Is the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV a Good Car? 6 Pros and 3 Cons

When the Chevrolet Bolt EV was launched in 2017, it was the first all-electric vehicle from General Motors since the infamous EV1 of the 1990s.

Chevy got a lot right with the Bolt, including a range well north of 200 miles, a relatively reasonable price and a spacious interior, but it was not without fault. The automaker has evidently been listening to criticism, because the new 2022 Bolt EUV addresses some key shortcomings of the original, and adds some new features.

Related: 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV First Drive Review: Larger, Better, Faster, Stronger

Six inches longer than the standard Bolt, the 2022 Bolt EUV is roomier, better equipped and has a more comfortable ride. But don’t let the U in EUV fool you, the added length does little to turn the Bolt into more of a utility vehicle; it has less cargo space than the original.

The elephant in the room is that Chevy has issued a massive recall for the Bolt that includes the 2022 EUV. Faulty LG batteries have led to several fires, and GM has begun the process of replacing batteries to address the problem.

Recall aside, we’re impressed overall with the Bolt EUV, but there are still a few things we’d like to see changed. Here are six things we like, and three things that we don’t.

For Cars.com’s complete evaluation of the Chevy Bolt EUV, click the link above to read Aaron Bragman’s review. For a quick look at what’s good and what isn’t, read on.

Things We Like

1. Increased Legroom

The 6-inch increase in overall length pays off primarily in increased cabin room, especially in the backseat. The standard Bolt already had decent room for its size, especially in front. However, the added length means rear seat passengers get more legroom. The Bolt EUV is still not a big vehicle — it’s considerably smaller than competitors such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E — but clever packaging makes the Bolt EUV roomier inside than Ford’s EV SUV.

2. Big Interior Upgrades

One of our biggest gripes with the original Bolt was that the interior looked and felt like an example of cost cutting gone wild. The seats were thin and uncomfortable for longer drives, and overall interior quality didn’t measure up. That has all been addressed with the Bolt EUV, with a huge improvement in material quality and feel.

3. Range and Performance

The added size has had little impact on the Bolt’s sharp handling and quick acceleration, making the EUV just as much fun to drive as its shorter sibling. Better still, the ride is much improved, making the Bolt EUV more comfortable around town, especially on longer trips. We also like the Bolt’s regenerative braking system, which uses motor braking to extend range. The system feels more natural than similar systems in other EVs; its one-pedal functionality also makes smooth stops without needing to touch the brake pedal. With the same 65 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery used in the Bolt EV, the EUV has a predicted range of 250 miles.

4. Normal Controls

Chevrolet has resisted the trend to make EVs look like a video game console inside, instead using conventional knobs, dials and switches for most functions. The result is that the Bolt doesn’t require a steep learning curve to operate, or force drivers to take their eyes off the road to make changes to audio or climate functions. What a refreshing concept.

5. Added Features

The Bolt EUV offers some additional features not available on the smaller Bolt EV, including a panoramic moonroof and Super Cruise, GM’s semi-autonomous hands-free driving system. In addition, all Bolts get standard fast-charging capability for 2022, along with additional standard safety features such as forward collision warning with automatic braking.

6. User-Friendly Bottom Line

Even with all the improvements and added features, the Bolt EUV remains competitively priced, and is thousands of dollars less than competitors including the Tesla Model 3 and Mustang Mach-E. In fact, Bolt prices are actually reduced for 2022. The EUV starts at $33,995 including destination, about $3,500 less than the smaller 2021 Bolt EV. A fully loaded Launch Edition comes to $43,495. We’ll take those kinds of price changes anytime.

Things We Don’t Like

1. No Increase in Cargo Room

As noted earlier, the Bolt EUV’s added length translates primarily to more passenger room, and that is not a bad thing. But it would be logical to expect a bit more cargo room from this model, and that’s not the case. The EUV’s cargo area is slightly smaller than the standard Bolt’s, although not so much that it’s noticeable. And unlike some other EVs, the Bolt lacks a front trunk for added cargo capacity.

2. Slow Charge on Standard Current

It’s a good thing that Chevy added standard fast-charging capability for 2022, because charge times can be long without it. Plugging into a 120-volt outlet at home results in just 4 miles of additional range per hour, meaning a full charge would take more than two-and-a-half days. A public DC fast-charging station will net 95 miles of range in about 30 minutes, while a full recharge on 240 volts takes about seven hours. Chevy says it will cover the cost of installing a Level 2 home charger to qualified customers who buy or lease a 2022 Bolt.

3. Poor Brake Feel

The regenerative braking feature is so good and easy to use on the Bolt that it’s often not necessary to use the conventional brakes in normal driving. That’s just as well, because there is very little brake-pedal feel, with little feedback for the driver or the linear progression you’d expect with a conventional braking system.

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More From Cars.com:

• 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV: Bow-Tie EVs, Now In Two Sizes
• Chevrolet Bolt Battery Fire Recall Expands to Remaining 2019 EVs, 2020-22 EVs and EUVs
• Electric Cars With the Longest Range
• Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy

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