Jeep Wrangler vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2026 Jeep Wrangler was a vehicle that stood out with its iconic design, featuring an upright, military-style stance and a distinctive seven-slot grille. Its versatility was evident with removable doors and roof, and the option to fold down the windshield for an open-air experience. The Wrangler offered numerous customization and trim options, allowing it to range from basic to luxurious. Our test model, the Willys ’41, was finished in a special army green with matching wheels and a ’41 hood graphic. Accessories like exterior decals and an interior multi-function accessory bar added to its appeal. While the Willys ‘41 was only available as a four-door, other trims offered both two-door and four-door configurations. The interior was utilitarian, with rugged materials and a minimalist design, featuring weatherproof floor mats and tan-coloured cloth seats. Despite the hard plastic surfaces, the Wrangler's adventurous nature made them fitting. The presence of hard buttons and dials for the HVAC system was appreciated, and the vehicle was peppered with fun Easter eggs, adding a playful touch.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar look, with slight styling changes that made it resemble a conventional gas-powered car. The front end featured a thin slot behind the Chevy Bowtie logo, and the previous grille insert was integrated into the bumper. The 2027 model continued the legacy of the 2023 version, offering only the EUV body style. Its tall and narrow design prioritized utility and interior space over a sporty stance. 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 push-button gear selector was moved to the steering column, freeing up storage space. The cabin was dominated by hard plastic surfaces, reinforcing its budget feel, but the elbow touch points had thin padding. The RS trim featured Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching, while the rear seating area had an abundance of hard plastics. Despite this, the Bolt offered a practical and spacious interior, with adequate headroom and thigh support for adults.

The 2026 Jeep Wrangler offered a range of powertrains, including the Pentastar 3.6-litre V6, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo, and a 6.4-litre Hemi V8. Most models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission, but the V6 engine offered a six-speed manual option. Our Willys ’41 test vehicle featured the V6 engine, delivering 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided ample power for everyday driving and highway merging. The low-end torque was particularly appreciated for off-road crawling. The Wrangler's maneuverability was a highlight, with an excellent turning radius that made it adept at handling tight urban spaces. However, the knobby off-road tires and upright stance contributed to a noisy cabin at highway speeds, requiring high speaker volume for phone calls.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and reliance on rare earth minerals. A 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. While not the fastest by EV standards, the Bolt was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs. One-pedal driving was available, with medium or high brake regeneration settings. The ride was firm but not overly stiff, and road noise was more noticeable due to the absence of an internal combustion engine. The Bolt's agility on curvy roads was surprising, thanks to its low centre of gravity. On a full charge, it offered up to 422 kilometres of range, with a Tesla-derived NACS charge port and increased charging speed from 55 kW to 150 kW, allowing a 10% to 80% recharge in 25 minutes.

The 2026 Jeep Wrangler was a practical choice for off-road adventures, with 24.6 centimetres of ground clearance and the ability to ford up to 75 centimetres of water. The four-door model offered 898 litres of cargo space behind the second-row seats, expanding to 2,050 litres with the seats folded flat. The two-door model had 365 litres behind the second row and 898 litres behind the front seats. The swing-out tailgate and lift-up rear glass provided easy cargo access, and the spare tire was conveniently mounted on the back. However, the Wrangler's practicality for back-seat passengers was limited, with a high step-in height and tight rear seating. Front seat space was also narrow, lacking amenities like multiple cup holders and storage cubbies.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt offered an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants, though taller drivers might have wished for more telescopic steering wheel extension. The rear seats provided plenty of headroom and thigh support, with a flat floor reducing the penalty for centre-seat passengers. The Bolt's cargo capacity was 459 litres behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, and the release latches were easily accessible. While there was no frunk, the Bolt offered ample storage for personal items, including a large bin with movable dividers, a big floor tray, and a deep centre armrest bin. Additional pockets in the dashboard and moderate door pockets provided further storage options.

The 2026 Jeep Wrangler came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and an infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A two-year free trial of the Trails Offroad app was included, allowing drivers to explore trails and topographic maps. Optional tech features included a nine-speaker Alpine audio system, a digital rear-view mirror, a forward-facing TrailCam, a 7-inch display screen in the instrument cluster, and navigation. Our Willys ’41 test vehicle had many of these optional features, including the Alpine audio system, which was appreciated for its quality at highway speeds. The TrailCam, available on select models, was recommended for off-road enthusiasts.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured 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, but some Android Auto features were integrated. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system could help drivers find charging stations and precondition the battery for optimal charging. Vehicle-to-load charging was also available, allowing the Bolt to serve as a backup power source for a home.

The 2026 Jeep Wrangler offered limited standard safety features, with most advanced safety tech available at an additional cost. The base Sport trim lacked extra safety tech, while the Sport S trim offered optional features like blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. These features became standard at the Rubicon X trim level. Safety ratings were mixed, with the IIHS giving the Wrangler a range of ratings from good to bad. The headlights received poor and marginal scores, depending on the trim level.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt's crash test results were not available at the time of writing, but it was expected to achieve high scores based on its platform. 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, a digital rear-view mirror, and additional safety features. GM's Super Cruise hands-free automated highway driving system was available for an additional cost, making the Bolt one of the few budget EVs to offer such an advanced system.