10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Chevy Bolt EUV Strikes Down Ford F-150 Lightning
When Chevrolet debuted its Bolt EV hatchback for the 2017 model year, it was one of the first all-electric vehicles for the everyman with a driving range that, at the time, rivaled long-haul leader Tesla. Now, with the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV, GM acquiesces to car shoppers’ heavy preference for SUVs over, well, pretty much everything else by taking the Bolt EV platform and powertrain and making it longer, higher-riding and at least superficially more SUV-like. And although the whole Bolt thing may be past its prime, it still ranks high in Cars.com reader interest, with our Bolt EUV expert review finishing in the top tier of this week’s countdown of most popular articles.
Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Electrified Corvette Charges Ahead of GMC Hummer EV
Where the Bolt EUV excels is as a daily commuter car or city-dweller runabout. It’s quick, maneuverable and comfortable, plus it has a nicely accommodating cargo area behind the back seats (despite Chevy’s cargo measurements for the Bolt’s SUV incarnation trailing its hatchback sibling). Among drawbacks, however, are its lackluster highway prowess in both acceleration and passing power, and DC fast-charging speeds that trail those of rivals. And although the Bolt EUV remains affordable among longer-range EVs, it’s no longer eligible for that enticing federal tax credit on EV purchases — not to mention the fact that the impending next wave of GM’s family of Ultium EVs is likely to leave both Bolts behind in a sort of lame-duck limbo as a current-yet-obsolete product.
“So, is the Bolt EUV worth it? It’s not a great choice for a primary car, but the cost of entry is relatively low and it’s an easy-to-understand EV that will cover your basic needs,” Cars.com reviewer Brian Normile concludes in his comprehensive critique. “It’s certainly worth consideration as a second, commuter-focused vehicle. If you’re looking to make an EV your primary car, however, a more modern one may be a better choice.”
For Normile’s full take on the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV, follow the link below to Cars.com’s No. 2 article of the week.
Running a reasonably close third place is another all-electric entry, this one from Ford: the all-new plug-in version of the perennial best-selling vehicle in America, the F-150. The greatest compliment paid by Normile in his review of the 2022 F-150 Lightning might sound unintentionally aloof: its looks-like-a-duck, quacks-like-a-duck similarity to the regular ol’ gas burning F-150.
“Despite some slight exterior design differences, the Lightning still very much looks like an F-150, and it drives like an F-150 with one notable exception — its prodigious, push-you-into-your-seat acceleration,” Normile states in his review, though he notes that towing weighs heavily on driving-range expectations: “If having the fastest-charging EV pickup isn’t your top priority, and you’re not planning to tow or haul long distances, I think the Lightning is worth your consideration, despite its hefty price premium.”
Beyond that, we’ve got headlines on the Mercedes-AMG GT53, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Land Rover Range Rover Sport and Toyota Highlander — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
1. Here Are Your Best Used Electric Cars for 2017-19
2. 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Review: Electric; Useful; Vanilla
4. 2022 Mercedes-AMG GT53 4-Door Review: A Stylish Compromise
5. 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Review: The EV We’ve Been Waiting For
6. 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport: New Powertrains and Tech, EV En Route
7. When Should the Oxygen Sensor Be Replaced?
8. What’s the Best New-Car Deal for May 2022?
9. Which SUVs, Minivans and Sedans Have the Most Cargo Space?
10. 2023 Toyota Highlander Swaps V-6 Power for Turbo Torque, Tech Upgrades
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
