2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV

The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt claims its spot as one of the most affordable, high-value compact electric hatchbacks available. It has since recovered from a battery recall in which every model year was pulled along with its newly released Bolt EUV bigger sister. Unchanged from 2022, the Bolt EV sports design changes from 2021. It maintains its reputation as a family or commuter car with excellent range and efficiency.

The recall pushed out a 2022 refresh, so this year carries over those changes to the grille and backend and a new layout inside with a new gear shifter and touchscreen. The biggest change for 2023 is a $5,000 price cut for both trims, 1LT and 2LT. It was originally announced as a $5,900 cut, but was scaled back in January. A pricier red paint option is now available for the Bolt EV.

The original Bolt impressively keeps up with its bigger sibling in terms of cargo space and roominess, except in the back row where the EUV has 3 inches on the smaller Bolt. Compared to similar cars like the base Tesla Model 3 and Nissan Leaf its front section is impressively spacious, but it’s been pared down on premium features. Even on bigger cars like the Kia Niro EV the Bolt EV beats out some cargo and seating metrics. It’s not as powerful as the Tesla, but almost as efficient. It offers considerably better range than the Leaf and much more than fellow small cars like the Mini Cooper SE or Mazda MX-30.

Both trim levels (1LT and 2LT) come with the same size battery (65 kWh) and range (about 260 miles) and performance metrics on a rear-wheel drive platform. The base starts at $27,495 and the more feature-loaded 2LT starts at $30,695. The higher trim is more about extra infotainment and safety features than road performance, which it can handle but is ultimately average. The Bolt EV can, well, bolt through traffic thanks to its instant torque, but can feel unsteady at high speeds, especially during highway driving. 

The cute roundedness with its short hatchback rear make the tall hatchback appealing despite its lack of premium features and lower-end fixtures. The front seats are large and ultimately focused on practicality not plushness, while the back seats aren’t why anyone is buying this car. Four passengers can travel quite comfortably for a moderate time period, but the car is best with the backseat folded down to give way for segment-leading cargo space.

Many safety features are standard, but the extra alerts from a $495 safety package make for a more comfortable ride. Connecting your phone wirelessly through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto interfaces improves an outdated native system, especially for navigation. With price cuts and as one of the few EVs that easily qualifies for the revamped federal tax credit program, it’s easy to splurge for the highest trim and still stay within budget for a new EV.

Performance: 12/15

With its tall and small proportions and shortened front and rear overhangs, the Bolt can feel a bit flimsy at higher speeds and vulnerable to crosswinds. It’s made for city driving though. It’s comfortable in traffic and tight spaces and great at zipping around slower cars. Like the Leaf, the Bolt is much more of an urban car like traditional small hatchbacks. But there still aren’t many small EV cars on the market.

The 65 kWh battery has faster charging, and a one-pedal driving button makes it easy to ride while regenerating power. But enabling the driving mode makes for a more sluggish and heavy driving feel, so don’t expect to launch forward. Opt for Sport mode for quick accelerator response time, but Chevy doesn’t give many options for driving modes or building a custom experience. On a windy drive, it can handle the curves. 

Its single motor means no all-wheel drive but it helps keep the weight down, which is always helpful given how heavy EV battery packs can be. The 3,589-pound car has 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Compared to the similar Nissan Leaf it can go zero-to-60 mph in under 7 seconds, quicker than the Leaf’s 8.4 seconds and about even with the Mini Cooper SE. The Bolt never feels sluggish even if it doesn’t elicit quite the same sporty vibe as the Mini. Up against the poor-performing Niro EV, the Bolt EV looks like it’s flying.

Range, Energy Use & Charging: 14/15

Its 259-mile range makes the Bolt EV an affordable solution to range anxiety, nearly matching the base Model 3 (272 miles) and surpassing the Leaf Plus (226). It can handle road trips like any other long-range EV, especially with fast charging adding 100 miles in 30 minutes, and is even better for shorter, more local driving that it will usually be tasked with. 

Its combined MPGe is an impressive 120, pushing ahead of the Leaf’s 108 and the bigger Niro EV’s 113. Only Tesla’s EV surpasses it with 132 MPGe and a better 25 kWh/100 miles compared to the Bolt’s 28. It’s an efficient vehicle, and easy access to regenerative driving modes only makes it easier to stretch out the battery.

The 11.5 kW onboard charger is almost double those on older models, so it makes sense that charging is faster across the board. DC fast charging is standard, but you’ll more often plug into a Level 2 charger which takes at least 7 hours for a full charge. At home on a Level 1 plug you’ll get only 50 miles for an overnight 12-hour charge. Chevy offers complimentary home installations for Level 2 charging, worth $1,250. Or it offers a $500 credit to the EVgo public charging network. 

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 12/15

The Bolt EV includes the Chevy Safety Assist suite as standard; it offers lane keeping and departure warning, forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking and other features.

For even more, a $495 Driver Confidence package on the 1LT trim adds rear park assist and cross-traffic alert as well as lane change alerts. For the 2LT version, $375 adds adaptive cruise control. The driver assistance screen icons and alerts feel dated, but it gets the message across. Don’t expect swanky graphics like Tesla’s Autopilot or anything close to General Motors’ Super Cruise hands-free driving even if it’s a GM vehicle.

