2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV Electric

Starting at $36620, the 2020 Chevy Bolt has a 60kW electric motor that is rated at 200hp and 266 lb.-ft. of torque which is quite good considering the motor size. You can charge the Bolt EV using a standard home wall outlet but it may take up to 24 hours to get fully charged. The best option for fast charging is to use a level 3 fast charger or a level 2 charger (9 hours duration). The Chevy bolt competes against the likes of EV Nissan Leaf, BMW i3, Toyota Prius C, and Kia Soul EV. Let’s see how the car fares against its rivals.

The Chevrolet Bolt is a great pick if you’re shopping for an electric vehicle. If you typically stick closer to home, the Bolt's 238 miles of range means you won't have to plug in every night, which is a reality for many EV owners .

Chevrolet offers two trims for the 2020 Bolt: the base LT and the top Premier variant. Both the variants share similar hybrid powertrain and same size lithium-ion battery package. The difference lies in safety and interior upgrades. The Bolt LT offers two option packages: the $555 Comfort and Convenience package (includes heated front seats and steering wheel) and the $495 Driver Confidence package (includes rear parking sensors, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert). You can get a DC fast-charging option for $750.

The Bolt LT is an affordable pick as it comes with an array of standard features such as:

• Backup camera
• 2-inch touchscreen backed by Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 4G LTE with Wi-Fi
• Proximity-key entry and push-button start

Trims	LT	PREMIER
MSRP	$36,620	$41,780
Features		Everything that comes with LT plus:
	17″ painted aluminium wheel.	17″ Ultra Bright Machined/painted aluminium wheel.
	Body-colour door handles.	Outside rearview mirror turn indicators.
	Gloss Black outside rearview mirror caps.	Body-color door handles w/chrome strip.
	HID headlamps.	Roof rails.

"Despite the fact that there's a half-ton of battery crammed into a small car, the Bolt is not only a good EV, it's fun to drive as well."- New York Daily News

The all-electric powertrain for the 2020 Chevy Bolt remains unchanged. Instead of a gas engine, the Bolt EV is powered by a single electric with a 200-hp rating. The electric motor is paired with a 60-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a single-speed transmission. The Bolt's electric motor provides instantaneous response to accelerator inputs and ample low-end torque that lets you scoot ahead when the light turns green. 

Bolt EV owners can opt for a 240V home-charging setup that cuts battery replenishment time to approximately nine hours or available DC Fast Charging capability that can add 90 miles of range in 30 minutes. 

Models	Chevrolet Bolt EV LT hatchback	Nissan LEAF S hatchback	BMW i3 120Ah hatchback	Toyota Prius C L hatchback	Kia Soul EV wagon
MSRP	$37,495	$30,885	$44,450	$22,460	$34,945
Engine	60 kWh Li-ion battery	110kW Electric Motor	42 kWh Li-ion battery	1.5L i4 Gas/Electric	27 kWh Li-ion battery
Transmission	1-speed direct drive	1-speed direct drive	1-speed direct drive	Continuously variable automatic	1-speed direct drive
Horsepower	200 hp	147 hp@ 3282rpm	170 hp@ 4800rpm	99 hp @4800rpm	109 hp@ 8000rpm
Torque	266 ft-lbs	236 ft-lbs	184 ft-bs	82 ft-lbs@ 4000rpm	210 ft-lbs @2730 rpm

Chevy Bolt offers the best power when compared with rivals. It is followed by the Nissan Leaf which has 236 hp on offer.

Acceleration

The electric motor attached to the 2020 Chevy Bolt offers instantaneous response and acceleration, with ample low-end torque. By selecting the Sport mode, you can make the accelerator pedal smoother and responsive to driver inputs. However, responses are lower on the highway, but Bolt manages to get through highway speeds somehow.

You'll find plenty of oomph when you press the Bolt's accelerator. It merges onto freeways with ease, and there's a good deal of reserve power for passing on two-lane roads.  

Models	Chevrolet Bolt EV LT hatchback	Nissan LEAF S hatchback	BMW i3 120Ah hatchback	Toyota Prius C L hatchback	Kia Soul EV wagon
0-60 MPH	6.5 sec	N/A	7.2 sec	10.6 sec	N/A
Quarter mile	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Engine	60kW	110 kW	42 kW	1.5L i4 Gas/Electric	27 kW
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	N/A	N/A	N/A	3.8	N/A

In our acceleration test, the Chevy Bolt outshines all the rivals taking only 6.5 seconds to do a 0-60 MPH run. BMW i3 stands second taking 0.7 seconds more than the Bolt which is just ridiculous considering its price.

