With gas prices remaining high around the country, many drivers are looking to save money by going electric. Fortunately, public superchargers are becoming more plentiful, making buying a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) more practical than ever. However, due to high demand, BEVs can come with a shocking price tag, making them significantly more expensive than gas-powered vehicles that are similarly sized and equipped.
All hope is not lost, though; Chevy now offers a few affordable all-electric options to their current lineup in the form of the Chevy Bolt, which means your local Chevy Bolt Dealer may have the solution you’re looking for. Chevy proved to be on the cutting edge of BEV technology when they introduced the Bolt EV in 2017, but they’ve since upped the ante with a larger version. The 2022 Bolt EUV trades in the compact hatchback car design of the Bolt EV for a compact SUV style that provides expanded space for five passengers.
The thought process behind the Bolt EUV is to offer drivers an affordable BEV on a compact SUV platform. As a result, Chevy gives the 2022 Bolt EUV a base MSRP of $33,500, just slightly more than the MSRP of $31,500 on the 2022 Bolt EV 1LT, the base model of Chevy’s BEV subcompact hatchback. This positions the 2022 Bolt EUV as one of the most affordable BEVs on the marketplace. A vehicle that can appeal to frugal commuters, college students, and families who want to save on fuel prices while still having the ability to travel in a spacious SUV that can comfortably fit everyone.
What Do the Two Bolts Have in Common?
In an effort to keep costs down, Chevy has chosen to equip the 2022 Bolt EUV with the same powertrain and battery pack as the Bolt EV. Both models are powered by a single permanent magnet AC motor delivering power to the vehicle’s front axle. As a result, these are front-wheel drive models only, with no all-wheel drive option currently offered by Chevrolet. This motor is powered by a 65 kWh lithium-ion battery pack located in the vehicle’s frame and helps shield the battery pack from damage while freeing up space inside the vehicle’s cabin for passengers and luggage.
This is an excellent change from early hybrids and BEVs that positioned the battery pack behind the rear seats, cutting into vital trunk space. The electric motor on the two Bolt models is surprisingly peppy. In fact, the single motor can provide up to 200 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. This helps propel the Bolt EUV from 0 to 60 mph in only 7.0 seconds. While this isn’t going to win you any street races, it will provide just enough zip to help you merge easily onto even the most crowded highways.
How Do They Differ?
One key difference between the Bolt EUV and its older sibling Bolt EV is range. While the 2022 Bolt EUV can give you up to 247 miles on a full charge, the Bolt EV can go an extra dozen miles before it’s time to get recharged. This is mainly due to the Bolt EUV being a heavier vehicle. The 2022 Bolt EUV has a curb weight of 3,680 lbs, a full 90 lbs more than the 3,589-pound Bolt EV.
The added bulk does translate into more room inside the Bolt EUV, which has 96.5 cu.ft. of passenger space compared to the 93.9 cu.ft. inside the cabin of the Bolt EV. As a result, you are going to find the Bolt EUV roomier than the Bolt EV. For example, rear-seat passengers in the Bolt EUV will get 39.1 inches of legroom compared to 36 inches on the Bolt EV.
Whichever model you choose, you are going to get pretty much the same amount of trunk space. The Bolt EV offers 16.6 cu.ft. of cargo space in its hatchback that expands to 57 cu.ft. with the rear seat folded down. Going with a compact SUV design doesn’t add much to cargo space, as the 2022 Bolt EUV offers comparable numbers of 16.3 cu.ft. in the trunk, which increases to 56.9 cu.ft. when you fold down the rear seat.
The Bolt EUV’s Two Trim Options
The 2022 Bolt EUV is offered in two different trims. The base model is called the 1LT, while the top trim is the Premier. The LT trim has an MSRP of $34,495, $4,500 less than the $38,995 Premier trim. So, if you’re looking to save money, you might opt for the LT since it has the same powertrain as the pricier Premier. However, there are upgrades to be had on the costlier model.
The Bolt EUV Premier comes with adaptive cruise control, while the LT only has a standard cruise control system. The adaptive system is a more advanced feature, as it adjusts your cruising speed based on the traffic in front of you. This means you don’t have to hit the brakes or adjust the cruising speed since the system will take care of this for you. Furthermore, it will return to your desired cruising speed once the surrounding traffic has returned to normal. This is a task that you will have to do manually on the LT trim.
Both models of the 2022 Bolt EUV come with a full suite of safety features as part of the standard Chevy Safety Assist package, along with features like lane change alert with side blind zone Alert, which will help to reduce highway accidents as it will let you know if there is any traffic in your Bolt EUV’s blind spot when you go to change lanes. Both vehicles also have an HD rear vision camera, but the Premier gets extra visibility with HD surround vision. Similarly, if you want to take advantage of the Super Cruise hands-free driving feature, you’ll have to opt for the Premier trim.
The other main differences between the LT and Premier involve creature comforts. Between the two trims, the Premier offers more luxury items standard than the LT model. For example, every model of the Premier comes standard with perforated leather seats, while the 1LT sticks with a jet-black cloth seat trim. In addition, while both models come with the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus system on a 10.2-inch HD color touchscreen, the Premier offers you the option of two different upgrades regarding infotainment.
First, you can choose the more advanced system with a built-in navigation system, and second, you can choose to upgrade from the standard 6-speaker audio system to a Bose premium 7-speaker audio system. Finally, the Premier has more standard exterior bling than the LT model. It has 17-inch machined-face aluminum wheels with carbon flash painted pockets, body-color door handles with a chrome strip, gloss black window surround moldings, and chrome moldings. As a result, the Premier provides drivers with a more head-turning exterior than the base LT model.
Chevy Proves That EVs Don’t Have to Come With Shocking Price Tags
They say lightning never strikes in the same place twice, but Chevy is looking to double down on the success of the Bolt EV via its EUV counterpart. Just like with the Bolt EV, Chevy has priced the Bolt EUV to be more affordable than comparable BEVs on the marketplace, achieved by controlling costs by using the same BEV powertrain platform in both the Bolt EUV and the Bolt EV. Furthermore, it hasn’t put a premium on performance, as the key differences between the two trims of the 2022 Bolt EUV involve mainly luxury features. The Bolt EUV allows most drivers to take advantage of the benefits of a BEV by making them more affordable than the models offered by Chevy’s main rivals. For those looking to join the all-electric revolution but are concerned about price, Chevy has given consumers some affordable all-electric options that are sure to fit into their budget.
