range per hour). The good news is that included in the price of the car is a level 2 charger, including installation.
You can see a picture I took at the radio station Saturday morning at 7:50 AM. The car showed using a regular electrical plug, I would get to a full charge by Monday morning at 10 AM. With the level 2, charging would be complete at 2:15 Saturday afternoon, a little over six hours later.
Verdict
The Chevy Bolt is impressive for the money. Chevrolet has run through all their $7,500 tax credits, but if I read things correctly, under the new Inflation Reduction Act, the Bolt will qualify on January 1, 2023 if you meet the other criteria, including income levels.
- What I liked most: Ride, drive, and acceleration.
- What I would change: I’d like to see an extended range battery option.
- MSRP: Base price: $34,200/Total with options: $36,290.
- Fuel Economy: Rated at 131 MPGe City/109 MPGe Highway/120 MPGe combined.
- Odometer reading when tested: 6,200 miles.
- Weight: 3,589 pounds.
- Spare Tire: None. Run flat tires.
- Length-Width-Height: 163.2” long/69.5” wide/63.4” high.
- Fuel Tank Capacity: N/A. Charging port on the left front fender.
- Official Color: Ice Blue Metallic.
- Towing Capacity: N/A.
- 2022 Bolt EV in a few words: An outstanding value and a very enjoyable to drive electric car.
- Warranty: 3-year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper with roadside assistance and courtesy transportation, 8-year/100,000 mile battery and electric propulsion warranty.
- Final Assembly Location: Lake Orion, MI.
- Manufacturer's website: Chevrolet
