2022 Chevy Bolt EV and EUV: Which Bolt Should You Buy?
You may be familiar with the Chevy Bolt EV, a small, electric car aimed at the budget consumer. But for the 2022 model year, Chevy is introducing a radically redesigned Bolt, as well as a Bolt EUV. While the two are similar in style, their shape sets them apart. The Bolt EV retains that hatchback look, while the EUV blends the EV with an SUV to make something different. So how do the two cars compare?
The 2022 Bolt EV is the cheaper option
With the brand new look comes a brand new price, with the 2022 Chevy Bolt EV starting at $31,000. The Bolt EUV is $2,000 more, starting at $33,000. But what’s more impressive is that the Bolt is down $5,500 from the previous model year (2021 Bolts starting at $36,500). We even went in and fully specced out a 2022 Bolt, with premium colors and all, which ended up costing just $300 more than a base model 2021 Bolt.
And with all the packages, you get adaptive cruise control, wireless phone charging, and a seven-speaker Bose audio system rather than the six-speaker standard one. And speaking of standard features, the Bolt EV is loaded with them: a 10.2-inch touch screen with a rearview camera, remote start, and Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
If you opt for the 2L trim, the standard features just keep getting better. You can equip the car with Surround Vision, and overhead look at your car and any obstacles around you. There’s also lane change alerts with blindspot detection systems. In other words, the Bolt is loaded!
And we haven’t even talked about the range yet, an impressive 259 miles per charge. DC fast charging is still limited to 55 kWs, which means you can only get 95 miles for half an hour of DC charging. But when plugged into a Level 2 220 volt outlet, the Bolt takes a reasonable 7.5 hours to charge. Leave it overnight, and worry about it in the morning.
So the bolt EV is good, but it’s also a bit small. If you’re looking for a bit more space, then putting down some extra dough for the Chevy Bolt EUV may be worth it.
The Bolt EUV is slightly bigger and slightly better
You’d think that, because of the increased size, the 2022 Bolt EUV is bigger on the inside than the Bolt EV, but it’s really not. Both have 40 inches of headroom in the front and roughly 38 inches in the rear. Legroom is about the same in the front as well, at 44 inches. The only major difference is the three extra inches of legroom for the rear passengers, shooting up from 36 in the EV to 39 in the EUV. Granted, there are roomier vehicles than the Bolt lineup.
You’d also think cargo space would improve from the 6.2 extra inches the Bolt EUV has over the EV, but it’s actually the opposite. The Bolt EV has 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded up, whereas the EUV has 16.3 inches. That extra length seems to have gone to the rear legroom, as the trunk capacity with the seats down is an even 57 cubic feet across both cars.
So what’s the point of the EUV if it’s essentially the same car? Same interior space, same 200 horsepower motor, same battery pack (with 10 miles less range due to its increased weight). The difference lies in the interior features, which the EUV has more of.
The major technology the EUV has that the EV doesn’t is Chevy’s SuperCruise, their Level 2 Autonomous Driving System. Available as a $2,000 option, SuperCruise allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel, though they still need to keep their eyes on the road. Along with all the other features of the Bolt EV, and more comfortable cabin due to a longer wheelbase, the EUV is great for cruising. But which is best for you?
Which Chevy Bolt is right for you?
The two cars are remarkably similar in style, shape, and technology. The real deciding factor is if you want that extra SuperCruise technology or not. Sure, it’s nice to have the option to take your hands off the wheel. But if you’re a penny pincher like me, the Bolt EV already comes with everything you’d need at $2,000 less.
However, if you want your rear passengers to be comfier, and your general driving experience to be a bit more refined, then the EUV would be the way to go. It’s a matter of how much space matters to you, and whether or not you’re willing to sacrifice it to save a few bucks. But there’s no denying that things are looking up for the next generation of Chevy Bolts.
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