Road Test: 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
A Great(er) Electric Vehicle
When Chevrolet launched the 2022 Bolt EUV in February of this year (its first electric utility vehicle), it was recognized for its interior size, refreshed look over the sibling Bolt EV and a low price. In less than half a year since then, Chevrolet has introduced two larger all-electric SUVs, the Blazer EV and Equinox EV, as well as the Silverado EV pickup. The two SUVs won’t be in dealerships for a while, which makes the Bolt EUV even more important to Chevrolet.
Powertrain
The 2022 Bolt EUV has a 65 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery powering a single 150 kW motor that produces 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. A one-speed automatic transmission drives the front wheels for the 247-mile all-electric driving range that will satisfy most owner’s daily driving needs.
Driving Experience: EV Fun
The Bolt EUV zips around with great fun, with 0-to-60 runs taking about 6.7 seconds when opting for the Sport mode. On an open section of freeway we hit 80 miles per hour with ease, feeling solid and confident cruising at highway speeds. If driving an electric car is new to you, then the instant torque at any speed will be an eye opener.
The batteries located under the floor dropped the center of gravity and made for a sure-footed driving experience that truly shines in city maneuvers and around tight corners. Bolt EUV has respectable handling considering it comes with all-season 215/50 Michelin Energy Saver 17-inch tires that are designed for low rolling-resistance and not performance. The electric power steering was not too light, and body roll, even when pushed above recommended corner speed limits was manageable.
Recharging the batteries when driving is through regenerative braking. When coasting or coming to a stop, kinetic energy is converted into electric energy, and then is stored in the battery. For even more efficiency, the Bolt EUV has One Pedal Driving and Regen On Demand, where the car is slowed or even brought to a complete stop by the motor. While one pedal driving does not eliminate the need to use the brakes, especially in an emergency, it will become your preferred way to drive the Bolt EUV.
The 2022 Bolt EUV has Super Cruise as a $2,200 option, which is a hands-free semi-autonomous driver assistance system (ADAS). To use Super Cruise, set the adaptive cruise control to the desired speed. After the speed number on the dash gauge turns green, center the car between lane lines and Super Cruise can be activated. It isn’t quite that simple as a camera, located on the top of the steering column, follows the driver’s eyes to confirm attentive driving. If the driver’s eyes wander from looking straight forward, warning lights appear, then an audible warning will sound, followed by the system shutting down and the driver having to take control.
Super Cruise doesn’t make the Bolt EUV a truly autonomous driving vehicle, but helps the driver fight fatigue on long freeway stretches. I used Super Cruise at freeway speeds and found it to work as designed, but there is a trust factor and learning curve. Just like the first time using automatic emergency braking, Super Cruise can take some getting used to. For long road trips its benefit are obvious.
Plug-In Charging
In addition to the regenerative braking system, the lithium-ion battery pack, comprised of 288 individual cells, is charged by the standard 11.5 kW onboard charger accessed through a dual level charge cord. Approximate charge times are:
- 120V (Level 1) – 4 miles of range per hour
- 240V 32 amps (Level 2) – 25 miles of range per hour (10 hours for a full charge)
- 240V 48 amps (Level 2) – 37 miles of range per hour (7 hours for a full charge)
- 480V DC Fast Charging – 95 miles in 30 minutes (2.6 hours for a full charge)
Chevrolet is also making charging more convenient with a new Dual Level Charge Cord, which may eliminate the need to purchase a separate home charger. The cord has a changeable plug that allows owners to plug into a standard 120-volt three-prong outlet for Level 1 charging or a 240-volt outlet for Level 2 charging.
Chevrolet will also cover the cost of standard installation of Level 2 charging outlet for customers who purchase or lease a 2022 Bolt EUV. This will give owners access to faster charging at home, which is where most Bolt EUV owners will do the majority of their charging.
New Design
The 2022 Bolt EUV appears to be identical its sibling Bolt EV, but there are differences to the keen eye. The Bolt EUV is six inches longer and has a different front grille and lower fascia. The Bolt EUV sits tall, providing exceptional head and leg room for front and rear passengers. Getting closer to looking like a crossover with a more contemporary design, it will get positive comments from neighbors when parked in your driveway.
Exterior features include LED head lamps and daytime running lights, automatic high beam sensors, 17-inch machine finished wheels with black pockets, LED brake and tail lights, rain sensing windshield wipers, and power adjustable and heated outside mirrors.
Interior Upgraded
Chevrolet’s designers made significant upgrades on the interior including a new 8-inch instrument panel display, a 10.2-inch color touchscreen, new seat designs and a noticeable upgrade of the materials found throughout the cabin. All-new on the Bolt EUV is an optional panoramic tilt and slide power sunroof that is part of the $2,495 Sun & Sound Package. Also in this package is the Bose 7-speaker sound system and the Infotainment 3 Plus.
Standard interior features on the Bolt EUV Premier model Clean Fleet Report drove for a week included an 8-way heated and ventilated power drivers seat with lumbar, a 6-way heated and ventilated adjustable manual front passenger seat, heated rear outboard seats, LED ambient lighting and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio, telephone, Bluetooth and cruise controls.
The 3 Plus infotainment sound system with the optional Bose sound system has an 8-inch high-definition color touch screen that housed the navigation, AM/FM/SiriusXM, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While we wish there was a control knob for both the volume and channel selection, there are very handy (and our favorite place for them) volume and channel selection controls located on the backside of the steering wheel. These small bumps, positioned with perfect fingertip access, are so easy to use this should be the layout on all cars.
Activating the handy and helpful OnStar system is as simple as pushing a button. This connects you with a friendly General Motors representative to make your driving experience safer and more enjoyable.
The Bolt EUV Premier is well-equipped with convenience features, including remote keyless entry with remote start, power door locks, power ports, tilt and telescoping steering column, heated exterior mirrors, 60/40 split folding rear seat, rear cargo under floor storage, dual zone climate control, tire pressure monitor, and keyless push button on and off.
Safety and Pricing
The 2022 Bolt EUV has passive and active safety systems as part of the standard Chevy Safety Assist technology. The ADAS include lane change and blind spot alert, rear park assist with cross traffic alert, forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, and front pedestrian braking. Additional safety features include high-definition surround vision cameras, rear view monitor, tire fill alert and padded sliding driver and passenger visors.
There are two 2022 Bolt EUV models, with these base prices, including the mandatory $995 destination charge.
- Bolt EUV – $34,495
- Bolt EUV Premier – $38,995
The Bolt EUV no longer qualifies for federal tax credits, but will qualify for credits in some states and will probably be eligible under the new tax credit system. Both models may be eligible for HOV stickers.
Observations: 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
First introduced as a 2017 model, more than 100,000 Bolt EVs have been sold worldwide. The all-new 2022 Bolt EUV gives Chevrolet another EV entry in the hot small SUV category, reinforcing Chevrolet saying owning a Bolt is “every reason to drive electric.”
The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV is a comfortable long-range electric vehicle that can seat five. At attractive entry prices, Clean Fleet Report feels Chevrolet has hit its goal of offering an electric vehicle for everyone.
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Story and photos by John Faulkner.
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Disclosure:
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
