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2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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Small changes make the best deal in the electric vehicle world even better.
When it was originally unveiled with a 238-mile range, the Chevrolet Bolt EV eliminated most would-be EV owners' greatest concern: range anxiety. So how has Chevrolet improved its electric car? Well, some extendable sun visors to help with heat and a programmable heated steering wheel to combat cold are a good start.
7/10
The Bolt EV is immediately recognizable. With a steeply raked windshield, short front overhang, and tall roof, everything about it screams “something different.” Whether or not that “different” is “good” depends wholly on your preference, as the Bolt EV's looks—like most electric-only offerings—have proven to be contentious at best.
But regardless of their designs, the main challenge facing electric cars has always been range. Even though the vast majority of drivers average fewer than 30 miles per day, the 100-mile range offered by cars like the Nissan Leaf and the Volkswagen Golf EV worries consumers. A range of 238 miles does a lot to relieve that worry, especially when fully recharging a depleted battery can happen in just over an hour. That’s accomplished via a DC fast-charging station, which can pump 90 miles of range into the Bolt every 30 minutes. With that kind of speed, the electric life is suddenly feasible for everyone, but even with a "slow" charger, there are completely practical options. Plugged into a 220-volt outlet (like you’d use for an electric clothes dryer), you can add 25 miles an hour, meaning a full charge can be attained in just over 8 hours, while you sleep. A standard 110-volt outlet is noticeably slower, with 12 hours of plug time adding around 35 miles.
Available in two trim levels—LT and Premier—every Bolt EV uses the same electric motor and 60kWh worth of batteries under the floor. They deliver the equivalent of 200 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, meaning the Bolt jumps to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. Starting with the LT, a $36,620 MSRP buys you keyless ignition and entry, xenon headlights with LED running lights, automatic climate control, 17-inch alloys, and cloth upholstery. A 10.2-inch touchscreen offers a reconfigured version of Chevy MyLink that is complemented by a 4G LTE connection and Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A $555 Comfort and Convenience package adds an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, heated front seats and a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel. The Comfort and Convenience package is required if you want to add the $495 Driver Confidence package, which gets you blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors.
The Premier includes all of that, and while its $40,905 MSRP represents an almost $4300 price increase over the LT, buyers also get leather seats, heated rear seats, ambient interior lighting, roof rails, a top-down camera system, and an upgraded rear-view mirror with embedded camera display. A $485 Infotainment package upgrades the stereo to a 7-speaker Bose system and adds wireless smartphone charging and two USB charge ports for rear passengers. A $495 Driver Confidence II package will upgrade the safety systems with forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection and low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and intervention, and automatic high-beams.
My week with the Bolt EV was spent in a Premier with all the options mentioned above. Adding the $750 DC fast-charging capability and an $875 destination charge brought the walkaway price to $43,510. These numbers do not take into consideration federal and state-level tax credits, which can exceed $10,000 in certain states.
9/10
Manufacturers try to put electric power into terms consumers can easily understand, but the actual delivery of said power is nothing like what you'd experience with a gasoline or diesel engine. Even the best engines take time to build power, and the amount they can produce will vary depending on their RPM. This isn’t the case with an electric motor, which delivers its full torque load immediately and continuously. It’s something that really needs to be experienced to be understood, but it’s a delight at any rate. The instant punch of torque that arrives as soon as you hit the accelerator never seems to get old, and the delight doesn't stop when slowing down, either, thanks to regenerative braking.
While all hybrid and electric vehicles employ regenerative braking to help recharge batteries, the Bolt EV offers the option to drop the transmission into low gear to initiate more aggressive engine braking. This creates a 1-pedal driving experience similar to what's delivered by the BMW i3 or the new Leaf. This is a new driving style that takes some getting used to, but it’s the best way to make the most of the powertrain. With one-pedal driving, you’ll have to continue to press the accelerator slightly to keep cruising, because letting off completely will immediately begin slowing down the Bolt. It’s aggressive enough that I had to use the brakes only in emergency stop situations, and the regenerative effect means that on some shorter trips I actually ended up replacing more energy than I used.
As for how useable the range is: I did not recharge the Bolt once during my test week, driving more than 100 miles before taking a trip from Oakland out to Mt. Diablo, climbing to the 4,000-ft summit, and returning to Oakland. On top of that, I still had more than 70 miles of range left. At a DC fast-charging station, I could’ve been back to full charge in less than an hour. Plugged into a 220-volt outlet, I could’ve topped off in a little less than 7. To see the battery drain and recharge on my way to Mt. Diablo, watch our video review.
