With a range of more than 200 miles and a base price under $40,000, the first-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV was a breakthrough in electric cars, but where does Chevy go from here?
For the Bolt EV’s first major update, Chevy redesigned the exterior and interior and added a second model to the lineup. The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV was supposed to be a more SUV alternative to the standard Bolt EV, with a more upright profile and more rear-seat space. The EUV is also the first non-Cadillac model to receive General Motors’ Super Cruise driver assistance system.
While the original Bolt EV was well ahead of the competition at the 2017 model launch, the two 2022 Bolt models face off against the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, Nissan Leaf and the all-new Volkswagen ID.4 for a slice of what is still a very small market. electric vehicles.
Chevy launched the Bolt EUV in LT, Premier and Launch Edition trim levels. Prices start at $33,995 for the base LT model, but can go up to $43,495 for the fully loaded Launch Edition model. The base price is $2,000 more than the 2022 Bolt EV, but still $3,500 less than the 2021 Bolt EV. The lower prices account for the fact that GM vehicles no longer qualify for the federal electric vehicle tax credit.
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Design and interior
Both the 2022 Bolt EUV and 2022 Bolt EV share similar exterior styling, with a more aggressive look than the previous Bolt EV. Chevy says the EV and EUV don’t share exterior panels, but the broad strokes are the same. Both models have the same “face”, with multi-element lighting (thin elements on top that look like headlights are actually daytime running lights and turn signals), phantom grille and beak shape.
The Bolt EUV is 0.2 inches taller and wider than the Bolt EV, and about 6.0 inches longer. This allows for a 2.9-inch longer wheelbase, which in turn gives the EUV 3.1 inches of additional rear legroom over the Bolt EV. But that’s the only area where the EUV has an advantage in terms of passenger space. The two versions have identical front legroom, and the Bolt EV actually has more headroom in both rows. The EUV isn’t the SUV version of the Bolt EV, but it will make rear seat passengers happier. It’s the Bolt EV for Uber drivers.
EUV will make rear seat passengers happier. It’s the Bolt EV for Uber drivers.
This ready-to-drive Chevy also has more legroom in both rows than its rivals, but the Volkswagen ID.4 has more headroom in the front and rear. At 16.3 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, the Bolt EUV actually has slightly less cargo space than the Bolt EV. That 16.3-cubic-foot figure is also the worst of the Bolt EUV’s competitive set, but most other mainstream EVs don’t offer that much cargo room with the rear seats folded down. The exception, again, is the Volkswagen ID.4, which offers almost twice as much luggage space as the Bolt EUV with the rear seats in place.
The interior feels like a jumble of features thrown together without a coherent design. It lacks the futuristic look of the VW ID.4’s cabin, but it’s also not as simple as the Nissan Leaf’s interior. Features that stand out are the flat-bottom steering wheel and a set of switches instead of a conventional shifter. The Bolt EUV also gets the same redesigned seats as the Bolt EV, replacing the lightweight versions that many owners disliked, with cloth upholstery on LT models and leather on Premier models.
Technology, infotainment and driver assistance
The standard infotainment system includes a 10.2-inch touchscreen and 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless phone charging. Amazon Alexa connectivity and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot are also available.
The main touchscreen had well-designed menus and graphics, including a detailed power flow animation that lets you follow what the drivetrain is doing. The instrument panel looked a bit cluttered, with too many small icons and readouts.
The Bolt EUV is the first vehicle outside of the luxury Cadillac brand to receive GM’s Super Cruise system. Not available on the Bolt EV, Super Cruise allows for automated acceleration, braking and lane centering on specific sections of pre-mapped highways (GM says more than 200,000 miles in the United States and Canada have been mapped to date). GM advertises it as a hands-free system, but the driver still has to pay attention and be ready to take control at all times. The system also uses driver monitoring to protect against misuse.
Super Cruise is the real thing. Our experience ticked the most important boxes.
Super Cruise is the real thing. While we didn’t get to take the Bolt EUV on a long road trip, our brief experience on New Jersey’s typically chaotic freeways ticked the most important boxes.
First, Super Cruise kept the car at a standstill — even on the gentle turns you’ll inevitably encounter on most highways. It also steered smoothly, not letting the car lurch back and forth between lanes. Second, acceleration and deceleration were fast. Super Cruise reacted quickly when it increased the set speed and when other cars cut in front. Finally, it is easy to use. Just wait for the dashboard icon to light up, press the button and you’re good to go. The system also gave plenty of warning when we were about to exit the Super Cruise approved zone and needed to regain control.
Super Cruise is optional on Premier and Launch Edition trim levels, but the Bolt EUV comes standard with automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, forward distance indicator and front pedestrian braking. Rear cross-traffic alert, a surround-view camera system, a rearview mirror with a reversing camera, and adaptive cruise control are also available but not standard.
