Chevy Bolt Review 2019 - Is it Worth the Money?
Electric cars are gaining popularity, especially with
the Chevy Bolt which won Motor Trend’s Car of the Year in 2017. What is it about this car that has people asking Is it worth the money? Let’s see if we can give you some insight into the Chevy Bolt and whether or not it’s worth your hard-earned money. While the Chevrolet Bolt has been on the market since December 2016, we thought it would be helpful to run through an updated review to help you decide if this car is one that should be added to your shortlist of potential vehicles.
Charge Time
One of Chevy’s EV-specific boasts is that its battery can be charged in 9 hours using a 240-volt system. In practice, we found that claim to be quite accurate. If you don’t have access to a 240-volt outlet—for example, if you’re camping or staying in an Airbnb—charging time will still only take about 12 hours via 120 volts, which should be achievable for most people who own an EV charger. At those speeds, though, you’ll need to leave your car plugged in all night and plan your departure time accordingly. We suspect many new EV owners won’t bother doing either; they'll use public charging stations instead. As an aside, Chevy says its batteries are engineered to maintain their 80 percent charge after up to one year sitting at a 50 percent charge level; other EVs like Teslas slowly lose capacity over time as well when left uncharged but eventually hit 100 percent capacity again after charging several times without interruption.
Safety Features
The Chevy Bolt comes standard with 10 airbags, including knee airbags for both front-seat occupants and side-curtain airbags that provide head protection in case of a rollover. The 2017 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives it five out of five stars for overall crash protection. It received four out of five stars for frontal crash and rollover protection.
Interior Style
The Chevy Bolt is a five-door hatchback with a large window in each door, which helps give it's interior an airy feel. You’ll find less hard plastic and more soft-touch surfaces than you might expect in an electric car—the dash is leather, and there are wood accents on the center console and steering wheel. (This helps justify some of that extra cost.) Some reviewers found seat design awkward for tall drivers; Your Mileage may vary.
Exterior Style
The Chevy Bolt EV is one of a kind when it comes to how it looks. It may not look like a car that could get you across the country if need be, but that's what makes it special. The Chevy Bolt may not appear as fancy as some cars on today's market, but there are many things that make up for its simple appearance. Firstly, the body of the car has no curves or non-essential embellishments, but what does make up for those flaws is its aerodynamic design.
