Chevrolet Bolt Pros And Cons: So Nice They Killed It Twice

It's quirky, it’s cheap, and it’s going away (again)—but the Bolt still makes a surprisingly strong case for itself.

Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

By: Jeff Perez

Jul 3, at 12:00pm ET

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The Chevrolet Bolt is being discontinued. Again. Following the death of the first-generation model in 2023, fans were so eager for a new one that Chevy actually restarted production and added a host of new features before bringing the beloved EV back to the market.

But the Bolt’s return will be short-lived; Chevy will discontinue the SUV yet again following the 2027 model year as the market shifts away from electrification and back to hybridization and internal combustion. It’s a sad fate for what is genuinely one of the quirkiest vehicles on the market today.

Even with the Bolt on the way out, though, that doesn’t mean it’s not a vehicle to consider. I recently spent time in a nicely loaded Bolt RS and was thoroughly charmed by the plucky little EV. Here’s what I liked and didn’t like.

Chevrolet Bolt Pros

Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

I’m not afraid to say it: The Bolt is cute. The lightly revised styling for 2026 doesn’t take away the charm that made the original so likeable in the first place. If anything, the updated light fixtures, fresh wheel options, and smoother sheet metal make the Bolt more visually appealing—and more modern.

The cabin isn’t a massive upgrade from the original, but again, it does just enough to keep things feeling fresh. There’s a new 11.3-inch infotainment screen with crisp graphics, a new wireless phone charging tray, and more tactile controls than you’d ever know what to do with. All in all, it’s just an airy and comfortable place to spend time.

With that, the Bolt is also exceptionally nice to drive. No, it’s not the speediest or most dynamic vehicle on the road, but it has just enough pep to keep things interesting, a comfortable ride, and decent handling. The single front-mounted electric motor makes 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque, paired to a 65.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack.

With that updated pack, the Bolt gets up to 262 miles of range at its most efficient. It also charges at up to 150 kilowatts (way up from the previous Bolt’s 55 kilowatts), getting from 10 to 90 percent charge in just 25 minutes. It also uses the North American Charging Standard (NACS) for the first time.

Chevrolet Bolt Cons

Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Look, we’ve written plenty about GM’s resistance to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its EVs—but when that decision is actually plopped in front of you in the form of a Bolt RS, it’s harder to ignore.

GM’s native interface is decent, with crisp graphics, quick response times, and nice visuals. Even using some of the native apps, like Google Maps or Apple Music, isn’t all that bad. But there’s still something so frustrating about not having smartphone mirroring; basic things like switching between podcast episodes or trying to find the right song are just harder to come by without it.

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The only other issue I could really find with the Bolt is just how loud it was at highway speed. Granted, this is a $32,000 vehicle, and you can easily point out its affordability with the many hard plastics strewn throughout the cabin. But even for a vehicle at this price point, wind and road noise echoed throughout the cabin. It was far more noticeable with no gas engine to drown it out.

Chevrolet Bolt Verdict

I love the Bolt, and I’ll be sad to see it go. With a $28,995 starting price and a $32,995 price tag as tested, it’s the plucky, affordable electric SUV that buyers need now more than ever. It’s nice to drive, it looks good, and it’s comfortable. It’s just an Apple CarPlay connection away from being perfect.