2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV First Look Review: Brave New World

Despite its global popularity, the Chevrolet Bolt EV’s hatchback body style is a problem for most SUV-loving Americans. With a steadily increasing demand for all-electric vehicles, the Bow Tie brand has come up with a timely solution with the first-ever 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV. Essentially, Chevy has taken everything people love about the Bolt EV and repackaged it as a crossover. Like the standard Bolt, the Bolt EUV is also very affordable.

Buyers who are still on the fence about making the switch to an EV should know that General Motors, in partnership with EVgo, boasts the country’s largest public charging network. The two companies plan to triple the number of fast chargers along with another 2,700 regular chargers scattered across the country by 2025. Owning a new Bolt EUV not only provides emissions-free driving, but also a fully modern vehicle packed with vital safety and connectivity features.

Both the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV share the BEV2 platform but their exterior designs are completely unique. The Bolt EUV has its own sheetmetal and is about six inches longer than its hatchback sibling. Chevy describes its design as “muscular,” with a more distinctive front-end complete with a sculpted grille and signature lighting. LED headlights and daytime running lights are standard.

Also notice the EUV’s center crease line that runs from the front fascia through the hood. The horizontal character lines running along the sides are meant to make the vehicle appear in motion even at a standstill. Roof rails – a must for many SUV crossover shoppers – are also standard.

The Bolt EUV’s dashboard and center console layout are identical to that of the Bolt EV, with a 10.2-inch diagonal infotainment color touchscreen coming as standard. There are integrated climate controls and modern interfaces, while an optional 8-inch reconfigurable color gauge cluster enables the infotainment screen to provide real-time displays with even greater detail.

The electronic shifter design makes clever use of space via toggle pulls and buttons instead of a traditional lever. Heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats are optional, as is a panoramic sunroof that’s not offered on the Bolt EV. A standard flat-bottom steering wheel integrates the “Regen on Demand” paddle for easier one-pedal driving, while the one-pedal driving button keeps the regenerative braking system engaged between driving cycles.

Thanks to its extended exterior length, the Bolt EUV provides an additional 3 inches of rear legroom though cargo capacity is about the same in both EVs.

Like the Bolt EV, the EUV comes standard with a 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that when fully charged allows for an estimated 250 miles on a single charge. Owners can utilize public DC fast chargers in order to add 95 miles of range in 30 minutes. The single-motor drive unit produces a total of 200 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, with that power sent to the front wheels only.

A dual-level charging cord comes standard, meaning owners don’t have to buy a separate unit for charging at home. Owners can thus plug into a standard 120-volt outlet for Level 1 charging, or a 240-volt outlet for Level 2 up to 7.2 kilowatts. 11-kW Level 2 charging is also possible but additional equipment is a must.

The Super Cruise semi-autonomous hands-free driving system is optional, making the Bolt EUV the first Chevy vehicle to have it. The Chevy Safety Assist suite of safety features is standard, and this includes Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, and Following Distance Indicator. An HD Rear Vision Camera is also standard fare, and tech such as Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Adaptive Cruise Control are available.

The 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV is priced from $33,995, including destination. A feature-packed Launch Edition costs $43,495, and there are state and local tax incentives buyers can also take advantage of to further reduce costs. Sales will begin this summer.

The Bolt EUV joins a growing list of all-electric small crossovers, such as the Hyundai Kona EV and Kia Niro EV, and slightly larger players including the Nissan Ariya and Tesla Model Y. The Model Y, however, is far more expensive, beginning at nearly $50,000.

In some ways, the Bolt EUV is what the Bolt EV hatchback should have been from the get-go. Hatchbacks, as useful as they are in terms of maximizing interior space on a budget, simply don’t have the same sex appeal as SUVs. The Bolt EUV is one of Chevy’s ways to lure car buyers into making the big EV change.