Driving experience
The Bolt EUV powertrain is carried over from the previous generation Bolt EV. That means you get a single electric motor that produces 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, powered by a 65-kilowatt-hour battery, with front-wheel drive.
Chevy estimates a zero to 60 mph time of around 7.0 seconds, similar to what Volkswagen previously told us the ID.4 could do. Like all electric cars, the instant torque kicks you out of gear in a hurry, but that was the only dramatic thing about the Bolt EUV. We liked the agility of the previous-generation Bolt EV, but some of that seems to have been underpinned by the EUV’s longer wheelbase, as well as handling that felt a little heavier.
The Bolt EUV has the features of a good daily driver, including a comfortable ride.
However, the Bolt EUV is not designed to be a high-performance car. It has the makings of a good daily driver, including a comfortable ride (it handled potholes better than some real SUVs) and (thanks to that electric powertrain) a quiet cabin. Like many petrol cars today, the driving experience just wasn’t that great.
The Bolt EUV uses regenerative braking, which allows it to recover energy during deceleration that would otherwise be lost as heat. Chevy does offer more options for controlling the level of regeneration than the competition, though. You get a lever on the steering wheel, as well as a button for so-called “one-pedal driving”. Pressing the button induced enough regeneration to handle most braking, while pulling the lever added a bit more, for an effect similar to engine braking in a petrol car. It seems like something electric vehicle enthusiasts will appreciate, but average drivers don’t have to bother with it either.
Range, loading and safety
Chevy estimates a range of 250 miles for the Bolt EUV. That’s nine miles less than the Bolt EV and eight miles less than the Hyundai Kona Electric, but still more than the Nissan Leaf Plus or Kia Niro EV. Efficacy ratings have not been published.
A standard 11-kilowatt onboard charger provides a full charge in seven hours from a 240-volt AC Level 2 charging station. The Bolt EUV also comes standard with Chevy’s dual-level charging cable, which allows the car to be plugged directly into a 120-volt or 240-volt outlet. albeit with a lower power level of 7.2 kW. Chevy will cover installation costs for the 240-volt outlet—but only until June 2021.
The Bolt EUV also gets standard DC fast charging capability, which can restore range up to 95 miles in 30 minutes, according to Chevy. All GM vehicles use the Combined Charging Standard (CCS) for DC fast charging, which is now second only to Tesla’s Supercharger standard in the number of stations.
Crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have not yet been released. This is typical for new models.
Chevy offers a three-year, 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and an eight-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty. These are pretty standard terms for an EV in the current market.
How would DT configure this car
If you want tech, the only option is to upgrade from the base Bolt EUV LT trim level to the Premier, as it’s available with Super Cruise and a camera mirror. The Super Cruise is also included in the Bolt EUV Launch Edition, but it’s a limited edition model that won’t be part of the regular lineup.
However, Chevy created a bit of a conundrum. The standard Bolt EV is cheaper than the Bolt EUV, with similar interior dimensions, more cargo space and (slightly) longer range. The Bolt EV doesn’t get Super Cruise, though. The Bolt EUV also gets some features — including wireless phone charging and a dual charging cable — that are optional extras for the Bolt EV as standard equipment.
While we didn’t get to drive it, the Bolt EV seems like the more reasonable choice in terms of price and functionality, but the Bolt EUV is the better choice for tech. It’s a shame that Chevy forces customers to choose, instead of offering one model that covers all the bases.
Our opinion
The Bolt EV was ahead of the competition when it launched for the 2017 model year, so Chevy didn’t have to do too much to keep the 2022 model competitive. The Bolt EUV adds important upgrades, including Super Cruise, a redesigned interior and more rear-seat space.
Was that still enough? The EUV only really beats the Bolt EV in terms of rear legroom, but its lack of headroom won’t fool anyone into thinking it’s an SUV. You also have to fold down the rear seats to get decent cargo space, which defeats the purpose of this stretched version of the Bolt.
The 250-mile range is still impressive, as is the Bolt EUV’s $33,995 base price, which undercuts most rivals. Start adding features like Super Cruise, though, and the price difference between the Bolt EUV and a Nissan Leaf or Volkswagen ID.4 starts to shrink. Nissan and VW have their own driver assistance systems, but they can’t match Super Cruise’s capabilities. However, the ID.4 will soon be available with all-wheel drive, and Nissan is launching its Ariya electric SUV. They seem like better alternatives for those who want a real utility vehicle, not just an electric car.
While the original Bolt EV will be remembered as a milestone in the democratization of electric cars, history will likely remember the Bolt EUV for bringing the previously exclusive Cadillac Super Cruise to the humble Chevy. That is OK. Chevy has reinvented the wheel once before. Now it needs to be let roll.
Should you get one?
That. It may not be a game-changer like the original Bolt EV, but the Bolt EUV is still a good electric car.
Editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn