Chevrolet Bolt EV

The Chevrolet Bolt EV is a small all-electric hatchback that's one of the most affordable and popular electric cars on the road today. For 2022, Chevrolet has made a variety of improvements that boost the car's appeal a bit further.

On the docket are more comfortable front seats, a redesigned cabin and updated styling that, to our eyes, looks less dorky than it did before. A suite of safety features is now standard, including forward collision warning and lane keeping assist. On the options list are blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera and — finally — adaptive cruise control. Unfortunately, GM's Super Cruise system, which is a driver assist system that provides hands-free driving on select highways, is not available on the Bolt hatchback, but it is optional on the new Chevrolet Bolt EUV crossover.

The Bolt EV uses the same powertrain as before that provides an EPA-estimated 259 miles of range on a full charge. We've found it even overperforms a little, making it 278 miles in our real-world testing. Overall, this is a healthy amount of range for an EV in this price range. Chevy has also enhanced the 2022 Bolt so it can recharge more quickly on 240-volt power, but you'll likely have to install a special charging station to take full advantage of it at home.

Overall, we like the updated 2022 Chevrolet Bolt. However, the Bolt's recent battery recall might give you pause as a long-term reliability concern and could make it hard to find a Bolt for sale early in the model year. Meanwhile, there are more appealing EVs than ever before, including the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Kona EV,  Kia Niro EV, Tesla Model 3 and Volkswagen ID.4. Check out our Expert Rating to get our test team's full evaluation of the Bolt's performance, technology features and more.

What's it like to live with?

MatoCar bought and tested a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV for about three years, racking up about 34,000 miles in the process. We liked it as an efficient commuter car but were disappointed with its interior quality. You can read more about our experiences in our long-term Chevy Bolt test. The 2022 Bolt has some updates compared to that 2017 car, but many of our impressions still apply.

Which Bolt EV does MatoCar recommend?

The 2022 Bolt is available in two trims: the 1LT and 2LT. Both models are equipped with a 65-kWh battery pack under the floor, sending power to a single electric motor (200 horsepower, 266 lb-ft) that drives the front wheels. The EPA's estimated range is the same on both trims: 259 miles on a full charge, though we've exceeded that during our real-world testing.

1LT This entry-level Chevy Bolt comes with:

• LED headlights
• DC fast-charging capability
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Keyless entry with push-button start
• 10.2-inch central display screen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility (with wireless connectivity)
• Six-speaker sound system
• Single-zone automatic climate control
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the Bolt back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

Main options for the LT include:

• Comfort and Convenience package
• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• Heated front seats
• Heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror

• Driver Confidence package
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
• Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)

2LT Comes with all of the above plus:

• Standard Comfort and Convenience and Driver Confidence packages
• Roof rails
• Leather seats
• Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Bolt and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

The 2LT is available with a few options including:

• Infotainment package
• Seven-speaker Bose audio system
• Wireless phone charging pad
• Additional USB ports
• Adaptive cruise control (requires Infotainment package)