Quickies: 2027 Chevrolet Bolt

The poor electric vehicle has been on a rollercoaster ride of late. 

First, it was the elimination of the Federal EV tax incentive late last year. That hurt EV sales across the board – and not just the legacy manufacturers. Then, came a conflict in the Middle East that has reduced the shipments of oil to the entire world. Because of the shortage of oil, interest in EVs are back on the upswing again, 

There is a saying that “timing is everything.” In the case of the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt, it is very apt considering consumer interest and behavior. 

You do remember the Bolt? That small four-door hatchback EV that was affordable to purchase and yielded a loyal following by its owners. So much so that HOURCAR/Evie, bought a fleet of them for their car sharing program in the Twin Cities. 

By the end of 2023, Chevrolet decided that they were better off selling larger EVs than the diminutive Bolt. Even though the base price of the 2026 Equinox EV LT is around $36,000, there was some anxiety in the marketplace where the entire automotive industry has abandoned the concept of vehicle affordability. 

Without going deeper into the global pressures within the automotive industry, GM restarted production of the Bolt for the 2027 model year. 

This Bolt has undergone some updates since its exit from the marketplace in 2023. Before its original demise, there were two body styles available. The new one is consolidated to the larger “crossover” body, formerly known as the EUV. This is to address the concern about the lack of overall space of the original model. 

The former platform was scrapped for the corporate Ultium one, sharing with practically every GM EV all the way to the GMC HUMMER EV. Basically, the platform offers a common battery architecture and drive motor type. These two main components are configured for the specific purpose for each GM EV. 

In the Bolt’s case, there is a single 210-horsepower drive motor mounted up front underneath the hood. The lithium-iron phosphate 65-kilowatt-hour battery pack is fed through a new North American Charging Standard port. Charging speed has been increased to 150-kilowatts, enabling quicker recharging at public DC Fast Charging stations. Chevrolet claims that the 2027 Bolt can now recoup 10-80% state of charge in just 26 minutes. They also claim a range of 255 miles from a full battery. 

The 2027 Bolt has undergone some updates inside and out. The exterior is now in line with current Chevrolet EV design elements. That includes moving the LED headlamp units to each side of the front fascia. 

The interior is all new, as well. There is an 11-inch digital instrument cluster and a 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen on the redesigned dashboard. The latter screen is now driven by Google Built-in, which enables their apps to be the primary source for voice commands and navigation. In order to fully utilize this system, you have to log into your Google account. 

One thing that you will not be able to do in the 2027 Bolt – use your smartphone’s integration software. You can connect your phone through Bluetooth, but that’s about it. 

Our test vehicle was the sporty RS model – a first for the Bolt. It adds more red accents inside and out, along with sportier 17-inch alloy wheels. In addition, our test vehicle came with an upgraded Technology Package which adds an HD surround view camera, a rearview camera in the mirror, a wireless phone charger and additional driver assistance features. 

A huge upsell for the 2027 Bolt is availability of Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free driving assist technology.  Unfortunately, our test vehicle was not equipped with this feature. 

Seats are upholstered in EvoTex and offers some comfort, but maybe lacking in support. The rear space is fine with room for two average sized adults. Although, Chevrolet states it has a capacity for five passengers. In the back, there is 16.2 cubic feet of cargo space which expands to 56.2 cubic feet with the rear seats down. 

The driving experience was fine, even on the country roads we took it out on in East Central Wisconsin. The ride quality was solid, with some resistance than the tires. Handling was fine, with a bit of lean and roll in the turns. 

We noticed that the turning action felt a bit detached. However, it had a tight turning radius overall with a solid on-center feel. Our test vehicle had the one-pedal driving enabled, which brought the 2027 Bolt to a complete stop with just a lift of your right foot. The system worked very well. If you need to use the pedal at all, the action was just fine. 

The RS is one of two trim levels for the 2027 Bolt, with prices starting from $27,600. Our RS test vehicle came with a sticker price of $31,600. If you really want a new Bolt, better get one now. This will only be offered for the 2027 model year. 

While it is available alongside Chevrolet’s lineup of battery-electric vehicles, the 2027 Bolt serves as a reminder of how much further the Bowtie brand has gone in offering an affordable alternative to their lineup of internal combustion engine-powered vehicles. The essence may be the same, but the new technology and driveline keeps it in “the EV game.”

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by General Motors. All logistics were provided by the Midwest Automotive Media Association – our opinions are of our own.

All photos by Randy Stern