2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV consumer reviews

Our Chevy Bolt EV has given unique problems two times in one year and luckily both times in driveway or parking lot so safety was not jeopardized. Car at times does not drive and when we try to reverse/ drive it automatically goes into parking mode. I find it hazardous. For the first time when it was sent to the dealer they could not identify the issue. This time again, we had to get the car towed and waiting a response. This is important to share.

Full disclosure, I’ve been wanting an EV for a while and finally bought a used 2017 Chevy Bolt a month ago. It has exceeded my expectations in almost every way. The car is so blindingly fast and quiet you really have to pay attention to the speedometer or or you will be racking up tickets! Speed is really not important to me, but silent efficiency, and watching the potential energy turn back into driving range / battery power as I go down hill is really gratifying. To think all those years of grinding down (expensive to replace) brakes to stop the car are over, and I can turn that into a positive with more range. Awesome. The cruise control works beautifully for this purpose. I live in the mountains and going down a long descent you just eat your speed and the car will either create or use power to maintain that speed. No braking! I use a 110v standard outlet to recharge the car. This works for our driving pattern. It’s quite slow (about 4 miles of range per hour of charging) but we generally drive the car Lexi than 20 miles a day,with an occasional 110 mile day, so just plugging the car in when we get home keeps it pretty much topped off. If you have a big daily commute you may need a 220v outlet. The car drives very nicely. It’s sporty with precise steering and a firm sporty suspension which I like. If you like a soft squishy floaty ride, it may not be for you. Interior room is quite good. And overall the interior / driver interface features are good. Apple car play is a good feature. The sound system is excellent (I have the premium trim level). My only knock on the car is the driver seat. I’m 5’9” and I weigh 170lb. My car had 50k miles when I bought it and the front seat what’s shot. A total Fail. The cushions where beat down so bad the bottom part perimeter dug into you sides and On the back I could feel the plastic frame of the car seat against my spine. I have a Subaru with 180k miles and the seats are like new. Why Chevy? Why!? C’mon... you can do better. I had to cram additional padding under the bottom of the seat and still figuring out how to fix the back of the seat. Reliability? I can’t say for sure, only had it a month, no glitches, but time will tell. From what I’ve read (and I did a lot of research) I don’t hear about many (any?) actual reliability issues with the car. But almost everyone agrees the seat is a problem. Anyway, thanks GM for making this awesome EV. I look forward to the future of electric cars.

I bought a 2017 Bolt Premier in 2019 that had been returned from a 2 year lease. I've owned it 3 months and it is a perfect car for in-town trips and the occasional longer weekend drive. I had previously leased a Nissan Leaf, but turned it in due to its limited range. My Bolt charges completely overnight on 95 % of the days I use it using the standard electric charger, and I've never even come close to depleting the battery. The regenerative braking mode truly allows one pedal driving and is vastly more effective at recharging than the Leaf. It can extend the city driving range a lot. Where the Bolt suffers most is its highway range. Driving at 60 - 65 just drains the charge relentlessly, and that coupled with the spotty charging infrastructure along highways makes me leery of trying a long road trip, so if that's your thing you might want to think twice, it takes a lot of advance planning. Running the heater or A/C will add to the drain on the battery reducing the range some more. Also, don't even think about towing a camper or boat with the Bolt, it probably ain't gonna work. For most people, the Bolt is perfect for 90 % of your driving needs, but I also own a conventional car for the occasions where the Bolt isn't a realistic option.

I have a leased 2017 Bolt and even though it was showing that it has 60 miles, it stopped in middle of road. Chevy is aware of this problem and even though initially they told me that there is a recall, they changed their story and said this is just customer satisfaction program! Make sure to get your battery checked. Dealer do not even have the knowledge of how to repair this. It took them 2 weeks to replace one of the cells and now I get much less millage (around 180 compare to 240)

Good option if looking at a low mileage, used EV. If buying new, the entry level options of the Tesla Model 3 are a better deal. The Bolt has intuitive and easy to use and understand controls and displays. The range indicators as in other Chevy plugin vehicles are very accurate and it is easy to beat the indicated and rated range. Acceleration is good and handling and ride comfort are both solid. I am 6' 0" tall with a thin build and the backrest of the front seats were not very comfortable for me. Seats felt like they were forcing me into a slouching posture. Other shorter drivers and passengers were comfortable.

The car us comfortable and drives ok except for one major glitch. The gear shift lever will switch from drive to neutral on its own. Scary when in traffic

Best mid sized five door hatchback I've ever had at my daily disposal. The people at Heritage Cadillac of Lombard, IL. were fair with the trade allowance and are the only part of the deal that is better than the car itself. It plugs in to any 110v outlet at work and is fully charged before I leave. It pre-heats the interior while it is still plugged in. It goes from 0-60 mph in just 6.4 seconds. There is not a luxury feature it lacks at all.

This car has been non stop problematic since day one and Chevy customer service has been horrible. I owned a Chevy Malibu before, no issues. I leased this 2017 Chevy Bolt from the dealer and it's not charging properly anymore, it is also built worse than any of my son's Legos. It moves easily in the wind, not sturdy, and you lose half of your electricity the moment you turn on the heat or ac which also barely works. I won't buy any Chevy again after this experience and I would also stay clear of Bolts.

Easy and fun to drive. Almost no maintenance needed. Perfect for commuting and ~100 mile trips. Longer trips need planning -- the infrastructure for charging is just not there yet for long trips. Chevrolet should, however, hire professionals to work on their "infotainment system" -- but that is not specific to this model.

Fantastic car. It?s compact on the outside, decently roomy on the inside. Comfort is ok: definitely not a luxury vehicle but that?s not what?s advertised. The electric engine is amazing. This is a fun car to drive. The range is wonderful, and it feels good to be green. Furthermore, I love not needing oil changes. I love this car.