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2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV

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Chevrolet
Model
Bolt EV
Year
2018
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Chevrolet Bolt EV OEM Exterior Photo
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Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Select a Trim
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2018 LT 4dr Wagon
most popular
Price:   -  From $36,620
2018 Premier 4dr Wagon Price:   -  From $40,905

Overview

Available for less than $30,000 with federal tax credits, the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV is a breakthrough model for green-conscious motorists with a limited budget. The 2018 model adds extra creature comforts to the Bolt EV’s impressive 238-mile range.

What's New for 2018

Following last year's launch, the Bolt EV is unchanged for 2018 externally. Interior tweaks include a heated steering wheel as standard on Premier models. This is part of an optional pack on LT trim. Sliding sun visors are also new across the range.

Chevrolet Bolt EV

Choosing Your Chevrolet Bolt EV

To encourage uptake of its all-electric subcompact, GM has made choosing a Bolt as easy as driving it. There’s only one engine and one body style – a five-door wagon powered by a 200-horsepower electric motor. This feeds power to the front wheels, propelling the diminutive Bolt to 60 in 6.5 seconds.

Its range is an impressive 238 miles, thanks to classic EV tricks like energy saving tires and regenerative braking. The latter means the Bolt will deliver one-pedal driving in certain conditions, with a regenerative mode on the gear selector.

Supplied with an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty, the Bolt’s 60-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack extends across the floor to free up more cabin space. Its 238-mile range is achievable in the real world – some owners report even exceeding that figure on a regular basis. That makes this one of the first EVs that owners can drive for multiple days without recharging. And when it comes time to plug it in, the Bolt EV takes 9.3 hours to recharge from a standard 240-volt wall socket, while a DC fast charger will provide an extra 90 miles of range in half an hour. That kind of capability is a $750 upgrade, and worth every penny.

Chevrolet Bolt EV

LT

The Bolt LT is available from $37,495 (including an $875 destination charge), though a $7,500 federal tax credit drops this to $29,995 (individual state incentives can drive the price down even further). At that price, buyers get a well-equipped vehicle whose floating instrument panel contains a 10.2-inch color touchscreen infotainment system, which sits below a rear-vision camera that doubles as a rear-view mirror. Keyless entry and ten airbags are standard, as is a 4G LTE wifi hotspot. A reconfigurable eight-inch instrument cluster delivers all the information a drive could ask for, including data on the Bolt EV's range and how efficiently the driver is performing.

Bolt LTs can be augmented with a basic Driver Confidence Package. Costing $495, it includes blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors. These features are all standard on Premier trim. It’s also possible to specify the Comfort and Convenience package for $555, adding heating elements to the leather-wrapped steering wheel and front seats plus an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

Chevrolet Bolt EV

Premier

The $41,780 Premier model comes with the Comfort and Convenience Package as standard. It’s further distinguished with a surround-vision system, which combines four camera feeds to give a 360-degree image of your vehicle’s surroundings. Chrome external trims and leather upholstery with a leather-wrapped steering wheel set it apart from the LT, while rear passengers benefit from heated seats and a center armrest.

The $485 Infotainment Package is exclusive to Premier trim, upping the stereo to a seven-speaker Bose system alongside a wireless charge pad for compatible smart phones and rear USB ports. Premier models are also available with the $495 Driver Confidence II package, which adds automatic emergency braking, lane keep assistance, and a forward collision alert.

CarsDirect Tip

Although it costs $4,285 more than the LT, the Premier model justifies its premium with far more standard equipment and safety aids. For less than $1,000 more, the optional Driver Confidence II and Infotainment Packages turn the Bolt EV Premier into a more advanced vehicle than its dimensions and price point might suggest.

Get your price on a Chevrolet Bolt EV »

author image
Automotive Editor
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Expert Review

Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

author image
Contributing Writer

All-new last year, the all-electric 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV gets nicked for its lack of advanced safety features, thin seats, and pricey quick charger option. Offsetting those items is a spacious interior that belies the Bolt EV's small footprint, excellent display graphics, and an anxiety-assuaging 238-mile EPA-estimated electric range.

