Chevy struck an incredible balance in 2017 with the Bolt, its electric hatchback, and followed it with the slightly larger Bolt EUV in 2022. Like the Bolt, the small, well-equipped Bolt EUV represents a strong value in the market, and its generous range estimate makes it a compelling alternative to several more expensive EVs.

Though it feels a little odd calling the Bolt EUV an SUV instead of a slightly elevated hatchback, it’s a useful vehicle with plenty to like. It’s hard to argue with a sub-$30,000 starting price and a 247-mile range estimate - more than many high-end EVs from Audi and others. Of course, Chevy had to make some concessions to reach that price point, and for the Bolt EUV that means there are quite a few cheapish materials inside and a not-so-interesting design.

Cabin quality may be the EUV’s most significant weakness, as it competes with EVs costing thousands more in some cases, which puts it at a disadvantage out of the gate. Even so, the Bolt EUV’s cabin is spacious and comfortable, offering solid room for passengers in both rows. Its upright shape might look a bit awkward from some angles outside, but it provides excellent headroom inside and good cargo space.

The EUV benefits from Chevrolet’s straightforward infotainment and technology interfaces, and it’s quite easy to use without much of an initial learning curve. The eight-inch gauge cluster provides a clear and bright display of the vehicle’s operations and status, and the standard 10.2-inch touchscreen is bright, crisp, and easily reachable from both front seats.

The Chevy Bolt EUV has a wide range of competitors, from affordable hatchbacks to pricey electric SUVs with staggering performance and tech.

The Nissan Leaf is surprisingly closely aligned with the Bolt EUV, offering a similar starting price and comparable build quality. That said, the Leaf is short on range and its base configuration isn’t as powerful as the EUV. Nissan’s technology is mostly easy to use, but it feels less polished and intuitive than the Chevy’s interface.

We’re calling this a competitor, but the Mach-E is significantly more expensive to start and becomes costlier with higher trims and added options. That said, its range isn’t much better than the Bolt EUV’s, and several configurations return shorter driving range estimates.

The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV LT starts at $28,795, which includes a surprisingly reasonable $995 destination charge. Stepping up to the LT Redline trim pushes the price to $29,290, the Premier starts at $33,295, and the range-topping Premier Redline will set you back $33,790. It’s also important to note that the EUV is eligible for federal tax credits of up to $7,500.

The table below shows the most common trim levels and how much they will run you.

Chevy announced that the Bolt and Bolt EUV would be discontinued after the 2023 model year, but it made a few substantive changes before sending the EV off into the sunset. The already-reasonably base price got a reduction to around $29,000 to start, and Chevy added a new Redline Edition package for the LT and Premier trims.

The Bolt EUV is not a performance vehicle, but it’s got a surprisingly engaging feel and lively acceleration. Its single-motor electric powertrain generates 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, delivering a 0-60 mpg time of around seven seconds. Power delivery is smooth, and the EUV has no trouble reaching highway speeds and passing once there.

There’s little to complain about with the EUV’s driving dynamics, but a major downside is that all-wheel drive is not available, leaving the crossover with front-wheel drive only. While disappointing, front-wheel drive is fine in cold-weather climates, especially with the proper tires. That said, the Bolt EUV’s cabin is already quite loud with road and wind noise filtering through what little bit of sound deadening there is.

Handling and ride quality are strong points for the Bolt EUV, and it remains comfortable over a range of poor road conditions. Chevy dialed in responsive steering with decent feedback, and the EUV has surprisingly sharp handling for a utility vehicle. Regenerative braking takes some getting used to for new EV drivers, but the steering wheel-mounted paddles let the driver adjust the intensity to a comfortable level.

The Bolt and Bolt EUV earned mixed results during the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) 2022 crash testing, but it hasn’t been fully tested for 2023. Even so, it’s got a decent list of standard driver assistance technologies, including forward collision warnings, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings, and GM’s teen driver mode. Available tech includes blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, rear parking sensors, and Super Cruise.

Electric vehicles are generally cheaper to own and maintain, as there are far fewer moving parts and no internal combustion engine requiring oil changes, coolant, and other fluids. Some make the transition to EVs, including wiper fluid, brake fluid, and transmission fluid. All of that said, the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV is expected to be less reliable than the average vehicle in its class, according to Consumer Reports. It’s important to note that the Bolt and Bolt EUV were the subjects of a blockbuster recall action that included every vehicle built since its introduction in 2017, which likely impacted CR’s predicted reliability ratings.

Chevy offers a couple of packages for the base LT trim, including a $495 options group with blind spot monitoring and other safety tech. The $895 Comfort Package brings heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and power seat adjustments. The Premier trim is available with a $2,200 Super Cruise package and a $2,495 sunroof package with upgraded infotainment. Part of the fun with Bolt EUV options is that it’s an affordable vehicle and adding options doesn’t make it outrageously expensive. Even so, Super Cruise is a feature that most people can do without, and the Premier trim is impressively equipped either way.

The Chevrolet Bolt EUV may not have the best predicted reliability scores, but its federally-mandated eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty should bring some peace of mind. Its basic and powertrain warranties are otherwise standard for the segment.

• Basic: 3 years / 36k miles
• PowerTrain: 5 years / 60,000 miles
• Battery: 8 years / 100,000 miles
• EVs sold in California are required to have a 10-year / 150,000-mile battery warranty
• If buying used look at our best extended warranties

The Bolt EUV is affordable enough that it almost makes the most sense to purchase new with a warranty. Chevy’s certified pre-owned program brings an extended warranty and the vehicles are typically thousands less than new, so a CPO is your best bet if you’re set on going used.

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