7/10
There’s good and there’s bad here. Functionally, I’m not sure you can get a better deal in an electric vehicle, and unless you’re planning on driving cross-country, the Bolt EV won’t leave you feeling like you’re limited in any way. My one caveat here would be if you live in a cold climate, as using the heater will drain the batteries quite quickly. Thankfully, air conditioning has no such effect.
Visibility is great, with a large greenhouse and nearly no blind spots, making some of the safety systems largely unnecessary. Unfortunately, the Bolt is not without issues. Even in the Premier trim, there’s far too much hard plastic, the seats are far too shallow and narrow, with too little support or bolstering, and the adjustment controls feel cheap and flimsy.
With 16.9 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 56.6 with that rear 60/40 bench folded flat, the Bolt offers a deceptive amount of utility, especially with nearly 1,000 pounds of battery sitting under the floor. Small-item storage is adequate, with several bins and cubbies, and there was plenty of room for my tall frame with regard to both leg- and headroom.
7/10
Found on the 10.2-inch touchscreen, the coolest part of the Bolt's technology profile is the Energy data pages in the Chevy MyLink interface. These allow you to see how much energy you’ve used since the last charge, how many miles you’ve traveled, and what’s using all the energy—a huge help in managing use. You even have your choice of three themes.
This unique version of Chevy MyLink does not offer navigation except through Android Auto or Apply CarPlay, but I don’t think we’ll see many complaints, given both of those are standard. Dual front USBs can be supported with an additional two charging USBs in the rear, but only if you go for the Premier with the Infotainment package.
9/10
With a 5-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a Top Safety Pick nod from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and a 116-ft braking distance, the Bolt EV is well positioned from a safety standpoint. Making safety systems like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors optional on the base trim is commendable, but leaving the Driver Confidence II package and its forward-collision warning system with pedestrian detection and low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and intervention, and auto high-beams as a Premier-only option is disappointing.
7/10
Currently there’s a $7,500 federal tax credit applied to electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids with a 16kWh battery pack or larger. And certain states like California offer up to another $2,500 in rebates. That means the Bolt EV, which starts at $37,495 with destination, will drop down to just under 30 grand before you even start to factor in state-level discounts. BUT, what a lot of people aren’t familiar with is that there is a cap on that federal tax incentive. Once a manufacturer sells 200,000 electric vehicles, that rebate gets cut in half, and with GM now selling hybrid versions of so many of its models, it expects to hit that cap before 2019.
That means this is the time to get into a Bolt EV, because next year the price will ostensibly increase by $3,750.
Published May 25, 2021 by Michael Perkins
User reviews for 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Write a reviewUser rating:
by Phoenix J
May 18, 2024
I honestly cannot read about this car anymore than I have. First of all as someone who is 64, it has been a struggle and a half to find an EV that I can comfortably drive and fit into. Both are accomplished here, the fact that this car makes driving fun again. It has all the bells and whistles that one could ever want in a vehicle, well also not trying to gouge me for every nickel and dime that I have. I have never been this happy in a car in as long as I can remember. If you are budget conscious, a little bit bougie, or just want to show off while being on a budget. This car is for you just make sure you get the forward collision, the parking assist, and deluxe cruise control. If you get one with a replaced battery it goes 297 mile range. Yay!May 18, 2024
by Anonymous
Oct 12, 2023
Ive already left a detailed report on my 2018 Bolt, but I forgot one of my pet peeves which is that the dashboard is a light gray. That limits my visibility to about 50% of what it should be. The now-defunct dealer which I purchased my car from (for nearly $47K) never addressed my request for a dashboard liner which would cut down on the reflection. I fashioned a liner of black felt for myself and that helped a great deal. Still, I love this car and it should be given its due.Oct 12, 2023
by Guillermo and Sue G
Jul 23, 2023
I got to test drive this vehicle. Its absolutely gorgeous. Some reviews complain about the seats, but I think theyre comfortable and very nice!Jul 23, 2023
User rating:
by Phoenix J
May 18, 2024
I honestly cannot read about this car anymore than I have. First of all as someone who is 64, it has been a struggle and a half to find an EV that I can comfortably drive and fit into. Both are accomplished here, the fact that this car makes driving fun again. It has all the bells and whistles that one could ever want in a vehicle, well also not trying to gouge me for every nickel and dime that I have. I have never been this happy in a car in as long as I can remember. If you are budget conscious, a little bit bougie, or just want to show off while being on a budget. This car is for you just make sure you get the forward collision, the parking assist, and deluxe cruise control. If you get one with a replaced battery it goes 297 mile range. Yay!May 18, 2024
by Anonymous
Oct 12, 2023
Ive already left a detailed report on my 2018 Bolt, but I forgot one of my pet peeves which is that the dashboard is a light gray. That limits my visibility to about 50% of what it should be. The now-defunct dealer which I purchased my car from (for nearly $47K) never addressed my request for a dashboard liner which would cut down on the reflection. I fashioned a liner of black felt for myself and that helped a great deal. Still, I love this car and it should be given its due.Oct 12, 2023
by Guillermo and Sue G
Jul 23, 2023
I got to test drive this vehicle. Its absolutely gorgeous. Some reviews complain about the seats, but I think theyre comfortable and very nice!Jul 23, 2023
by David W
May 04, 2023
Been driving this car for a week. Love it. Super happy with our purchase. Zips along really well. Great features. Highly recommend. May 04, 2023
by Marc C
Jan 20, 2023
