2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Electric vehicles tend to fall into two categories when it comes to styling. Some look like they dropped out of a spaceship, while other automakers try hard to make their EVs blend in with the legions of familiar-looking gas vehicles. Chevy took the latter approach with the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV, so other than a few “tells,” there’s nothing that screams electrification. A Redline Edition appearance package is available for the Bolt EUV that brings black exterior badging, 17-inch gloss-black wheels, and red trim. The package also includes black leather upholstery with red stitching.

The EUV shares an underlying structure and most of its sheet metal with the standard Bolt, but Chevy stretched its wheelbase by roughly 7.5 centimetres. That translates to more passenger space for the EUV, as its rear legroom extends more than 7.5 cm beyond the Bolt EV’s. The front cabin is open and clean, though there are thankfully a few physical controls for climate and audio volume. A push-button shifter stands in for a traditional shift lever, which further declutters the space. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are standard.

The Chevy’s cabin feels solidly built and offers quality materials in most of the places that really count. It’s on par with rivals like the Hyundai Kona Electric but not quite as nice as the MINI Cooper SE’s quirky, upscale accommodations. Buyers often cross-shop more expensive models, such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y, and in those cases, the Chevy can’t compete. The Tesla’s premium cabin offers more comfortable and spacious seats, and its interior tech is impressive. Similarly, the Mach-E is more upscale and spacious.

Though its specs look modest on paper, the Bolt EUV benefits from the instant torque delivery its electric motor provides. It feels lively and energetic around town and does a decent job on the highway, but with only 200 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels, there aren’t many thrills to be had from the powertrain. Even so, our test drive proved acceleration is smooth, and the quick power delivery makes the EUV a pleasure to drive in the city. Additionally, testers have clocked the 0-60 mph time at 6.8 seconds—a more-than-decent number for a subcompact SUV. (0 to 100 km/h times are not available but would be similar.)

Whether or not the Bolt EUV offers enough grunt is subjective, but it’s admittedly not the most energetic EV in its class. The cheapest Tesla Model Y offers a 4.8-second 0-60 mph time, while the least expensive Ford Mustang Mach-E Select makes the run in 5.8 seconds. That said, the EUV about matches the Nissan Leaf in 0-60 mph acceleration. Chevrolet doesn’t pitch the Bolt EUV as a performance vehicle, after all, and its solid but leisurely handling backs that up.

General Motors is all-in on its Ultium EV platform, but the older BEV2 platform the Bolt EUV shares with the Bolt EV is still quite good. Combined with the EUV’s low-mounted battery, the architecture delivers surprisingly steady handling and a composed driving experience when the roads get curvy. The EUV can change directions quickly, and the steering and braking both inspire confidence. At the same time, ride quality remains comfortable when road conditions take a turn for the worse.

One lithium-ion battery pack is available, a 65-kWh unit that delivers a 397-kilometre electric range from a full charge, while the Natural Resources Canada combined efficiency rating is 2.1 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres (or 18.3 kWh/100 km). The EUV comes with an 11.5-kW onboard charger, and standard DC fast charging can recover up to 150 km of range in 30 minutes, according to Chevy. The fast charger uses the Combined Charging Standard (CCS) connector used by most automakers other than Tesla. Also included is a dual-charge cord with 120-volt and 240-volt capability, for home charging.

Five people can ride in comfort, but the EUV is best as a four-seater. There’s good rear legroom and headroom, but the car isn’t exceptionally wide. The available panoramic sunroof doesn’t cut headroom to a noticeable degree, either. That said, fitting car seats and booster seats is a breeze, though the LATCH anchor points are buried a bit too deep in the seat.

The front seats provide good space, support, and padding, and there’s a decent amount of storage space in the centre console and glove box. Chevy did a good job with ergonomics, as it’s easy to see and reach everything from the driver’s seat, making the EUV a great commuter that remains comfortable for the long haul. The door pockets are wide but not very deep, and the shape makes it difficult to fit taller items, but the EUV earns back points for its Big-Gulp-sized cupholders.

The interior feels and looks nice, even in the lower trim with neat diamond-pattern cloth. Upgrading from the base LT trim level, Premier models come with perforated leather and two-tone colour options that include black/dark blue and gray/light gray. Both feature an eye-catching triangle pattern that also enables the ventilated seat function. There’s good padding in the front and rear seats, though anyone with a less-than-perfect spine may desire more padding for the rear bench.

