2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV consumer reviews

This is my 3rd EV and the best so far. Great range, power, comfort, reliability and the size is great for in town and OK for a road trip with 2 or 3 people. We have owned the car for 1 year 17,000 miles. I feel more comfortable doing long trips with this Bolt than the 2015 leaf we had before because of the battery temperature management system. The battery management and conditioning also helps with cold weather performance. If a Tesla Model 3 with the same equipment existed I would pay a couple thousand more for a Bolt. The Tesla is more like an electric "yank tank" The Bolt is definitely an electric "Hot Hatch". I do wish the Bolt Would: Come with tires that have more grip than steel and wood wagon wheels or have all wheel drive. [Stock high fuel economy tires suck in the rain] You could add adaptive cruise control without paying for the next trim level. The rear seats folded into a flat cargo area. The no grip stock tires and high torque motor do work great for smokey burnouts so you can buy tires that won't kill you that much sooner.

It is surprisingly roomy inside - much more than you would guess looking at the exterior- and has excellent visibility. The controls are well placed and the computer program is intuitive and easy to navigate.

It’s ok. The lack of a navigation system is annoying. But you have “on-star” to help you get around for additional fee. Apple play allows you to use google map on your screen but eats into your data plan. Regeneration is not as effective as my other EV. Because of this I will likely need brakes replaced. Ok for the price. It does its job.

We had a Leaf and my wife was the primary driver. We knew she was retiring and the 75 miles range wouldn't work any longer and as planned, we gave it back after a two year lease. We credit it for telling us that an electric would be for us as soon as the range was enough to get us from our home to the Portland airport and back home without recharging. (160 miles) Then came the Bolt, claiming 238 miles range. We figured that even if they were cheating on the claim it would probably make the 160. We have made that trip 4 times now and even in the cold weather it makes the trip with 30 miles to spare. Be aware that using the heater in cold weather subtracts about 10% of the range. Like the Leaf, it is smoothe, quiet, powerful and we like it a lot. Do get a home 220v charger, though. Your car will be fully charged every morning. The expected range indicated on the screen on the dash is pretty accurate.

The Bolt EV is the most fun and reliable car I have driven. It is intuitive, quick and nimble, and has a wealth of nice add-on features like heated seats and steering wheel, one pedal driving, and hands free features. The seats aren't as comfortable as one would expect for an almost $40,000 car, and the interior is similarly not as upscale as it could be, but the functionality more than makes up for those things. I don't commute very far and am able to use trickle charge at home with no range anxiety.

Amenities are wonderful, up to date with technology, spacious rear seat! Could use USB ports in backseat, and trunk. No spare tire or fix a flat with an air pump, they finally got tires right with self sealing tires!!!

Very practical EV, has the range needed, super fun to drive, incredibly low maintenance. Only 200+ mile EV that fit my price range. Leave the gas station in the rear view!

Handles well. Fun to drive. Love the remote start on cold mornings, the heated seats and heated steering wheel,The right thing to do. Even better, charge it with solar panels and “stick it” to big oi. l

This is the perfect car for us. We never travel very long distances so having a 200 plus mileage range is good. Love recharging overnite in the garage always starting out with a full charge. No oil changes ever, no radiator fluid to worry about, or a transmission to fail. The brakes should last forever because we always use regeneration. That took a little getting used to but all is fine now. Sure it doesn?t have all the bells and whistles of a luxury car but what a hoot to drive, love it!

This purchase took me from a 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid into full electric mode. The Civic and a 2012 Acura TSX are my principal points of comparison. I was very excited to move to an electric vehicle. Given my relatively long commute (about 60 miles and 2.75 hours roundtrip), the Bolt with its considerable range was an immediate consideration. Other than the Bolt, I had considered a Tesla. (The range on the Nissan Leaf was insufficient to meet my needs, but it might work for those driving shorter distances.) The narrower width of the Bolt made it a more feasible fit for the narrow openings in our garage. Moreover, the cost of the Bolt made it a better value than the Tesla, which was further amplified by the fact that the Bolt was still eligible for the full federal tax credit. There are clearly compromises with regard to materials and styling compared to the Tesla, but on balance, the value of the Bolt was obvious. As a result of this consideration, I purchased a 2109 Bolt Premier and now have about 700 miles worth of experience with it. Over this time, I've been quite impressed. The ride of the Bolt is quite comfortable, and the high riding position (compared to a sedan) offers an excellent view of the road and a sense of safety when surrounded by SUVs. The instant torque from the electric motor ensures immediate acceleration; this responsiveness makes the car really fun to drive. It's also enjoyable to use one-pedal driving to maximize the regenerative braking, which is robust. The safety features on the car, including forward collision warning, blind spot detection, and lane keep assist are all great. The lack of adaptive cruise control, however, is a disappointment. The rear- and frontview camera, surround vision, and rearview mirror camera are all good. This was a great improvement over my last car. The mirror takes a bit to get used to (especially when wearing progressive eyeglasses), but the wideview lens is helpful for eliminating blindspots while driving. The camera mirror is, however, fantastic when the hatch is filled with stuff that obliterates the view from the traditional mirror. There are some critiques online about the narrowness of the seats, but I have not noticed a problem. To save on weight, the Bolt does not have powered seats, but positioning the seat to a comfortable place does not seem to be an issue. In general, the Bolt's build quality is excellent. The door to the charging port could be a bit more clicky, however. There are a few important logistical issues that warrant special consideration. First, in discussions with our insurance agent, the cost of insuring an electric car may be greater than a non-electric. The rationale he provided was that any damage to the powertrain cannot be repaired at a standard shop; as such, they are more likely to be "totaled" after a significant accident. It's likely worth shopping around to truly assess this issue. Second, charging the car on a standard 110 V outlet is certainly slow (about 4 miles per hour). If you travel longer distances, it's absolutely worthwhile getting a Level 2 Charger (240 V), which provides approximately 25 miles per hour. The cost of the Level 2 Charger is about $500-$600. This does not include the costs of the electrician or the potential cost of running a high voltage line to the garage. Depending on where you live, if you don't have the high voltage line, it may be necessary to contact your municipality to ensure such access can be obtained. Practically, it's important to remember that the range of an EV is shortened in cold weather. Using the heated seat and steering wheel allows the cabin temperature to be set lower to preserve driving distance. This is another reason the greater range of the Bolt is an advantage; it provides buffer for environmental effects on driving distance. Another point to consider is that the Bolt's range is better in traffic than on a traffic-free highway due to the regenerative braking. The motivation for my shift to the Chevy Bolt was driven by a desire to both reduce my contribution to local air pollution that promotes respiratory and cardiovascular disease as well as to lower my contribution to global climate change. The Bolt certainly meets these goals, but it's also a well-built car with ample technology that's fun to drive. This car gives me hope that we're moving to a world in which environmental stewardship and enjoyable driving coexist.