Best Value

Pricing for the Chevrolet Bolt, before incentives, starts at $37,495 for an option-free LT, and can top $44,000 for a well-appointed Premier model finished in one of the optional paint shades. Not your typical compact, neither is the Bolt's standard feature set that includes the usual power features plus seventeen-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, automatic climate control, keyless push-button start, 10.2-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a 4G LTE wifi hotspot, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and a rearview camera.

Other than range, the Bolt EV's hook is affordability, so we'd opt for the LT over the Premier – although the downside is getting locked out of optional advanced safety features that include lane keep assist with lane departure warning, low speed automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision alert, and automatic headlights with high-beam assist.

But a bare-bones LT is no fun – grab the two main option packages for goodies like blind-spot monitoring, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel, among other stuff. We'd also recommend ponying up for DC fast charging capability, which allows owners to recharge their battery at a rate of around 30 miles for 90 minutes of charging.

As it's an electric vehicle, the Bolt EV is eligible for a $7,500 federal income-tax credit.

Here's how we'd build it:

  • Model: 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV LT
  • Powertrain: Electric motor, 60-kWh lithium-ion battery pack
  • Output: 200 hp / 266 lb-ft
  • Drivetrain: Front-wheel-drive
  • Range: 238 miles
  • MPG: 128 City / 110 Hwy MPGe
  • Recharge Time: 9.3 hours at 240 volts
  • Options: Driver Confidence Package ($495, rear park assist, rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot detection with lane change alert), Comfort and Convenience Package ($555, auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, heated driver and front passenger seats, heated steering wheel, leather-wrapped steering wheel – required with Driver Confidence Package), DC Fast Charging Capability ($750)
  • Base Price:$37,495 (including an $875 destination fee)
  • Best Value Price:$39,295

Performance

Chevrolet Bolt EV

Even with four adults on board, the Bolt accelerates with confidence, hitting 60 mph in under seven seconds and delivering enough torque to set passengers back in their seats. It also exhibits a smooth ride, and – courtesy of its low-mounted batteries – flat cornering. That's despite its tallish shape.

The steering has a nice self-centering feel, the transition from friction to regenerative braking – a sore spot with many EVs and hybrids – is transparent, and while Normal driving mode even includes transmission creep when stopped, the smoother-operating Low position substantially increases regenerative braking and can slow the Bolt to a stop without touching the brakes.

Not surprisingly, the Bolt's Achilles heel is charging times. Fully depleted, a normal 120-volt outlet takes 24 hours. Installing a Level 2 charging station at home – the type you'll typically find in the wild - cuts the time to 9 hours (GM notes "50 miles in less than 2 hours"). Finally, opting for the optional SAE Combo Level 3 DC fast charging capability, according to GM cuts that time – provided you have access to one – to "up to 90 miles of range in about 30 minutes…and up to 160 miles in about an hour."

Style

Chevy's stylists did a decent job of disguising what is essentially a tall hatchback with creases, accents, and a rising beltline that give the Bolt a crisper and more entertaining character - while incorporating a larger interior – than its shape might suggest.

The seats are comfortable and with a high hip point and low beltline offer very good outward visibility. The flat floor and slim console contribute to plenty of front seat legroom. Special attention has also been paid to instrumentation that encompasses an eight-inch digital display in front of the driver and a 10.2-inch, in-dash, touchscreen above the center console.

At the same time, not everyone will find the thin, high-tech seating comfortable – in fact, we suggest you drive the Bolt for at least 30 minutes to see how the seats fit and feel. While we're on the subject, three adults in back will find accommodations tight, especially when traveling. And finally, adaptive cruise control and high-speed automatic emergency braking aren't offered at all (low-speed auto braking is an optional extra on the range-topping Bolt EV Premier).

