2016 CHEVROLET Bolt 60 kWh FWD (200 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The electric-car frenzy made Chevrolet build few offers for that segment and, in 2017, it showed the Bolt. It was a daily driver that could offer a real-world autonomy of 283 miles (455 km).

After Nissan launched the first affordable electric car on the market in the form of a compact hatchback, and Tesla stormed the drag-strips with its expensive electric vehicles, Chevrolet offered a good choice of a car that had a higher range than the Leaf and it didn’t move like it was in slow-motion.

From the outside, the Bolt looked like a mix between a minivan and a compact hatchback. A raked windshield looked like it was an extension for the hood. The ascending beltline improved the dynamic image of the car. The light-alloy wheels were fitted as standard.

The Bolt, like all the other electric cars on the market, had the battery pack installed inside the floor and that led to a higher seating position and a higher greenhouse. But it didn’t offer too much headroom for the occupants and no handles above the doors either. As a plus, it featured a 10.2” screen in the center of the dashboard. The instrument cluster was completely digital, due to a TFT color display.

The Bolt was fitted with a powerful electric motor that could offer a 0 to 60 (0-97 kph) time under 7 seconds. It also featured a “one-pedal” driving mode. A designated button on the steering wheel allowed the electric braking to a complete stop. With the gear-stick in the “L” mode, that driving mode was automatically enabled.