Chevrolet Bolt EUV vs. Bolt EV: Why the crossover gets our vote [Update]

Update: ‘Next-gen Chevy Bolt hinted’ section updated.

GM unveiled the new Chevrolet Bolt EV (facelift) in February 2021. Along with the refresh, the company introduced a crossover derivate to keep up with the times: the Chevrolet Bolt EUV.

The Chevrolet Bolt and the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, made in Lake Orion, Michigan, reached dealerships in May 2021, shortly after which production of the models paused due to a defect in the battery. Production has since resumed, and the 2023 models are at dealerships.

Here’s a Bolt EUV vs. Bolt EV pictorial and spec comparison to understand better the differences between the hatchback and the crossover on paper.

Design

The most obvious difference and differentiator is the design. With the two-tier headlamps and black body cladding all around, the Bolt EV itself expresses the robustness of an SUV to some level. The Bolt EUV builds on the tough styling with more SUV-like proportions.

The Bolt EUV has a more dominating front fascia with the addition of a faux skid plate. It features a longer and more muscular hood, a more defined portion between the headlamps with concave surfacing that increases the sharpness, and a proper split headlamp arrangement with the main lights positioned separately in the middle section.

The longer body and the straighter belt line leading to the rear door contribute to the SUV-like styling on the sides. At the rear, the edgier design of the tailgate, sharper taillamps, and the faux skid plate offer a clean look. The 2023 Bolt EUV and 2023 Bolt EV feature a black Chevy “bowtie” emblem on their sculpted grille, tailgate, and steering wheel. The Bolt used golden Chevy bowtie emblems before the facelift.

Interior

The basic interior design of the two models is the same, with differences observed in the color and patterns of the dashboard, seat, and door cards. Both cars offer a 10.2-inch-diagonal infotainment touchscreen and integrated HVAC controls. More details are available on the 8-inch-diagonal reconfigurable instrument cluster. The Bolt EUV gets heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear outboard seats.

Specifications

Measuring 169.5 inches in length, 69.7 inches in width, and 63.6 inches in height, the Chevrolet Bolt EUV is much longer and a little bit wider and taller than the Bolt. The wheelbase, at 105.3 inches, is also longer.

The Chevrolet Bolt EUV and Chevrolet Bolt EV share a 65 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. A single motor generating 150 kW (201 hp) and 266 lb-ft of torque propels the front wheels. The Bolt EUV achieves 247 miles of range as per EPA, and the Bolt hatchback can go 8 miles further – 259 miles.

EPA has certified the Bolt EUV to deliver an estimated 125 MPGe city, 104 MPGe highway, and 115 MPGe combined. The equivalent EPA ratings for the Bolt EV are 131 MPGe, 109 MPGe, and 120 MPGe.

In Canada, Chevrolet Bolt EUV and Chevrolet Bolt EV customers (both purchase & lease) received a free standard installation of a Level 2 (240-volt) charging home outlet. Using the Dual Level Charge Cord (240-volt 32 amp charging cord), the Bolt EUV and Bolt EV can gain a range of approx. 40 km (25 miles) and 41 km (25 miles), respectively, in one hour.

Chevrolet Bolt EUV vs. Chevrolet Bolt EV

Aspect\Specifications	Chevrolet Bolt EV Specs	Chevrolet Bolt EUV Specs
Range (EPA Combined)	259 miles	247 miles
DC Fast Charge Range	Up to 100 miles in 30 minutes	Up to 95 miles in 30 minutes
Overall Length	163.2 in.	169.5 in.
Overall Width	69.5 in.	69.7 in.
Overall Height	63.4 in.	63.6 in.
Wheelbase	102.4 in.	105.3 in.
Headroom	40.1 in. (front)/37.9 in. (rear)	40.0 in. (front)/39.1 in. (front w/ sunroof)/37.8 in. (rear)
Legroom	44.3 in. (front)/36.0 in. (rear)	44.3 in. (front)/39.2 in. (rear)
Shoulder Room	54.6 in. (front)/52.8 in. (rear)	54.6 in. (front)/52.0 in. (rear)
Hip Room	51.3 in. (front)/50.6 in. (rear)	51.4 in. (front)/50.2 in. (rear)
Passenger Volume	93.9 cu. ft.	96.5 cu. ft.
Cargo Volume	16.6 cu. ft. (behind rear seat)/ 57.0 cu. ft. (rear seat folded)	16.3 cu. ft. (behind rear seat)/56.9 cu. ft. (rear seat folded)

MY2023 changes

The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV and 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV include a few minor changes. They are available in a new Radiant Red Tintcoat exterior color at an additional cost of USD 495. This color is a replacement for the 2022 models’ Cherry Red Tintcoat. Another common change is the introduction of front and rear floor liners at dealers. In addition, the Bolt EV has gained an illuminated charging port as a dealer-level accessory for MY2023. Lastly, the 2023 Bolt EUV is available in a new Redline Edition.