The Best and Worst Things

The Bolt's slick design, stylish interior, and 238-mile range make it a compelling choice for many. We just wish it offered more advanced safety features to match its high-tech image.

Right For? Wrong For?

Chevrolet Bolt EV

A crisp design, high-tech interior, and 238-mile range make the Bolt a compelling choice for eco conscious buyers.

At the same time, its competitive set lacks a number of advanced safety features, which could prove to be a turn off for safety conscious buyers.

The Bottom Line

Despite seats that aren't universally comfortable, a pricey charging option, and lack of advanced safety features, the Bolt's crisp design, slick instrumentation, and 238-mile range make it a solid choice in its class.

Read Less

Specs & Features

Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Not Available
Engine - Horsepower/Torque
200 HP / 266 ft.lbs.
Transmission
1-spd auto
Drive Type
Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
128 / 110 / 120 Mpge
Passenger Capacity
5 / 2
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Mechanical Specs
Engine - Horsepower/Torque
200 HP / 266 ft.lbs.
Drive Type
Front-wheel
key
128 / 110 / 120 Mpge
Brakes
4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension
Strut
Rear Suspension
Semi-independent Torsion Beam Beam
Spare Tire And Wheel
Fuel Tank
Recommended Fuel Type
Electric
Average Cost To Fill Tank
Dimensions & Capabilities
Maximum Cargo Volume
56.6 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume
94 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length
164.0 "
Exterior Width
69.5 "
Exterior Height
62.8 "
Front Headroom
39.7 "
Rear Headroom
37.9 "
Front Legroom
41.6 "
Rear Legroom
36.5 "
Front Shoulder Room
54.6 "
Rear Shoulder Room
52.8 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight
3,563 Lbs.
Wheel Base
102 "
Turning Radius
17.7 '
Exterior Features
Door Count
4 Doors
Wheels
17.0 " Painted Aluminum / 16.0 " Steel
Paint
Clearcoat Monotone / Metallic Monotone
Exterior Mirrors
Dual Power Remote Heated
Bumpers
Body-colored
Grille Moldings
Black / Silver
Rear Spoiler
Lip
Exhaust
None
Interior Features
Seating
Passenger Capacity
5 / 2
Seat Trim
Premium Cloth
Front Seat Type
Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Driver And Front Passenger Heated-cushion, Heated-seatback
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls
6-way
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls
6-way
Front Armrests
6-way
Rear Armrests
Rear Seats
60-40 Bench
Radio & Infotainment
Radio
Chevrolet Mylink Siriusxm Am/fm/satellite, Clock, Seek-scan
Speakers
6
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity
Convenience Features
Steering Wheel Type
Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Automatic Air Conditioning
Cruise Control
With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror
Day-night / Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window
Front And Rear
Tinted Windows
Light
Vanity Mirrors
Remote Keyless Entry
Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets
2
Safety Features
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Front Impact Airbags
Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags
Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Driver And Passenger
Passenger Side Impact Airbag
Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Rear Side-impact Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Front
Anti-Lock Brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Sensor
Blind Spot
Lane Departure Warning
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors
Rear Park Assist Rear
Security Systems
Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable
Immobilizer
Warranty
Bumper To Bumper Months Miles
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Major Components Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
24 Months / 24,000 Miles
Roadside Assistance Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation
72 Months / 100,000 Miles
Accessories Months

Used 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV for Sale

4 vehicles found within 50 miles of your area
Chevrolet
LT
Color: Gray
Price

$15,988

Mileage

68,483 mi

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Boktor Motors (16 mi)

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Simpson Chevrolet of Garden Grove (29 mi)

Phone: (714) 534-2700
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Color: White
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$15,995

Mileage

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Norco Truck Center (48 mi)

Phone: (951) 372-0354
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Color: Nightfall Gray Metallic
Price

$16,695

Mileage

42,920 mi

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Simpson Buick GMC Cadillac of Buena Park (24 mi)

Phone: (714) 690-6200
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