With growing competition in the so-called affordable EV segment, Chevy had to make sure its offering, the Bolt, didn’t fade away into oblivion. For the 2022 model year, Chevy has refreshed the Bolt EV and simultaneously introduced an SUV-esque version of it called the Bolt EUV. The Chevy Bolt has been around for quite some time and can be credited with being one of the first mainstream automakers to have a solid EV offering. However, with a growing number of rivals, Chevy had to somehow make the Bolt look like a bang-for-the-buck product and not lose plot to the likes of Tesla.
While the range and the power outputs remain the same, the 2022 Bolt comes with refreshed interior and exterior, more standard kit, and a lower starting price. It definitely looks like a much better package overall.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV
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- Model: 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV
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2022 Chevy Bolt EV Exterior
In all its years of existence, the Bolt has managed to avoid looking alien to the current crop of cars. For the 2022 model, however, Chevy has given it a sharper and bolder look. Gone is the traditional, orthodox look. The 2022 Bolt features slim LED headlights, lacks the grille between the headlights, and comes with a thicker, wider air dam. The fog lamp housing and integration is similar to the setup Chevy offers on its trucks generally.
Both EV comes with new 17-inch wheels. They are wrapped in 215/50 section Michelin Energy Saver all-season tires. The side profile gives strong erstwhile-Honda Fit vibes. The hatch also comes with new taillights but the derriere looks similar to the outgoing model.
In terms of dimensions, the new Bolt EV is 163.2 inches long, 69.5 inches wide, and 63.4 inches tall. The wheelbase measures 102.4 inches, whereas the front and rear tracks are an identical 59.1 inches wide. Compared to the previous Bolt, it is 0.8 inches smaller in length and 0.6 inches taller. The width and wheelbase, however, measure the same.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV exterior dimensions
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Wheelbase(in. / mm): |
102.4 / 2600 |
|---|---|
|
Overall Length(in. / mm): |
163.2 / 4145 |
|
Overall Width(in. / mm): |
69.5 / 1765 |
|
Overall Height(in. / mm): |
63.4 / 1611 |
|
Track (in. mm): |
59.1 / 1501 (front)59.1 / 1501 (rear) |
2022 Chevy Bolt EV Interior
The cabin of the 2022 Bolt EV is refreshed and there are some nice changes. For starters, there’s a new flat-bottom steering wheel with a Regen on Demand paddle. Behind it is a new eight-inch digital instrument cluster that displays information about the maximum, average, and minimum range, the speed, and warning lights amongst the other standard stuff. The seats are redesigned and feature a triangular geometric pattern with contrasting color stitching.
There's a 10.2-inch touchscreen system on the center console that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Chevy has also equipped a new electronic gear shift design that uses pull toggles and push-buttons. This makes the cabin more spacious. A new one-pedal driving button also debuts here that keeps the system active between drive cycles.
The 2022 Bolt offers headroom of 40.1 inches, 44.3 inches of legroom, 54.6 inches of shoulder room, and 51.3 inches of hip room at the front. At the rear, it offers headroom of 37.9 inches, legroom of 36 inches, shoulder room of 52.8 inches, and hip room of 50.6 inches. It is more spacious at the front, but the legroom at the rear takes a hit. As for the cargo space, the 2022 Bolt offers 16.6 cubic feet of space with all the seats in place and 57 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded. This is almost on par with the outgoing model.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV interior dimensions
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Headroom(in / mm): |
40.1 / 1018 (front - max)37.9 / 962 (rear) |
|---|---|
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Legroom(in. / mm): |
44.3 / 1124 (front - max)36.0 / 915 (rear) |
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Shoulder Room(in. / mm): |
54.6 / 1388 (front)52.8 / 1340 (rear) |
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Hip Room(in. / mm): |
51.3 / 1303 (front)50.6 / 1286 (rear) |
2022 Chevy Bolt EV Powertrain
The 2022 Bolt carries over the same powertrain. It continues to be powered by a permanent magnet electric motor that sends power to the front wheels. It churns out 200 horses and 266 pound-feet of twist. The performance figures aren’t out yet, but since it is powered by the same propulsion system and weighs 3,589 pounds, which is almost as much as the previous Bolt, we expect the 0-60 mph time also to be the same 6.5 seconds. The top speed was 93 miles per hour in the 2021 model and we don’t expect any improvement on this front.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV specifications
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Type: |
Single motor and gearset |
|---|---|
|
Motor: |
Permanent magnetic drive motor |
|
Power: |
200 hp / 150 kW |
|
Torque: (lb-ft / Nm): |
266 / 360 |
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Final drive ratio (:1): |
7.05:1 |
|
0 to 60 mph |
6.5 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
93 mph |
2022 Chevy Bolt EV Battery and Range
The 2022 Bolt EV comes packed with a 65 kWh battery pack that delivers an EPA-estimated range of 259 miles of range, exactly the same as its predecessor. This is fairly impressive and is the best range a non-Tesla production EV has to offer that is currently on sale. You can expect the claimed range in real-world conditions as well.
