2027 Chevrolet Bolt

The Bolt is a small car, but it’s a big deal. Nearly a decade ago, it helped prove an electric vehicle (EV) didn’t need a luxury badge or luxury-car budget to be usable every day. That matters even more now. After a hiatus brought on by battery drama and its 2023 cancellation, the Bolt returns for 2027 with the same basic mission: a compact electric hatchback with useful cargo room, easy city manners, and pricing that undercuts most of the EV market. Just a few highlights include a 262-mile range, a Tesla-style North American Charging System (NACS) port, and available hands-free driving. This revival also comes with an expiration date, as Chevrolet has already framed the Bolt as a limited-run model before the plant where it’s built moves on to other vehicles.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of electric cars, including the Chevy Bolt.

The Chevy Bolt is fully redesigned for the 2027 model year, though it’s a close relative of the Bolt EUV that was discontinued in 2023. The new Bolt features updated aesthetics, a new interior with bigger screens, a native North American Charging System (NACS) charge port, and new battery chemistry that helps keep its cost down.

The Chevy Bolt LT is the only EV to fully undercut the $30,000 mark after destination fees. The Bolt’s closest rival, the Nissan Leaf, starts at a little over $30k, while slightly bigger electric SUVs like the Chevy Equinox EV and Hyundai IONIQ 5 start in the mid-$30k range.

Before buying a Bolt, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Historically, the Bolt has offered strong value retention compared to other affordable EVs.

When we drove the Bolt, it quickly reminded us why small EVs still have a lot going for them. Even after gaining about 100 pounds, it remains light by modern EV standards, which helps it feel nimble and easygoing around town. Its compact dimensions make it easy to place in traffic and painless to park.

It also rides better than the previous Bolt, while doing a decent job of keeping road and wind noise in check. But this is still an economy car, and it feels like one. On smooth pavement, it feels agreeable, but on rougher roads, the suspension and road noise remind you where GM cut costs to keep the pricetag down. We say it’s a worthwhile tradeoff.

Steering and brake feel are both decent and forgettable, which is probably the right outcome here. The bigger story is regenerative braking. It’s extremely strong, to the point that “normal” regen makes more sense than the “max” level. The old steering-wheel paddle that manually activated the regenerative brakes is gone, replaced by an on-screen setting, and low-speed one-pedal driving can feel jerky in parking lots and driveways.

Powertrain

Inside, the Bolt gets a subtle but meaningful glow-up. Material quality is still inexpensive, but it no longer feels cheap and chintzy. The cabin is practical, with creative storage solutions and a more modern dashboard that brings it closer to Chevrolet’s newer products.

An 11-inch driver display and 11.3-inch center touchscreen look much better than before, and physical climate controls remain below the screen. Front-seat comfort is solid for the size and price, and available heated and ventilated front seats add welcome polish. It would be nice to have more upscale options like a premium audio system or real leather seats, but this is a car for the budget-conscious EV shopper.

The interior space is pretty impressive for being one of Chevy’s smallest passenger vehicles. It has 39.1 inches of rear legroom, which is much more than what you get in the Nissan Leaf. Although roomy, the lack of air vents is one small gripe we have about the Bolt’s back seats. Cargo room is respectable, with 16.2 cubic feet behind the back seats and 56.3 cubic feet with the back seats folded down.

Google Built-In
The Bolt’s infotainment system has Google Built-In, which means handy apps like Google Maps and Google Assistant are built right in. Google Maps is hard to beat for navigation, and we’ve found the voice-controlled Google Assistant to work well for adjusting the audio, changing the car’s temperature, and handling navigation.

Super Cruise
GM’s Super Cruise is one of our favorite semi-autonomous hands-free driving systems, covering more than 600,000 miles of North American highways. Take your hands off when the steering wheel light turns green, keep your eyes on the road, and enjoy a relaxed highway drive. We love to see this available in affordable cars like the Bolt.

NACS port
We always love to see a NACS port, which unlocks access to the expansive Tesla Supercharger network without requiring an adapter. In addition to being able to access more charging stations, the smaller plug is easier for smaller hands to use.