The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Redline Edition is an optional package for sportier styling. It is available on both LT and Premier trims, for an additional USD 495.

The 2023 Bolt EUV Redline Edition’s exterior features include 17-inch gloss black wheels with red accents, red accents on the door mirror caps, and a black and red Bolt EUV badge on the rear hatch. The black/red theme continues inside a Jet Black leather upholstery featuring red accent stitching, available on both the trims. The exterior color options planned are Mosaic Black Metallic, Silver Flare Metallic, and Summer White.

Price

When the Bolt EUV and Bolt EV transitioned from MY2022 to MY2023 models, both had their prices slashed by a respectable margin. The Bolt EUV became cheaper by USD 6,300 (in both LT & Premier trims), while the Bolt EV had its MSRP reduced by USD 5,900 (in both 1LT and 2LT trims). However, Chevrolet has now revised the pricing of both models – this time around, the trajectory is upwards.

Variant	2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Price	2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV Price
1LT	NA	USD 27,495
2LT	NA	USD 30,695
LT	USD 28,795	NA
LT Redline	USD 29,290	NA
Premier	USD 33,295	NA
Premier Redline	USD 33,790	NA

On January 2, 2023, the Bolt EUV’s base price went up from USD 28,195 to USD 28,795 and the Bolt EV’s starting price increased from USD 26,595 to USD 27,495. This made both models dearer by USD 600 and USD 900, respectively. The revised prices are inclusive of a DFC fee of USD 995, which remained changed.

Despite the extra USD 1,300-2,600, a compromise of a 12-mile range, and 0.1 cu. ft. boot volume, the Chevrolet Bolt EUV wins our vote for its spacious cabin and SUV-like design. Moreover, the Bolt EUV exclusively offers the convenience of autonomous driving with GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance system on more than 200,000 miles of enabled roads in the U.S. and Canada for tech-savvy customers. The Bolt EUV is also the only car in this comparison with ventilated front seats and a panoramic power sunroof as optional extras.

Chevrolet Bolt production resumes following recall

GM delivered 38,120 units of the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV combined in the U.S. in 2022, which was a year-over-year growth of 53.5% (2021: 24,828 units). They were the best-selling mainstream EVs in H2 2022, Mary Barra, the company’s Chair and CEO, said during its Q4 and full-year 2022 earnings conference call on January 31, 2023. In Q1 2023, the small EV duo registered 19,700 units in sales, and compared to Q4 2022 (16,108 units), that marked a 22.3% growth.

Enthusiasm around the next-gen Chevy Bolt

During GM’s Q1 2023 earnings conference call on April 25, 2023, Barra announced that the company will stop manufacturing the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV at the very end of 2023. That probably won’t be the end of the Bolt’s journey, though.

On June 8, 2023, Barra discussed the future of the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV with Marketplace podcast host Kai Ryssdal. She indicated that while it’s about time GM started leveraging the popularity of its established names for its EVs, the Bolt itself is one of them and thus it could be relaunched at some point.

When Ryssdal asked Barra why GM is ending Bolt production, Barra said the Bolt utilizes an older, second-gen technology with 40% higher battery costs. Plus, the company is leveraging its well-understood names, like Equinox, for instance, she added. The company chief was quick to add that Bolt, too, “has built up a lot of loyalty and equity,” and while she can’t say more about its future, it’s an important model in the line-up.

The Bolt twins use the older BEV2 platform that shares ties with Spark and the Aveo. GM has moved on from this platform with the new BEV3/Ultium architecture for next-gen EVs. The upcoming Chevy Equinox EV will pack more technology than the Bolt siblings, be built on GM’s modern BEV3 architecture, and will undercut the Bolt in terms of pricing despite being a better overall package.

Barra mentioned during the company’s Q3 2022 earnings conference call that GM will also leverage the “industry-leading” loyalty to move Bolt customers to newer launches like the Equinox EV. Perhaps, that will be so until it releases an all-new Bolt in a few years.

Previously, in February 2022, Alexis Garcin, the President of Michelin’s North American subsidiary, hinted that GM will launch an all-new Bolt. Garcin told CNN that the company wants the next-gen Chevrolet Bolt to feature airless tires, which the company has developed. This was the first time we are hearing a conversation about an all-new Bolt.

Garcin said that “it’s going to happen” by 2025-2027, indicating that GM may have firmed-up plans for a new Bolt and is engaging with component suppliers for the project.

Chevrolet Bolt EUV FAQs

Note: The compendium is made of images downloaded from the General Motors media site, and cropped in some cases to align angles.