Let's say you want a fully electric car.
Over 200 miles of range would be nice, but like most of us,
you just don't have the money to spring for a Tesla Model S
or X. You could get in line with over 300,000 other people
and wait to eventually get a Tesla Model 3.
Or you can go out and get a Chevy Bolt, basically now.
Beating Silicon Valley upstart Tesla to market
with an affordable long-range EV is quite a feat
for GM, a symbol for old school Detroit.
Then again, GM was ahead of their time
when they rolled out the first Chevy Volt, with a V,
more than six years ago.
The Bolt, with a B, is based on an all new structure.
Up front there's no engine.
That's where many of the electrical drive components
reside.
The 60 kilowatt-hour battery is installed in the floor
and provides some of the car structure.
That big battery delivers an EPA-estimated 238 miles
of range.
For comparison, a Volt can go 50 miles before its gasoline
engine kicks in.
Among electric only cars, the Nissan LEAF goes 107 miles,
and a Tesla Model S 60D, with its 60 kilowatt-hour battery,
is rated for 218 miles.
Totally recharging the Bolt takes around 9 and 1/2 hours
on 220 volts.
Obviously, you don't get access to Tesla's growing
array of supercharger stations.
Instead, the Bolt has available DC fast charging,
which gives you up to 90 miles of range in half an hour.
That charging network is also growing.
OK, enough facts and figures-- let's face it.
Plenty of people are attracted to Tesla's high-tech aura.
It doesn't matter to them if the car is electric or not.
It simply looks cool.
As for the Bolt, well, it's got some chrome bits
and really cool tail-- OK, who am I kidding?
This thing is a dorky-looking little box.
Compared to a Tesla, it's not cool at all.
Seems like GM just gave up.
At least it's got a great person-- I mean,
it's really practical.
With the battery in the floor, there
is a low and flat door sill.
Combined with tall doors, getting in and out is a cinch.
There's good space in the rear seat, helped out
by having a totally flat floor back there.
Up front, you sit up high-- feels a lot like a small SUV,
and lots of people like those.
There's big windows here, and that
helps make up for the rather thick roof pillars.
Another help is the optional surround-view camera,
added to the standard backup camera's view.
Neat textured plastic and red-orange stitching
on the optional leather seats liven up the cabin.
Sure, this is no luxury car, but you wouldn't know it
from the infotainment system where
there are more shades of Tesla.
On the center dashboard is a huge 10.2 inch screen.
Get beyond some small buttons, and it works really well,
with well-integrated Apple CarPlay and Android
Auto and screens detailing energy consumption.
Even the digital instrument panel is artfully done.
We're less keen on the shifter, which always pops back
to center after you select the gear.
Finding reverse can be tricky if you don't grab the release
button just right.
There's decent cargo room in back.
Under this panel is more space or leave it
at home to free up more volume.
OK, there's nothing insane or ludicrous about
how this car accelerates.
But you do get that great feeling
of instant electric torque from the moment
you tap into the throttle.
Putting the battery weight down low
helps this tall box feel planted in corners.
The Bolt feels solid and substantial,
and it's a lot more enjoyable to drive than the Nissan LEAF.
Choosing L with the shifter increases
regenerative braking, capturing rolling energy
to recharge the battery.
In this mode, you learn how to drive
with barely tapping the brakes.
It's all done through the gas pedal.
This little toggle on the back of the steering wheel
engages even more regenerative braking.
So this is a very pleasant and very well-thought-out
electric car, one that also happens
to be relatively affordable.
The starting price is $37,495.
Add in the $7,500 federal tax credit, and the price
comes in just below $30,000.
State and local tax incentives can save you even more.
Still, given the shockingly low resale value
of some electric cars, we'd be tempted
to lease instead of buy.
The top-trim Premier adds leather, blind-spot monitoring,
front and rear heated seats, a heated steering wheel,
and the surround-view camera.
Thing is, you can't get some common options, like a sunroof
or power front seats, that are expected at this price.
More important, advance safety equipment
like forward-collision warning and automatic emergency
braking-- it's an option, and it's
only available in the top-trim Premier.
We wish this stuff was standard on all cars.
No question, GM has achieved a lot here,
building a long-range electric car
at a fairly affordable price.
Maybe some of those people intending
to buy a Tesla Model 3 might want
to think about canceling their reservations.
For more on electric cars, check out consumerreports.org.