Toyota Highlander vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2022 Toyota Highlander presented a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design, with flared fender arches and a distinctive third-row window that gave it a compact appearance despite its spacious interior. Inside, the Highlander offered ample cabin space and clever storage solutions, making it ideal for families. The XSE trim, in particular, stood out with its bold red leather interior, navy blue exterior, unique styling, ambient lighting, and sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander was available in several trims, each adding more features, from the base L with its 18-inch alloy wheels and 8-inch touchscreen to the luxurious Platinum trim with adaptive headlights and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt maintained a familiar look with slight styling changes, resembling a conventional gas-powered car more than an EV. It featured a tall and narrow design, prioritizing utility and interior space. The RS model added gloss black exterior trim for a touch of flair. Inside, the Bolt underwent a more dramatic makeover with a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The cabin, dominated by hard plastic surfaces, reinforced its budget feel, though it offered practical storage solutions. The Bolt was available in LT and RS trims, with the latter featuring Evotex synthetic leather and red stitching.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission with standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. The Highlander offered a drive-mode button with Sport, Normal, and Eco modes, and an AWD system with Mud/Sand, Rock, and Normal modes. It excelled in handling, especially in the XSE trim with its sport-tuned suspension, and could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack and a motor from Chevy's Equinox EV, delivering 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. It offered quick acceleration, with 0-60 mph times in the low seven-second range. The Bolt provided one-pedal driving with adjustable brake regeneration levels. Its ride was firm but not overly stiff, and it handled curvy roads well due to its low center of gravity. The Bolt offered an EPA-estimated range of 262 miles on a full charge and supported fast charging with a Tesla-derived NACS charge port.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander offered up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded. With all seats in use, it provided 16 cubic feet of cargo space. The Highlander featured a power liftgate on trims above the base L, with hands-free operation on Limited and Platinum trims. The interior was practical, with deep cargo pockets, extra ledges, and spacious second-row captain’s chairs. The third row was less accommodating for adults.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt had an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants. The rear seats offered plenty of headroom and thigh support, with a flat floor for center-seat passengers. The Bolt provided 16.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The interior featured practical storage solutions, including a large bin with dividers, a floor tray, and a deep center armrest bin.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with hard buttons for easy navigation. The XSE trim featured a wireless charging pad and additional USB ports. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system were available.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch center touchscreen with a Google-based operating system. It did not support Apple CarPlay or standalone Android Auto, requiring Bluetooth pairing for personal music libraries. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was intuitive, with logical menus and sharp graphics. The Bolt also offered vehicle-to-load charging capabilities.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view parking monitor.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt's crash test results were not yet available, but it was expected to perform well based on its platform. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors, and a safety alert seat. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and rear-pedestrian alert. GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving system was available for an additional cost.