Automotive

Chevy drops the price on updated 2022 Bolt EV and oversized EUV

Chevy drops the price on updated 2022 Bolt EV and oversized EUV
Chevy's Bolt EV gets a lot more affordable for 2022, and also gets a slightly larger EUV brother
Chevy's Bolt EV gets a lot more affordable for 2022, and also gets a slightly larger EUV brother
View 16 Images
Chevy's Bolt EV gets a lot more affordable for 2022, and also gets a slightly larger EUV brother
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Chevy's Bolt EV gets a lot more affordable for 2022, and also gets a slightly larger EUV brother
The updated interior gives the new Bolts a much more classy and grown-up vibe
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The updated interior gives the new Bolts a much more classy and grown-up vibe
The Bolt EUV is a tiny bit bigger than the EV, and gets some extra options
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The Bolt EUV is a tiny bit bigger than the EV, and gets some extra options
The new Bolt EUV offers a slightly lower range of 250 miles vs 259 for the Bolt EV
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The new Bolt EUV offers a slightly lower range of 250 miles vs 259 for the Bolt EV
The EUV offers a touch more storage space and back seat leg room
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The EUV offers a touch more storage space and back seat leg room
Bolt EUV
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Bolt EUV
The Bolt EUV becomes the first Chevy to get GM's Super Cruise lidar-enabled hands-free highway driving
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The Bolt EUV becomes the first Chevy to get GM's Super Cruise lidar-enabled hands-free highway driving
The revised Bolt EV looks very similar to the old model on the outside
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The revised Bolt EV looks very similar to the old model on the outside
The center console gets much flatter as the gearshift lever is replaced with push buttons and pull tabs
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The center console gets much flatter as the gearshift lever is replaced with push buttons and pull tabs
Steering wheel and dash
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Steering wheel and dash
Those six inches do make a difference ... the Bolt EV looks smaller and hatchbackier than the EUV
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Those six inches do make a difference ... the Bolt EV looks smaller and hatchbackier than the EUV
The smaller rear storage area of the Bolt EV
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The smaller rear storage area of the Bolt EV
Streamlined center console gives you extra room
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Streamlined center console gives you extra room
The Bolt EV offers a 259-mile range, unchanged from the previous model
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The Bolt EV offers a 259-mile range, unchanged from the previous model
Adaptive cruise is an option on both models, but only the EUV can run Super Cruise
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Adaptive cruise is an option on both models, but only the EUV can run Super Cruise
Chevy's compact electric gets even more affordable for 2022
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Chevy's compact electric gets even more affordable for 2022
View gallery - 16 images

Chevrolet is going bananas on electric vehicles, with no fewer than 30 planned for launch by 2025, and to get things started, here's a newly-refreshed Bolt EV, and a slightly-larger Bolt EUV, both several grand cheaper than the outgoing Bolt.

You'd struggle to pick the EV and EUV apart at a glance – or indeed the new Bolt from the one that's already sold 100,000 units, until you hop inside. The exterior updates are minor and mainly concerned with the headlights, so the, shall we say, somewhat polarizing appearance of the Bolt stays.

Inside, the interior takes a big step forward with a new dash, 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, and nicer materials throughout. The gearshift stick is replaced by buttons, getting out of the way and leaving a nice, flat center console; the seats are new; and the overall impression is much nicer and more grown-up than the previous model's rather dinky cabin.

The drivetrain stays largely the same, Chevy deeming the Bolt's single 150-kW (200-hp) motor and 65-kWh battery pack sufficient. Thus, Chevy's estimated 259-mile (416-km) range for the Bolt EV remains the same, and via DC fast-charging you can expect to add roughly 100 miles (161 km) per 30 minutes when needed.

The center console gets much flatter as the gearshift lever is replaced with push buttons and pull tabs
The center console gets much flatter as the gearshift lever is replaced with push buttons and pull tabs

A price drop from US$37,495 down to $31,995 for this zippy, practical compact electric car makes it a no-brainer over the current Nissan Leaf, whose base model starts $500 dearer and comes up 53 hp and 25 kWh short of the new Bolt EV. Expect that to be addressed quick smart.

The EUV, or Electric Utility Vehicle model is basically the same as the EV, just very slightly stretched. It's 6.3 inches (16.1 cm) longer, giving it a tad more carrying capacity and 3 inches (7.6 cm) more legroom in the back seats. It's also 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) wider and taller, so the two models annoyingly share no panels, and the resulting tiny drop in aerodynamic efficiency, plus 90 lb (41 kg) of extra weight, conspire to drop the estimated range down to 250 miles (402 km).

The Bolt EUV is a tiny bit bigger than the EV, and gets some extra options
The Bolt EUV is a tiny bit bigger than the EV, and gets some extra options

That alone isn't enough to put a wedge in between these two in the showroom, so Chevrolet has given the EUV some extra options you can't get on the EV: optional heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, a sunroof ... and a higher base price of $33,995.

More importantly, the Bolt EUV becomes the first Chevrolet that can (optionally) run GM's highly-regarded Super Cruise for hands-free highway driving, which, while it's a lot less ambitious in scope and execution than Tesla's Autopilot, can now be used on some 200,000 miles (320,000 km) of selected roads in the USA and Canada. A limited launch edition will run Super Cruise, along with the sunroof, special wheels and badges for $43,495.

Availability begins this (Northern Hemisphere) summer. There's a video below, which Chevy has produced in partnership with Disney, but honestly, spare yourself.

Chevy Bolt 2022

Source: Chevrolet

View gallery - 16 images
8 comments
8 comments
paul314
Still just 2wd? The list of cars that call themselves "utility" while not actually being able to drive anywhere a sedan can't keeps getting longer.
Username
I much prefer the previous interior.
EJ222
They got rid of the gas range extender? Guess I missed that.
Daishi
The 6.3" difference seems to make the EUV at least slightly better looking than the Bolt. With a $5k year over year price drop it's still not my dream car but it's closer than it was. At least GM isn't planning to stay on the sidelines and watch how this EV thing works out like most other auto manufacturers.
WB
this supercruz is such a joke... if you look at what is covered..anytime you have some intersection they basically tap out.. all it is basically is lane holdgin and speed.. compared to Tesla they are orders of magnitude behind.
Nobody
Hopefully, it's not a problem riddled model made in Mexico. I was always a Chevy fan but my last five have been nothing but trouble and they all had Made in Mexico stamped on them. I switched to a Toyota which was assembled in Indiana and it has been totally trouble free. Maybe if GM were to use American workers like Toyota their quality would go up as well.
bkwanab
@EJ222: Pay attention. This is the stupidly names Bolt EV, not the equally stupidly named Volt EV. The Volt had the range extender. The Bolt is a pure EV and always has been. So, no, they didn't get rid of the range extender. They got rid of the Volt.
WillyDoodle
The EUV looks decent enough but I need AWD for winter. While GM seems headed in the right direction with EVS, finally, IMO they need to up their game faster.