2027 Chevrolet Bolt First Test: Familiar Compromises, Still a Smart EV Buy
Key takeaways
- The revived Bolt isn’t the breakthrough we hoped for, but its value is hard to ignore.
- Our first impressions also found a car with a feisty 200-hp motor, useful one-pedal capability, and an overall ride that benefitted from planting a heavy battery low in a short, tall body.
- That personality endured as the Bolt aged, and the lineup added a larger Bolt EUV sibling.
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
The revived Bolt isn’t the breakthrough we hoped for, but its value is hard to ignore.
Pros Improved charging hardware Firm brake pedal Strong value Cons Busy, noisy ride Overly aggressive regen tuning Limited highway range When the Chevrolet Bolt EV first arrived roughly a decade ago, it was celebrated for making longish-range electric driving feel attainable. Our first impressions also found a car with a feisty 200-hp motor, useful one-pedal capability, and an overall ride that benefitted from planting a heavy battery low in a short, tall body. It was quick without being exotic, practical without being joyless, and game changing enough to be named our 2017 Car of the Year.
That personality endured as the Bolt aged, and the lineup added a larger Bolt EUV sibling. The bargain kept getting better, and its eager, efficient, and slightly unpolished nature stayed familiar, until it was discontinued after the 2023 model year. Now the Bolt is back—sort of. The 2027 model is essentially a revised Bolt EUV that Chevrolet currently only plans to produce in a limited run as opposed to embarking on a long-haul nameplate revival. That makes this First Test feel less like an in-depth examination and more like a closing argument.