It receives a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rating of five-stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rating is “Good” overall, but seat belts and child restraints are graded as “Marginal.”

Comfort & Room: 14/15

The Bolt EV is a tall, if small car. But the front section is huge, even for drivers over 6 feet. With large front windows and doors along with a deep foot area, it’s a sleeper hit for tall motorists. At 44.3 inches, its legroom beats out the Model 3’s 42.7 and the Leaf’s 41.2. It even spans farther than the overall larger Kia Niro EV’s 41.5 front leg area.

The easy adjustability of the front seats was a welcome feature along with seat heaters on higher trims and with extra packages although the seat material and firmness weren’t the most comfortable or premium. Backseat passengers fit fine in a fully loaded Bolt. But legroom for backseat riders is more of an average experience, although still better than competitors: 36 inches. The Model 3 is a touch shorter at 35.2 inches, while the Leaf back row squeezes in 33.5 inches. For headroom, the taller hatchback still provides a fairly average 37.9 inches of rear space. The bigger Niro is only a smidge better at 38.1 inches. For a better backseat experience go with the 3-inch longer EUV.

Infotainment: 12/15

Chevy is due for an update on the Bolt EV’s 10.2-inch touchscreen, but for now the limited experience is tolerable with wirelessly connected Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Bolt lineup’s detailed electric stats screen is still one of the most comprehensive and easy to understand of any EV, but navigation is clunky. 

The Bose seven-speaker system in the upgraded 2LT can be a miss for a $595 add-on, although wireless charging and two extra charging ports are nice-to-haves. The driver display looks dated and can be cumbersome to navigate, but it has everything you need. It was unintuitive where the controls for volume and channels were (hint, it’s behind the steering wheel). With the lower pricing it’s not shocking that fewer features are standard.

Cargo Space & Storage: 13/15

The Bolt EV’s compact efficiency shines when it comes to cargo space. The hatchback is already fairly spacious at 16.3 cubic-feet before easily dropping the back seats flat. Once down, the space expands to 56.9 cubes. The back of the Model 3 is tighter at 15 cubic-feet, while the Leaf has a bigger cargo hold with the seats up (23.6 cubic-feet). With seats down, the Bolt dominates the Leaf’s tiny 30 cubic-feet. Even though it’s smaller than Chevy’s new Bolt EUV, it weirdly has similar storage capacity.  A “secret” compartment underneath the trunk floor makes for a good spot for valuables and charging cables and almost makes up for no front trunk, or “frunk.”

Don’t let the small size of the Bolt EV ruin packing plans. The hatchback opens up the back half of the EV (it’s 63.4 inches tall, while the Model 3 is 57, the Leaf is 60.2 and the Niro EV 61.8) and could even pack in three 7.5-footlong surfboards (albeit while passengerless and parked). 

The backseat has simple pouches for storage and not much else. Up front the reconfigured center console houses an open-sided compartment, perfect for purses and small bags with easy access. The armrest compartment opens up with a deep cavern, but it’s not that useful. The glove compartment is tight, but works well enough.

Style & Design: 8/10

The Bolt EV falls into the “cute” category with its short front and back ends—it’s a full half-foot shorter than the SUV-shaped EUV version. The front redesign from 2022 gives it something of a grin on the now grille-less face. Compared to the more angular Leaf and wide-stanced fastback Model 3, the Bolt EV looks and feels narrow and rounded, but still stands tall in an adorable way. The soft blue, silver, gray, black and white palette (there’s a red and bright blue for an extra $495 and 395, respectively) adds to the approachable look. The higher trim tire redesign makes the Bolt feel less like an electric Honda Fit.

Inside, the front cabin is almost too toned down and decidedly less premium than the 2021 (and earlier) configuration. The steering wheel is thin without a solid grip, and black seating feels plasticky even with the leather-appointed trim on the 2L. The dark cloth in the base 1L is nothing special. Plastic side paneling throughout the car cheapens the interior experience. A low-lying gear shifter takes getting used to, but it visually streamlines the cabin.

Is the 2023 Chevy Bolt EV Worth it? Which Bolt EV is the Best Value? 

New pricing for the Bolt EV makes it even more of an electric bargain than before. The base 1LT still falls under $30,000, while the higher trim 2LT starts at just over $30,000.

Based on buyer income levels, the Bolt EV is also one of the few EVs that easily qualifies for the revamped federal tax credit program. So another $7,500 could knock down the price even more. The discount makes it even easier to spring for the plusher 2LT ($30,695) with leather-appointed seats and better safety features. Add adaptive cruise control ($495) and skip the $695 Infotainment package for the best configuration for the money.

To squeeze out the most of the Bolt EV and federal subsidy stick with the base 1LT ($27,495) and add the $495 Driver Confidence package for some safety alerts. For nearly $1,000 more, comfort features like heated seats are added, but at this point opt for the 2LT. 

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV?

The Bolt EV should cost about the same (or less) to insure as its peers. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $2,065, though this averages all 50 states. The Bolt EV should align with other similar EVs. A Chevy Bolt EUV owner might pay over $2,100 for the bigger electric Chevy, while the Tesla Model 3 is over $3,000,  the Nissan Leaf is $2,150 and the bigger Kia Niro EV is $2,050. For a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.