2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV Hatchback

　　

2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　, rating written byKurt NiebuhrAssociate Manager, Vehicle Testing and Operations

　　Rex Tokeshi-Torres has worked in the automotive industry for over 17 years. Rex is a vehicle testing technician and photographer at zzdcar and is responsible for coordinating vehicle testing and logistics, organizing data, and capturing photos for the site and social media. He has written over 100 vehicle-related articles and has rated, tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. He has also contributed content to Autobytel, Autotrader, Automobile, the Associated Press and DSport along with various motorsport teams. His affinity with cars started because of Hot Wheels and his love of modifying cars. He occasionally drives Subarus.

　　Since its introduction back in 2017, the Chevrolet Bolt has been a solid choice for buyers looking for a compact EV. Its EPA-estimated range of 259 miles on a full charge is plenty for daily driving and suitable for an occasional road trip as well. We've also run the Bolt through zzdcar' real-world range test and it performed admirably, going 278 miles.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Chevrolet Bolt EV Insights

Trim:Bolt EV 1LT

　　1LT 4dr Hatchback (electric DD) - $26,500 MSRP2LT 4dr Hatchback (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $29,700 MSRP

　　

Range

 zzdcar TESTED

　　278 miles

　　zzdcar Tested Rangezzdcar begins with a full battery charge and drives the vehicle on a mix of city and highway roads (approximately 60% city, 40% highway) until the battery is almost entirely empty. (We target 10 miles of remaining range for safety.) The miles traveled and the indicated remaining range are added together for the zzdcar Tested Range figure.

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 236 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to zzdcar' real-world range test's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © zzdcar' real-world range test contributors | zzdcar' real-world range test

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

Charging at Home

　　7.5 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　SAE ComboStandard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$7,900

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Federal Credit

　　$7,500

　　Restrictions: Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Clean Vehicle Tax Credit of $3,750 or $7,500 depending on model eligibility for the purchase of a new plug-in electric 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. To be eligible: A vehicle must have undergone final assembly in North America (the United States and Puerto Rico, Canada, or Mexico). Critical mineral and battery component requirements determine credit amount. Maximum MSRP of $55,000 for cars and $80,000 for SUVs/trucks/vans. Income eligibility applies depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status.

　　To learn more, visit zzdcar' real-world range test

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit zzdcar' real-world range test

　　Complimentary Home Installation or Public Charging

　　Restrictions: This program gives customers who purchase or lease a new 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV the option of choosing one of the following offers: 1) a Standard Installation, 2) an Installation Credit, or 3) EVgo Credit. For customers who do not meet the Standard Installation requirements or choose the Installation Credit offer, GM will provide up to a $250 credit towards permitting and up to a $1,000 credit towards an installation completed by a Qmerit installer. The EVgo credit provides $500 for use with EVgo public charging stations. Your choice must be made within 30 days of your Vehicle Delivery Date. Installations must be completed within 180 days of your Eligible Vehicle Delivery Date. For complimentary public charging, the authorization code must be redeemed at EVgo.com within 60 days of eligible vehicle delivery date. EVgo credits must be used within 3 years from the date the authorization code was redeemed. Offer is non-transferable. See your participating dealer for details.

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$59/mo

　　Bolt EV

　　vs

　　$162/mo

　　Car Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　Some rival EVs can go farther, but they're typically more expensive. Value, in fact, is the biggest draw for the 2023 Bolt. It's a relatively inexpensive EV to begin with, and it further benefits from a big discount from Chevrolet and latest federal EV tax credit rules, under which the Bolt now qualifies.

　　The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt isn't necessarily an electric vehicle you will get excited about. The Ford Mustang Mach-E and Hyundai Ioniq 5 are more powerful and stylish, for example, and the Hyundai Kona Electric and Mini Cooper SE are a bit more fun to drive. But from a logical standpoint, the Bolt is a winner. Read our Expert Rating below to learn more about the Bolt's strengths and weaknesses.

　　

What's it like to live with?

zzdcar bought and tested a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV for about three years, racking up about 34,000 miles in the process. We liked it as an efficient commuter car but were disappointed with its interior quality. You can read more about our experiences in our zzdcar' real-world range test. The 2023 Bolt has some updates compared to that 2017 car, but many of our impressions still apply.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　8.0

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the Bolt EV drive? The Bolt scooted from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds in our testing, which is reasonably quick for an EV in this price range. You can merge onto freeways with ease or overtake when you need it. The Bolt's brakes are consistent and easy to control if you prefer to not use the single-pedal mode to do most of your slowing from regenerative braking. We like the latter since it requires less effort and improves range. There's even an additional steering-wheel regen braking paddle for those who want to maximize energy recuperation.

　　The Bolt responds smoothly to steering inputs without feeling darty. The steering feel and feedback are good, and the car stays straight ahead on the highway without demanding driver attention. When the road begins to curve, the Bolt feels nimble and sure-footed.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Bolt EV? The front seats now have adequate cushioning compared to those in previous model years. They're no longer a literal pain in our backsides on long road trips, though we still think they could use a little more thigh bolstering. The Bolt's ride quality, however, is still overly busy and choppy because the suspension struggles to absorb pavement cracks and sharp-edged potholes.

　　When the pavement is smooth, so is the Bolt. The updated climate controls are straightforward and have redundant functions on the touchscreen and below the screen with physical buttons. The system reacts quickly, and the 2LT trim comes standard with heated front seats and steering wheel. We also like the Bolt's quiet cabin. Wind noise is not an issue.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below