Gas prices are at an all-time high across the country and California has some of the highest rates- over $6/gallon! People are exploring electric options due to high gas prices in addition to being a little kinder to the environment. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with Chevrolet and test-drive their Bolt EUV Premier. If you are looking for an electric option the Chevy Bolt EUV Premier might be the car for you.
Chevrolet recently announced they are dropping the prices to their 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV . That’s welcome news considering all commodities seem to be increasing from rents, groceries, and gas. Times are definitely tougher!
Here are some key features of the Bolt EUV Premier trim I test drove:
- Driver Display Screens: These screens gather key information — such as driving behaviors, road conditions and weather — and pinpoint exactly how it may impact your range.
- Connectivity: Connect multiple devices through the in-car Wi-Fi Hotspot and compatible Apple CarPlay®, Android AutoTM, and myChevrolet Mobile App with Energy Assist.
- Spacious Cargo Room: Features a False Cargo Floor for storage and includes 60/40 Folding Seats and Flat-Folding Seats.
- Charging Capability: Compatible with Level 1, Level 2 and DC Fast Chargers, with a range of 247 miles on a full charge.
- myChevrolet Mobile App with Energy Assist: Access through the MyChevrolet app with Energy Assist lets you find charging on the go at over 40,000 stations and even the ability to identify compliant stations.
- Bolt EUV/EV Home Charging Installation Offer: In collaboration with Qmerit, Chevy will cover standard installation of Level 2 charging outlet for eligible customers who purchase or lease a 2022 Bolt EUV or EV. More information can be found on Chevrolet.com or Chevy MyWay.
- Power & Torque: Single-motor drive unit that delivers 200 horsepower (150 kW) and 266 lb-ft (360 Nm) of near-instant torque
- Regen on Demand: Regen on Demand allows the driver to convert kinetic energy into energy stored within the battery for future use by simply pulling on a steering wheel-mounted paddle.
- One Pedal Driving: Lets the driver speed up, slow down and even come to a complete stop using only the accelerator pedal.
- Super Cruise: Super Cruise is the first true hands-free driving technology for compatible roads, with a growing network of over 200,000 miles of compatible roads throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, please visit Chevrolet.com.
I actually enjoyed the Bolt EUV more than I expected. The car zipped around town and was super fun to drive. It’s quiet and handled the bumpy streets of Los Angeles. The ride was smooth with solid handling.
The One Pedal Driving was an interesting feature- once I figured out how to use it! Taking your foot off the gas allows the car to slow down or even stop. I tend to drive this way, so it felt natural to me once I learned that this was a feature on the car.
The Premier trim has a ton of safety features and I say the more the better. Driving in L.A. can be overwhelming and it’s nice to have pedestrian warnings, rear camera warnings. Etc.
One of the challenges for me during this test drive, as someone who isn’t a home owner, was finding EV charging stations. I just didn’t have the option to charge the vehicle overnight which caused some stress because I had to plan in charging time during my day and charging can take a while depending on the type of charging station you find. But a few of my friends have electric vehicles and they easily charge their cars overnight with home charger kits. Once fully charged, the BOLT EUV has a decent driving range of 250 miles on a full charge.
The car does have nice room for a compact vehicle which is an advantage for fitting into parking spots seeking the city but it was a little tight for my 6′ 3″ husband.
Overall, the Chevrolet Bolt EUV is a fantastic car for city life, and every day driving. Lots of storage room and the premiere trim has all the bells and whistles when it comes to safety and performance. The sunroof is always a nice feature and I enjoyed cranking the radio and the AC during these hot SoCal days.
