Chevrolet has seen an enormous enhance within the gross sales of its Bolt platform, specifically the EUV model, and for good motive. For the EUV beginning value of $27,200 (earlier than incentives), it’s a unbelievable deal within the electrical automotive world. Our check car here’s a totally loaded Premier with all the packages (Redline, Solar & Sound, and Tremendous Cruise) for $36,890. For almost 250 miles of vary, a sluggish however first rate DC quick charging (DCFC) price of 50kW, improved options, and nice onboard expertise together with a really snug trip, we are able to see why the EUV is a prime vendor in its section.
Picture courtesy of Tyler Boggs | CleanTechnica
For 2023, Chevy has up to date the EUV LT and Premier trims for the Redline Version Trim ($495). Whereas this gained’t add any stiffer suspension or extra energy, it does add some distinctive trim touches on the outside and the inside. Exterior smart, the refreshed Bolt (from MY2022+) obtained the extra mannequin, the EUV, whereas providing restyled entrance and rear fascias. Beforehand proudly owning a 2019 Chevy Bolt ourselves, we discovered a couple of oddities throughout our time with the 2023 EUV. We seen the LED headlights (which had been nicer than our HIDs in our Bolt) had been pointed actually far down in order that the beam of sunshine made it tough to see at night time (it looks as if an adjustment might be made). One other concern of ours was having the rear brake lights additional down within the bumper in comparison with different automobiles. Another manufactures have executed this — previously and at the moment — however it will have been good to have them on the rear operating “taillights.” It simply appeared just a little odd to us contemplating how the earlier Bolt’s had them up increased.
No matter these oddities, the Bolt’s exterior seems nice, particularly with the Redline Version accents our check mannequin had right here.
Picture courtesy of Tyler Boggs | CleanTechnica
The largest change on the inside for the Redline Version is simply the leather-based seats, as they’re black with crimson stitching. It will have been good if the dashboard parts additionally had the identical crimson stitching as an alternative of white or black stitching. The seats on this EUV are powered for the motive force, heated and ventilated for each entrance seats (heated rear too). They really feel very snug in comparison with the 1st-gen Bolt seats, which I described as “a plastic garden chair with material.” It’s nice to see these options on the value level that’s the Bolt EUV. The panoramic sunroof is a primary for the Bolt platform and permits quite a lot of pure gentle to come back in, and the opening is pretty giant. Simply bear in mind, it cuts into rear seat headroom as effectively.
Talking of rear seat room, due to the additional 3 inches of house in comparison with the Bolt EV, the Bolt EUV has an important backseat. The one caveat is: be careful for the C-pillar when climbing into the backseat, because it sits very low and we discovered ourselves hitting our heads getting in an out. Cargo house is a tad smaller than within the EV, however we barely seen in our week of testing and operating to Costco.
Picture courtesy of Tyler Boggs | CleanTechnica
Picture courtesy of Tyler Boggs | CleanTechnica
Picture courtesy of Tyler Boggs | CleanTechnica
Picture courtesy of Tyler Boggs | CleanTechnica
Picture courtesy of Tyler Boggs | CleanTechnica
So far as expertise, the Bolt EUV has the same old bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (it’s wi-fi now!), and primary security options normal on the Premier (non-obligatory on LT). However what I needed to speak about was Tremendous Cruise. Our tester had this $2,200 choice, and whereas we’ll save our driving impressions with this function for the video, the brief abstract is that we’re impressed with the system. It doesn’t appear to be as superior as what you discover within the Cadillac Lyriq or GMC Hummer EV, however it’s nice that Chevy gives a system akin to this when quite a lot of its rivals within the section don’t supply this expertise. We do want there was auto lane change like within the GMC or Cadillac, however GM has to order a few of these increased finish tech options for the brand new EVs. (We are able to’t wait to check out the Cadillac and Hummer’s Tremendous Cruise later this yr.)
Picture courtesy of Tyler Boggs | CleanTechnica
Lastly, let’s speak about what some would name the Achilles heel of the Bolt, which is the DCFC price of 50kW. Having beforehand owned a 2019 Bolt with the identical DCFC price, I do want Chevy would have been capable of enhance this charging price (it did enhance AC charging from 7.2kW to 11kW), however this appears to be reserved for the Ultium expertise that’s upcoming. Is it a deal breaker? Actually, it isn’t. Having put 21,000 miles on our earlier Bolt, we by no means had a difficulty with the slower price of charging, it will simply be a “good to have” for highway tripping. Many Bolt homeowners who highway journey would agree that quicker DC quick charging can be good. Even in all of our roadtrips to Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania from Ohio, the Bolt was a champ for highway tripping and this EUV can be so very snug, particularly with Tremendous Cruise.
Worth smart, you actually can’t discover one other EV that offers you the very best bang to your buck in the case of affordability. I hope extra manufactures can do the identical and produce extra EVs that value someplace between $20,000 and $30,000. As we see from the numbers, the EUV and EV are promoting fairly effectively.
Wish to see what we consider Tremendous Cruise and our driving impressions? Click on right here to take a look at our video and discover out what we take into consideration the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Premier Redline Version. Due to Chevy for sending us the 2023 Bolt EUV!
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