If you’re like most people, you’ve been watching from the sidelines while some of your friends and neighbors have started driving battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The future comes with a high price tag, and you’ve probably been cautious about paying a premium to get one, no matter how much money you’d save on gas. So what do you do when you see a Chevy Bolt EUV for sale? Do you think it’s worth taking the leap toward the future with a BEV, leaving behind the comfort of a conventional gas-powered vehicle?
It’s a fair question since cars tend to be one of the biggest expenses of our lives. The good news is that the 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV is one of the most affordable BEVs on the market, making it a great place to start if you are interested in leaping into the 21st century without having to pay a high entry fee to get in.
Is the Chevy Bolt EUV Expensive?
One thing that has held many drivers back from buying a BEV is the price. These models often have premium MSRPs that put them out of reach for most drivers. This is why Chevy made the Bolt EUV affordable. In fact, Chevy dropped the price of the Bolt EUV after its first year on the market, despite most automakers doing the exact opposite over the past year. The 2022 Bolt EUV debuted with a base MSRP of $34,495 for the entry-level LT model. This has been dropped by over $7,000 to $27,200 for the 2023 Bolt EUV LT. The same price reduction has been applied to the Premier trim, which comes with more features than the LT. As a result, the 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV is priced almost as low as most subcompact SUVs with either conventional gas engines or hybrid powertrains.
What Are the Benefits of Driving a Bev?
There are a number of benefits of having a BEV instead of a car that requires gas. Even if your current vehicle is a hybrid, you need to occasionally stop by your local gas station to top off the tank. You’ve probably noticed prices spiking due to inflation. Gas prices got hit especially hard, but with a BEV, trips to the pump are no longer necessary.
The 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV is powered by a single motor that produces 200 hp and 266 lb-ft. of torque, numbers that are comparable with most gas and hybrid engines on similarly-sized SUVs. The difference is that the Bolt EUV gets its power from a 65 kWh lithium-ion battery which requires absolutely no gasoline. Instead, you can recharge using the 11.5 kW onboard charging module on the Bolt EUV.
This can be used at public DC Fast Charging stations to recharge up to 95 miles of range in just 30 minutes. You can also charge at home, as the onboard charging module is compatible with 120V and 240V outputs. This allows you to give your Bolt EUV a full battery recharge in as little as 7 hours. In addition, the Bolt EUV features Regen on Demand, which recaptures the kinetic energy released from braking to help recharge the battery.
As it stands, you will get up to 247 miles of range from a full battery charge on the Bolt EUV, making it ideal for commuters and road trippers alike. Another major benefit is the elimination of greenhouse gas emissions. This is why a BEV like the Bolt EUV is cleaner than a hybrid. Many areas even allow you to access the HOV lane if you are driving a clean energy vehicle like the Bolt EUV during rush hour, even if you are driving alone.
How Is the Performance of the Bolt EUV?
A major concern for many drivers is the performance of their vehicles. They want to know if they will have the speed, acceleration, and handling it takes to confront their daily commute, especially when considering a battery-electric vehicle. The last thing drivers want to contend with is having a sluggish vehicle that doesn’t corner well, making getting on the highway and driving in traffic an unpleasant chore.
The Bolt EUV is surprisingly quick, with the ability to go from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.0 seconds, making merging onto the highway a cinch. The Bolt EUV also has a top speed of 93 mph, so you should be able to keep up with traffic. As for cornering, the Bolt EUV has a turning circle of just 38.3 ft. It also only needs 186 ft to brake from 70 mph, aided by the Bolt EUV’s Single Pedal Driving. This mode turns the accelerator pedal into a brake, allowing the Bolt EUV to come to a complete stop by simply taking your foot off the accelerator. There are added benefits to this, including reducing driver fatigue and wear-and-tear on the Bolt EUV’s vented disc brakes.
Is the Bolt EUV Roomy?
The first hybrid models to hit the roads often had the battery pack behind the rear seats. This caused many of them to have cramped interiors with insufficient trunk space. Unfortunately, this led to the perception that BEVs lack adequate passenger and cargo space. This is not the case with the 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV. The 2023 Bolt EUV provides 96.5 cu.ft. of passenger space in its interior, making it as roomy as most other subcompact SUVs. This has been well distributed between the two rows of seats, with front-row passengers getting 40 inches of headroom and 44.2 inches of legroom, while passengers in the back row will enjoy 37.8 inches of headroom and 39.1 inches of legroom.
By placing the battery pack in the vehicle’s undercarriage, Chevy has freed up both trunk and passenger space while providing excellent protection for the vehicle’s battery. This is why the Bolt EUV has 16.3 cu.ft. of space in the trunk, which should be plenty of room for a shopping trip. If you need more space, you can simply fold down the rear row of seats to free up 56.9 cu.ft. of cargo space.
What Are Some Features on the Bolt EUV?
Chevy has equipped each model of the 2023 Bolt EUV with an array of standard technological features. For example, each Bolt EUV has a Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus System and a 10.2-inch diagonal color touchscreen, larger than the touchscreens in most other subcompact SUVs on the market.
The 2023 Bolt EUV also features the standard Chevy Safety Assist driver assistance and safety technology system. This includes forward collision alert, which will warn you if a vehicle or pedestrian is in your path. When this occurs, it will also engage the automatic emergency and front pedestrian braking, which will help you avoid a collision or minimize the impact if it’s unavoidable. Lane keep assist with lane departure warning will let you know if your Bolt EUV has drifted out of lane on the highway and gently ease you back into it. The following distance indicator will let you know if you are getting too close to the vehicle in front of you, so you can avoid tailgating and reduce the risk of a front-end collision. Finally, IntelliBeam auto high beams will automatically turn on the high beam headlights when you are in an area of low lighting. Each feature helps keep you and your passengers safe by providing an extra set of eyes when you’re on the road, giving you maximum confidence.
Looking To Join the All-Electric Revolution? Consider the Bolt EUV
The Bolt EUV has an affordable price tag, so you won’t have to pay a premium to get your first BEV. Even if you’re a veteran BEV owner, you’ll immediately fall in love with it. It may be a bargain, but the Bolt EUV does not require you to compromise on the efficiency, performance, and safety you are looking for in a subcompact SUV.
