Specifications of Chevrolet Bolt EV (facelift 2021) 65 kWh (200 HP)
General characteristics of Chevrolet Bolt EV (facelift 2021) 65 kWh (200 HP)
The Bolt has a total length of 164 inches. Within that sits a wheelbase that is 102.4 inches long. The small car is 69.5 inches wide without the side mirrors and 62.8 inches high. Its most direct rival in pricing is the Nissan Leaf, which has slightly larger dimensions, though it doesn't stand as tall. It's wheelbase is identical, though. This makes the Leaf bigger in every direction, which impacts passenger comfort. Both Bolt models weigh 3,563 pounds.
The Bolt uses an electric motor mated to a single-speed automatic transmission and FWD. A 66 kWh lithium-ion battery powers this combo. Chevy claims 200 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, which puts it a step above the base Nissan Leaf but a step short of the top-spec's 214 bhp. The Hyundai Kona EV also beats it by a single horsepower. It is, however, more potent than the more expensive BMW i3.
As mentioned above, the acceleration from a standing start is decent, thanks to the instant torque delivery. The Bolt gets off the line quicker than both the Leaf and i3, while the Kona is a split-second faster to 60 mph. If performance is the primary consideration, it's worth noting that the Tesla Model 3 is in a class of its own with a claimed 0-60 mph time of 5.3 seconds.
When it comes to range, the Chevrolet is one of the better cars in the segment. Chevrolet claims a range of 259 miles, which is just four miles less than the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus. It's worth mentioning that the Hyundai Kona also fares well here, only one mile down on the Bolt. The Chevy has an EPA rating of 127/108/118 mpg-equivalent city/highway/combined. That's a lot more frugal than the Leaf Plus' 114/94/104 MPGe. Charging it at home will take around 10 hours, but a fast-charging station can give 100 miles of range in 30 minutes.
When you open the trunk, you realize why the rear seats are so spacious. The trunk was made smaller to devote more space to the second row. The Bolt only supplies 16.9 cubic feet of space, which is small compared to its rivals. The Nissan Leaf boasts 23.6 cubic feet, while the Hyundai Kona takes second place with 19.2 cubic feet. The only competition the Bolt manages to best is the Tesla Model 3, which only has 12.3 cubic feet of space in the trunk plus another 2.7 cubic feet in the frunk. The Bolt's cargo capacity can be increased to 56.6 cubic feet, however, by lowering the rear seats.
The supersized interior means there are plenty of options when it comes to small-item storage. There are several storage spaces throughout the cabin for both big and small items. These include large door pockets with bottle holders, a small storage space for a phone underneath the center console, and another large open storage space underneath that for keys, handbags, or a copy of the latest book from your favorite self-help guru.
Even the base Bolt EV model boasts impressive specs. The standard luxuries include keyless entry with a push-button start, multifunction steering wheel, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, six-way manually adjustable front seats, automatic climate control, ambient lighting, and remote start functionality. The Premier model kicks it up a notch by adding heated front and rear seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and an available wireless charging surface.
In terms of safety, there's a rearview camera, a Teen Driver system, and stability control as standard on the LT on the safety side. The Premier adds lane change alert, blind-spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors. The optional safety kit includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and IntelliBeam automatic high beam assist, among others.
While interior quality may not be up to scratch, the Bolt makes up for it by offering a modern, digital cabin. There's an eight-inch color display in the instrument cluster and a large 10.2-inch touchscreen that serves as the infotainment system's primary interface. It comes standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth streaming, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, and a trial SiriusXM subscription. A six-speaker setup is standard but the Premier trim gets the option of upgrading to a premium seven-speaker Bose sound system. The infotainment system is easy to use, and while navigation isn't offered as standard, the addition of full smartphone integration makes up for it.
The Bolt had one recall in 2019, which was part of a broader recall across the Chevrolet range. The reason was insufficient coating on the rear brake caliper pistons. The year 2020 wasn't kind to the Bolt, with three recalls in total. The first was for rear doors that may open while driving, while the second concerned the front left brake caliper that may fracture. The third recall was for incorrect bolts used to attach seat belts, and the fourth recall was issued for the high voltage battery that may catch fire. This recall was published in 2020, but only for Bolts built from 2017 to 2018, and specific 2019 models.
Chevrolet sells the Bolt with a three-year/36,000 basic warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile drivetrain warranty, and an eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty.