Ride and Handling

The Bolt has unique regenerative braking among EVs with the standard friction brakes in Default mode, which makes it feel easy to slow or stop the car. The regenerative braking recharges the battery by storing energy at slow speeds. If you shift the gear to the Low mode, it goes into one-pedal driving in which you can press the pedal to accelerate and release the pedal to slow or even stop the car without even having to use the brake. There is also another cool feature called Regen on demand in which you can pull a paddle at the back of the steering wheel, which is similar to the low mode for strong regenerative braking similar to the Low mode.

Driving the Bolt EV feels more like driving a basic gasoline car but with more initial torque. It can handle curves with ease at the lower speeds and getting used to it is easier. It's not a driver's car, to be honest, but the torquey engine surely makes it an interesting ride. For urban roads, its shorter wheelbase and low turning radius makes it easier to maneuver this car.

Braking

2020 Chevy Bolt’s brake pedal is responsive and firm. The regenerative braking system allows the battery to recharge whenever you lift off the accelerator. A paddle provided on the left side of the steering wheel allows on-demand regenerative braking and stops the car instantly. The more you use the regenerative braking, more recaptured energy is transferred to the battery.

Model	Chevrolet Bolt EV LT hatchback	Nissan LEAF S hatchback	BMW i3 120Ah hatchback	Toyota Prius C L hatchback	Kia Soul EV wagon
Brake Front (in.)	11	11.1	11	10	11.1
Brake Rear (in.)	10	11.5	11	9	11.8
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3563	3433	2965	2530	3289
60-0 MPH (ft.)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

The ride quality offered by Bolt EV is firm as well. There’s little sign of impacts while driving on uneven terrain. Since the battery pack is mounted beneath the floor, the Bolt wears low center of gravity that makes safe handling. The EV is absolutely fun to drive.

The 60-kWh battery pack offered with the Bolt EV is capable of returning an EPA-rated range of 238 miles on a single charge. The Bolt EV is efficient with EPA ratings of up to 128 MPGe in the city.

Model	Chevrolet Bolt EV LT hatchback	Nissan LEAF S hatchback	BMW i3 120Ah hatchback	Toyota Prius C L hatchback	Kia Soul EV wagon
MPG (city)	128	124	127	48	124
MPG (highway)	110	99	106	43	93
MPG (combined)	119	112	118	46	108
Tank Capacity (gal)	N/A	N/A	N/A	9.5	N/A

Bolt is by far the best and most efficient car in the comparison. However, the BMW i3 stands close in the combined efficiency figures to that of Bolt.

"Quiet, comfortable and spacious, the Bolt EV's cabin has a contemporary design flair that helps offset its abundance of hard plastic and dearth of soft-touch surfaces."- KelleyBlueBook

Seating and Comfort

You will witness generous legroom and headroom in both the front and rear seats that makes Bolt comfortable for five occupants. The front seats are thinly padded, but the limited driving range may not make it a matter of concern. You’ll find the heated steering wheel standard on the top Premier variant and optional on the LT trim. You can now slide the sun visors back and forth for better sun blockage.

Model	Chevrolet Bolt EV LT hatchback	Nissan LEAF S hatchback	BMW i3 120Ah hatchback	Toyota Prius C L hatchback	Kia Soul EV wagon
Passenger capacity	5	5	4	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.7/54.6/41.6	41.2/54.3/42.1	39.6/53.6/40.5	41.7/52.3/37.0	39.6/55.5/40.9
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.9/52.8/36.5	37.3/52.5/33.3	37.2/49.2/31.9	37.0/51.7/35.0	39.5/54.7/36.0

Infotainment System

With the Bolt’s infotainment, you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. You can use them for navigation functions otherwise there’s no built-in navigation offered. You’ll also get several useful EV-specific menus that allow you to extract information like remaining range and battery-energy usage. Bolt’s touchscreen is responsive to most of the smartphones.