A longer wheelbase provides better rear legroom but does not give the Bolt EUV a significant cargo space advantage over the Bolt EV. However, both models have surprisingly generous cargo space for their size. The EUV offers 462 litres under its hatchback with the rear seats upright and a whopping 1,611 litres with the bench folded flat. At the same time, the car’s accommodating ride height and wide rear hatch opening make it easy to load and unload gear, especially heavy items. The area is tall enough for larger dogs to ride in comfort as well, though you’ll want a restraint to keep everyone safe.

Chevy’s infotainment interface is one of the better systems available today. It’s colourful and responsive, and requires few taps to accomplish the most common tasks, such as adjusting the radio station or navigating the standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system runs flawlessly on the standard 10.2-inch touchscreen, which offers crisp graphics and responsive touch inputs. A high position on the dash gives the touchscreen great visibility but also makes it more susceptible to glare. Additionally, the glossy surface makes fingerprints stick out like beacons when in direct sunlight. A subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot is standard.

An 8-inch digital gauge cluster is also standard, and offers various displays for energy usage, vehicle status, and more. Chevy offers a Bose seven-speaker sound package and navigation, but most people will be happy using the included smartphone interface.

The EUV can also connect to the MyChevrolet smartphone app. Users can remotely lock, unlock, and start the vehicle, and the app offers a vehicle locator with the ability to set boundary alerts. It also provides real-time vehicle diagnostics data, can help schedule service visits, and the user can pre-load navigation directions with the app.

The model year 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV hasn’t been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) yet. Last year, the 2022 Chevy Bolt EV received partial tests for roof strength and head restraints/seats, where it earned “Good” marks for both. The IIHS also evaluated its LATCH car seat anchors, rating them “Marginal” for being hidden too deep in the seat cushion.

The Chevy Safety Assist Package comes standard on the Bolt EUV. It brings front pedestrian braking, forward collision alerts, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warnings, automatic high beams, following distance indicators, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change alerts, and rear cross-traffic alerts. The Bolt EUV Premier trim adds safety features like adaptive cruise, and a surround-view camera system. Plus, with Premier, GM’s Super Cruise system becomes available.

Super Cruise is the Bolt EUV’s ace in the hole, and it’s a significant selling point for an EV in its price range. First available from Cadillac, the advanced driving assistance system builds on adaptive cruise control and enables hands-free driving on highways and other supported roads. It uses GPS, cameras, and other sensors, but it requires the driver to remain alert and take control when necessary.

Among other electric cars, the Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Kia Niro EV did not earn a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, either, but many other competitors did. The Ford Mustang Mach-E got a Top Safety Pick, while the Volkswagen ID.4 and Tesla Model Y both grabbed Top Safety Pick+ awards. The Ford Mustang Mach-E earned a Top Safety Pick award, and its available BlueCruise system offers similar functionality to Super Cruise.

Thanks to its low starting price, the Chevrolet Bolt EUV electric utility vehicle qualifies for the full amount of every federal and provincial incentive offered for EVs across Canada.

Pricing starts at $43,147 for the LT model, including an $1,800 destination charge and other fees. A Canadian exclusive True North trim is available for this model that costs $1,995 and adds a rear centre armrest with two cupholders, auto-dimming rear view mirror, front passenger seatback map pocket, the black and blue interior, ventilated front seats, and 17-inch painted alloy wheels. The Premier trim is priced at $46,647, fees in. Popular add-ons include the Sun & Sound Package ($2,495 for a panoramic sunroof, Bose audio system, and larger infotainment system), and Super Cruise ($2,330).

Chevrolet promises multiple affordable EVs on the horizon, including the Blazer EV and Equinox EV, the latter of which it says will start around $35,000 in Canada. The Blazer EV will have a much higher MSRP, but will offer a longer range and more power, while still likely being eligible for EV rebates.

When it comes to EVs currently on sale, only the Nissan Leaf comes close to the Bolt EUV’s new car base price. It starts at a little over $44,000, but has less horsepower, a less efficient electric motor, and a much shorter range. It also takes a half-hour longer to charge and isn’t available with the same advanced driver assistance features.

Shopping upmarket for the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y means spending more money but both bring plenty in return. The base $56,995 Mustang Mach-E Select offers 402 kilometres of range but comes with a full suite of advance driver aids. Upper trims give access to BlueCruise, Ford’s answer to GM’s Super Cruise. The $59,990 Model Y offers 394 kilometres of range and fantastic acceleration, but Tesla charges more for everything, including $1,300 and up for colours other than white, $2,600 for 20-inch wheels, and up to $19,500 for one of its two available driving assistance systems.

Note: Images show a US model.