When plugged into a 240V charging unit, it takes approximately seven hours to juice up completely. If you plug it into a household three-point outlet, it adds around four miles of range every hour. It supports DC fast charging and can recuperate 100 miles of range in 30 minutes.
2022 Chevy Bolt EV Driver Assistance Features and Warranty
The 2022 Bolt EV comes with Chevy Safety Assist as standard. It includes:
-* Automatic Emergency Braking
-* Forward Collision Alert
-* Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
-* Following Distance Indicator
-* IntelliBeam and Front Pedestrian Braking
Some optional driver assistance technologies include:
-* Rear Cross Traffic Alert
-* HD Surround Vision
-* Adaptive Cruise Control
Chevrolet is offering an 8-year/100,000-mile limited battery system warranty on the Bolt EV.
2022 Chevy Bolt EV Pricing
The 2022 Bolt comes with a big price cut over the previous model. It starts at $31,995 for the 1LT trim and $35,195 for the 2LT trim. In comparison, the 2021 Bolt EV was offered at $37,495 for the base LT trim and $42,695 for the Premier trim.
2022 Chevy Bolt EV Competition
Nissan Leaf
The Leaf has also been on the market for quite some time now. It seems fine on the inside and the outside, but things aren’t great on the powertrain and battery front. The single-motor setup makes 147 horses and 236 pound-feet of torque, which is just about adequate for urban commutes. 0-60 mph is done in nine seconds and the top speed is rated at a shade under 90 mph. It comes equipped with a 40-kWh battery pack that delivers merely 123 miles of range. It takes about 7.5 hours to replenish the battery using a 240-Volt charging point. The Bolt takes less time with a bigger battery pack. After seeing the Bolt’s new price, the Leaf’s starting price of over $32,500 seems absurd. It tops out at $45,000.
Read our full review on the Nissan Leaf
Tesla Model 3
The Model 3 is in a league of its own, but before the Bolt’s price cut, they had a negligible starting price difference. While it seems like an odd comparison now, spending a few extra thousands could get you a better-accomplished product. The Model 3 in the Standard Range Plus model offers an EPA-estimated range of 250 miles. It comes with a motor mounted on the rear axle that doles out 283 horses and 317 pound-feet of torque. It is powered by a 75 kWh battery pack and takes about 8.5 hours to recuperate when connected to a 240-Volt charging point. The car takes 5.3 seconds to 60 mph and has a top speed of 140 mph. The Model 3 starts at $38,000 and goes all the way up to $55,000.
Read our full review on the Tesla Model 3
Final Thoughts
The 2022 Chevy Bolt comes with everything that will make a potential customer happy. It is compact and peppy to drive, comes with an impressive range, and comes with a redesigned cabin. With all these changes, one would expect Chevy to price it around 1,000 bucks more than the 2021 Bolt EV. Instead, it comes with a price cut of over $5,500! Chevy has played this smart because the bigger and better equipped Bolt EUV is priced at just $2,000 more than the Bolt EV. People may opt for the EUV instead of its smaller sibling, but Chevy will be happy as long as the customer stays in the same showroom.
But, there’s some more good news. The Biden Administration could pass a bill that gives a tax credit to 600,000 vehicles instead of the current cap of 200,000. Called the GREEN (Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now) Act, it could benefit Tesla and GM since both these automakers have sold more than 200,000 EVs and are no more eligible for the federal tax credits. Instead of $7,500, the maximum credit will be reduced by $500 to $7,000. If implemented, the effective starting price of the Bolt would be around $25,000, which is a steal deal!
The 2022 Bolt EV will be available from the summer of 2021.