2022 Chevy Bolt EUV review: More space, no drawbacks

The Bolt EUV is a even larger version of a much better version of the Chevy Bolt EV. Even with the pretty much-also-comparable taxonomy, the Bolt EUV tries to distance itself from its sibling by way of incorporating some inside volume, and the consequence is swell.

If you assume the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV appears comparable to the Bolt EV (minus the U), U would be proper. The most evident modify amongst the two is duration, where by the EUV stretches six.two inches for a longer time than the standard Bolt EV. This embiggening provides 3.9 inches of wheelbase and, extra importantly, 3.one inches of rear legroom. The EUV is only .two inches taller and broader than the Bolt EV, though, which indicates sitting in the center of the backseat can be a limited affair. Headroom continues to be ample.

The second-gen Bolt, regardless of whether EV or EUV, appears much better inside of and out. The slender jogging lights make for extra futuristic fasciae, and I dig the texture on the front bumper’s “grille.” But the serious improvement normally takes place inside of, where by Chevrolet ultimately decided to use supplies that do not frequently really feel low cost. The dash makes use of levels, color and texture, despite the fact that the gloss black trim in the course of can be really the smudge magnet. The triangle designs in the Premier’s leather-based seats seem good, and the chairs on their own are sufficiently supportive for for a longer time stretches on the highway.

Storage is a blended bag. The middle console’s cup holders are not massive sufficient for big water bottles, but the doorway pockets support mitigate that. You can find a compact tray for holding factors less than the USB ports, but it doubles as the wireless charging pad. I do like that there is sufficient area less than the middle armrest for a decently sized purse. The Bolt EUV features just 16.3 cubic feet of cargo area, sufficient for a family’s groceries or a pair weekender baggage, and though it bests competition like the Hyundai Kona Electrical and Nissan Leaf, it’s just a minor very small total. The EPA suggests the Bolt EV has extra cargo area at 16.six cubic feet, but which is mostly thanks to how the EPA actions cargo volumes — take into consideration the two functionally equivalent. You can find no frunk, possibly.

The Bolt EUV’s powertrain continues to be peachy. Even with staying positioned as a quasi-crossover of sorts, the EUV is a front-wheel-generate hatchback, sending two hundred horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque to the front axle by way of a solitary electrical motor. That torque benefit just isn’t nearly anything to shake a adhere at instantaneous twist indicates the EUV shoves off in a hurry, despite the fact that its 215/50R17 Michelin Vitality Saver all-time tires are quite brief to spin less than also significantly throttle. 

The EPA estimates the 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV will operate about 247 miles on a solitary charge, a quantity I would say is very well inside reach. Due to the fact driving style things seriously into these calculations, Chevy offers a superior and very low estimate for remaining range in the gauge cluster, with a marker that lets me know regardless of whether my driving is aiming for efficiency or not. In excess of a pair hundred miles, I’m displaying 3.4 miles per kilowatt-hour made use of, which translates to about 221 miles from the car’s sixty five-kWh battery pack. The Bolt EUV’s constructed-in brake regeneration is wonderful, with minor modify in pedal really feel amongst regen and friction, and I get pleasure from that I can transform on a person-foot driving completely by way of a change on the middle console, or I can use it on-need by way of the steering wheel paddle.

Charging the Bolt EUV is a breeze, many thanks in portion to a seven.two-kilowatt program and a standard twin-amount cord that works with both equally one hundred twenty-volt Stage one and 240-volt Stage two setups (this cable is optional on Bolt EV). Chevy estimates about seven hrs to fill up on a Stage two charger, which tracks with my experience of hooking up to a public charger and likely from 50% to total about the class of a very long dinner with buddies. As towns continue on to flesh out their EV infrastructure, range nervousness must under no circumstances be an situation here.

The Bolt EUV’s for a longer time wheelbase makes for a extra comfy experience, also, smoothing out some of the bouncier antics I find in the shorter Bolt EV. It’s under no circumstances likely to be a dealing with hero — probably question Chevy for an RS variant or one thing — but it’s not meant to be. The steering is mild as heck, despite the fact that the optional and mostly needless Sport manner does incorporate some excess weight, so it’s clear that the Bolt EUV is for cruising.

Speaking of cruising, the Bolt EUV carries a person optional update you can’t get on the Bolt EV. Tremendous Cruise is GM’s Stage two driver help, combining adaptive cruise regulate and lane-keeping aid to maintain the car in its lane at the tempo of targeted traffic on pre-mapped stretches of highway without necessitating fingers on the wheel. A driver-monitoring digicam will make certain my eyes are pointed in the suitable way, but once the LEDs in the steering wheel glow eco-friendly, I’m Ok to rest my fingers awkwardly in my lap. The program is a minor extra jittery than I don’t forget in more substantial automobiles, possible owing to the EUV’s tall sides and narrow body, but in most conditions it makes smooth inputs and does a fairly excellent work approximating human driving.

Each EUV receives a ten.two-inch touchscreen on the dashboard jogging the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Furthermore program, which is responsive, simple on the eyes and even less difficult to navigate. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Automobile are involved, along with a wireless product charger and a pair of USB ports (a person USB-A, a person USB-C) per row. A second, eight-inch display screen normally takes the place of the gauge cluster, offering all the pertinent details I need to have about the automobile in a person of two types.

On the safety front, all EUV trims occur with automatic crisis braking, lane-keeping aid, lane-departure warning and Chevy’s Teen Driver suite, which can restrict sure characteristics when your progeny normally takes the automobile for the night time. The Premier beefs that up with rear parking sensors, a rearview digicam mirror, a encompass-see digicam program, blind-place monitoring and adaptive cruise regulate. LT purchasers can incorporate most of those people characteristics on the foundation trim for $495, which is good, though Tremendous Cruise is confined to Premier trims and carries a $two,two hundred rate tag.

Both of those trims are aggressively priced, even prior to federal or community tax incentives are counted. The 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV’s LT trim commences at $33,995 which include spot, though the Premier trim asks a respectable $38,495. You can find a $five,430 Launch Version Package deal for the Bolt EUV that provides each solution, in addition to special wheels, a new badge and an illuminated charge port, as very well. My tester is extra or considerably less fully loaded, and it arrives in at $forty three,495 prior to incentives.

The Chevy Bolt’s competition made use of to be several and far amongst, but times have improved. If you want one thing a minor extra down to earth (virtually), extra traditional hatchbacks like the Kia Niro EV and Nissan Leaf are available, though crossover-welcoming individuals can find competitors from the Hyundai Kona Electrical and Volvo XC40 Recharge, despite the fact that the latter is fairly expensive. Both of those with and without competitors factored in, though, the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV is a stellar electrical car, with a smooth-cruising mother nature and lots of the newest cabin tech.