The Bolt is an excellent city run-around vehicle. Quick and nimble. Very versatile. Anyone thinking about an EV a Bolt is a good intro. A note on the battery issue you may have heard about: the recall Chevrolet issued took care of it. Most cars should have already had the recall performed. The main traction battery gets replaced with a brand new battery with a brand new 8 year warranty! The new battery is actually a little bigger than the original so you get the benefit of slightly more range. But range will never be an issue; this car has plenty. You wont miss not ever having to visit a gas station again.Jan 20, 2023
by jim s
Dec 04, 2021
A great electric car. But the new federal build better incentive of $12,500 would make a new Bolt only $18k so used will be hard to sell. Dec 04, 2021
by Anonymous
Nov 04, 2021
Really fun to drive, relatively comfortable, good commuter car. Definitely recommend!Nov 04, 2021
by Anonymous
Oct 26, 2021
Everything was great! Car features are very impressive. The car rides very smooth! Oct 26, 2021
by Anonymous
Dec 16, 2020
Love my Bolt! Fun to drive, very responsive . There is a learning curve to having an electric car but it is easy to figure out. Not a lot of luxury but its comfy and has some really cool features. My daughter has a BMW EV and I like the Bolt better. More features and well thought out. The Drive/Low option is nice if you want to do a little highway driving.Dec 16, 2020
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2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV Pricing
Original MSRP
$36,620 to $40,905Price range
$12,289 to $13,008Average price on CG
$12,985YoY price change
$12,967 to $12,985Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Rear side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Voice recognition audio system · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · Touch screen display radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Electronic parking brake: auto off · Front brake diameter: 10.9 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.4 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Cargo area floor mat: rubber/vinyl · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: urethane
Convenience Features
Assist handle: passenger side · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: voice recognition controls · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 7.05
Engine
EV battery capacity: 60 kWh · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 200 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 150 · Electric Motor Torque: 266 · Electric motor charger connector: SAE J1772 · Electric motor charging time (120V): 50 hours · Electric motor charging time (240V): 9.5 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 238
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Fender lip moldings: black · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: black · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: black
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: foldable · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Google POIs · Infotainment: Apply CarPlay ready · Infotainment screen size: 10.2 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Instrument cluster screen size: 8 in. · Warnings and reminders: low battery
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Headlights: auto delay off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 6
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Programmable safety key: MyKey · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: height · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium cloth
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Steering
Steering ratio: 16.8 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.90
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: Turn-by-Turn Navigation · Smart device app function: lock operation · Wifi: hotspot
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: painted aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: intermittent · Solar-tinted glass: front
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Rear side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · USB auxiliary audio input · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Electronic parking brake: auto off · Front brake diameter: 10.9 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.4 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Cargo area floor mat: rubber/vinyl · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: passenger side · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: accessory hook · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 7.05
Engine
EV battery capacity: 60 kWh · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 200 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 150 · Electric Motor Torque: 266 · Electric motor charger connector: SAE J1772 · Electric motor charging time (120V): 50 hours · Electric motor charging time (240V): 9.5 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 238
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color with chrome accents · Fender lip moldings: black · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: black · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: black
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: foldable · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Google POIs · Infotainment: MyLink · Infotainment screen size: 10.2 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Instrument cluster screen size: 8 in. · Warnings and reminders: low battery
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Headlights: Auto on/off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: manual folding
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 6
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Roof rails: silver
Safety
Camera system: surround view · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Cross Traffic Alert: rear · Parking sensors: rear · Programmable safety key: MyKey · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: perforated
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Steering
Steering ratio: 16.8 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.90
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: OnStar · Smart device app function: maintenance status · Wifi: hotspot
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: aluminum with painted accents
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: with washer · Solar-tinted glass: front