Cargo Space

The bolt is practical in its own way. It offers generous cargo space and allows you to store smaller items throughout the cabin. You’ll find spacious compartment behind the electronic shifter for keeping your smartphone. The “floating” dashboard is designed to bring in more space between the front seats beneath the center console.

Model	Chevrolet Bolt EV LT hatchback	Nissan LEAF S hatchback	BMW i3 120Ah hatchback	Toyota Prius C L hatchback	Kia Soul EV wagon
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	16.9	23.6	36.9	17.1	18.8

“The 2020 Bolt EV looks like a funky hatchback instead of a weirdo electric car. That’s probably the point.” The Car Connection

Design and Styling

The base bolt LT trim looks basic and economic, more for economy-minded commutes, while the Premier trim looks dressed up with cool-looking wheels and chrome trim. Its tall stance and chunky appearance make it look like a compact crossover. Chevrolet have done a good job making it look appealing with the available chrome accents on the windows and on the doors.

Model	Chevrolet Bolt EV LT hatchback	Nissan LEAF S hatchback	BMW i3 120Ah hatchback	Toyota Prius C L hatchback	Kia Soul EV wagon
Curb weight (lbs.)	3563	3433	2965	2530	3289
Length(in)	164.0	176.4	158.3	162.4	163.0
Width(in)	69.5	70.5	69.9	68.6	70.9
Height(in)	62.8	61.4	62.9	59.6	63.0
Ground clearance (in)	N/A	5.9	N/A	5.5	5.9
Wheelbase (in)	102.4	106.3	101.2	100.4	101.2
Track width (in) F/R	59.1/59.1	60.6/61.2	61.9/62	58.5/58.1	62/62.4

Exterior Features

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Front intermittent wipers
• Daytime running LEDs
• Solar absorbing glass

You will notice some noteworthy safety technologies with the 2020 Chevy Bolt. With the Driver Confidence Package, you’ll get automated emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and lane-departure warning. With the base Bolt LT model, you only get optional rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot warning.

• 2020 Chevrolet Bolt Safety Features
• Theft-deterrent system, unauthorized entry The theft-deterrent alarm system sounds the horn and flashes the exterior lights to help deter an attempted break-in.
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control system
• LED Daytime Running Lamps
• Passenger Sensing System
• 10 standard airbags Dual-stage frontal, roof rail-mounted head-curtain side-impact and seat-mounted side-impact thorax protection for front and rear outboard seating positions, and knee protection for driver and front passenger (includes Passenger Sensing System).
• Safety belts, 3-point driver, and front passenger includes pre-tensioners and load limiters
• Safety belts, 3-point, rear outboard, and center position
• Safety belt indicator, driver
• Rear child security door locks
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Rear Vision Camera

 

Chevrolet Bolt EV vs Nissan Leaf

Nissan Leaf is the longest running and one of the most successful EV from the Japanese manufacturer. The car has powerful motor that is able to make 147hp and can travel a total distance of 151 miles on a single charge. Leaf also gets better equipment list than the Bolt and will cost you 7 grands cheaper than the Chevy Bolt

Chevrolet Bolt EV vs BMW i3

Selecting between the Chevy Bolt EV and the BMW i3 comes down to which fits your budget and priorities. The Beemer starts at $7,000 more than what you pay for the Bolt but offers high-end equipment, plush interior and also, the trust of BMW. BMW i3 has almost same efficiency number to that of Bolt but offers much less power than the latter.

 

You can easily bet that the Chevy Bolt is important to General Motors. With a price tag of $37,495, you get an all-electric vehicle with a driving range of 248 miles on a single battery charge. GM brought the car into shape in less than two years, preparing it to compete against the anticipated Tesla Model 3. The Bolt is believed to be more like an idea and GM believes the buyers would go for it as it represents an idea of mobility. The new Bolt is affordable, accessible, high-tech, and versatile.

Frequently Asked Question(FAQ) about 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV

What is the price of Chevrolet Bolt EV?

The 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV LT has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $37,495 including destination, while the Premier opens at $41,780, both reflecting pricing before factoring in federal tax credits and state or local incentives.

How far the Bolt EV can go?

The 2020 Bolt is good for 238 miles of EV cruising range. Its e-motor boasts solid around-town torque and performance.

What is the 0 to 60 time of Chevrolet Bolt EV?

The Bolt Evo takes 6.5 seconds to reach 60 miles an hour.