2027 Chevrolet Bolt vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar appearance with only slight styling changes. The front end resembled a conventional gas-powered car more than an EV, featuring a thin slot behind the Chevy Bowtie logo and an integrated grille insert in the bumper. The 2027 model continued from where the 2023 version left off, offering only the EUV body style, which straddled the line between a large hatchback and a subcompact SUV. The Bolt's tall and narrow design prioritized utility and interior space over a sporty stance, with the RS model adding minimal gloss black exterior trim for a touch of flair.

Inside, the Bolt underwent a more dramatic makeover while maintaining its basic structure. A larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen were introduced, with the push-button gear selector moved to the steering column to free up storage space. The cabin was dominated by hard plastic surfaces, reinforcing the Bolt's budget feel, though elbow touch points had thin padding. The base LT trim featured cloth upholstery, while the RS trim upgraded to Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching. The rear seating area also had an abundance of hard plastics and lacked padding for the door armrests.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold reinterpretation that polarized opinions, particularly with its flat, faceless grille spanning the entire front end. The vehicle's personality varied significantly with colour and trim level, with body-coloured vertical strakes at each edge that blended more harmoniously in darker shades. The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced these strakes with rectangular grille blocks, both featuring distinctive amber accent lights. The side profile showcased unique faceted and angular fender sculpting, while the rear view adopted a different style with rounded corners and vertical taillights, reminiscent of a Range Rover.

Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard layout with a stark, buttonless modern appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim offered a luxurious two-tone palette, though the silver button labels were difficult to read. Seats were covered in synthetic leather and suede, with flat and firm cushions that could create discomfort on longer drives. Material quality was excellent, with options for engineered wood or carbon fibre trim surfaces. The Telluride's interior provided a more luxurious feel, akin to something from Volvo.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and requiring fewer rare earth minerals. A new motor from Chevy's Equinox EV delivered 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels, with a 0-100 km/h time in the low seven-second range. Despite this seemingly slow acceleration by EV standards, the Bolt was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs, with immediate pedal response. One-pedal driving was available, with medium or high levels of brake regeneration. The ride was firm but not overly stiff, and the Bolt was agile on curvy roads due to its low centre of gravity. On a full charge, it offered up to 422 kilometres of range, with a charging speed increased to 150 kW, allowing a 10% to 80% recharge in 25 minutes.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid combined a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with electric motors, producing 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with a six-speed transmission, with all-wheel drive expected to remain standard in Canada. The hybrid powertrain was not offered in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims but was available in the X-Line trim. The Telluride Hybrid provided ample power and a quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas modes. Both Tellurides were tuned for comfort, delivering a smooth ride, with the X-Pro model surprisingly comfortable despite its off-road suspension. The Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride with its 20-inch wheels, but the suspension managed to keep bumps from sending sharp jolts through the cabin. On winding roads, the Telluride was composed and controllable, instilling confidence in drivers.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt offered an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants, though taller drivers might have wished for more telescopic extension from the steering wheel. The rear seats were also upright, providing plenty of headroom and adequate thigh support. The Bolt could hold up to 459 litres of cargo behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The release latches for the rear seatbacks were easy to reach, and the seats folded flat with the cargo floor. Up front, there was ample storage for personal items, with a large bin, floor tray, and deep centre armrest bin.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid provided ample space for adults in all three rows, though smaller passengers were better suited to the rearmost row. The seat cushions were mounted low to the floor, reducing thigh support for adults, but headroom and legroom were adequate. The second row featured power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation, almost as comfortable as the front seats. The Telluride could hold up to 631 litres of cargo behind the third row, with a total capacity of 2,528 litres when the second-row seatbacks were folded flat. The hybrid models lost only about 30 litres of cargo space. The Telluride could tow up to 2,268 kilograms, or 2,040 kilograms for the hybrid.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch centre touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, requiring Bluetooth pairing for personal music libraries. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, digital rear-view mirror, and wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was easy to use, with logical menus and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system could help drivers find charging stations and precondition the battery for optimal charging rates. It also offered vehicle-to-load charging as a backup power source for a home.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. A native navigation system, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were included, along with dual wireless phone chargers. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though it required a hard tap to register inputs. The climate control screen was difficult to use while driving, but physical temperature control buttons were available. A 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system delivered powerful bass and clear tones, with lower trims equipped with an eight-speaker system.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt had not yet been crash-tested by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, but it was expected to achieve high scores. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors, and a safety alert seat. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, digital rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers, rear pedestrian alert, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free automated highway driving system was available for an additional cost.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid had not yet been crash-tested by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, parking sensors, highway driving assist, and rear passenger sensors. Higher trims added a surround-view camera system, blind-spot camera system, side parking sensors, and automatic reverse braking. The highway driving assist was particularly helpful on longer trips, while the driver attention monitor occasionally triggered at night.