I drove America’s cheapest electric SUV, the $28,000 Chevy Bolt EUV. It’s the affordable EV we’ve been waiting for.
Bolt #Bolt
Electric cars have mostly shed their stigma as toys for rich people and quirky conveyances for tree-huggers. But there’s still one significant barrier to entry keeping would-be converts from taking the plunge: They’re just too darn expensive.
In a time when more people than ever are eager to kick fossil fuels to the curb, the average electric vehicle is still far out of reach for the average American. Last month, the price for a new battery-powered car was a whopping $65,000, roughly a year’s income for the median US household.
But there’s a bright spot among all the prohibitively pricey Teslas and Audis: The Chevrolet Bolt EUV.
It’s not some theoretical affordable EV that might get made eventually. (Looking at you, Tesla.) It’s available right now for $28,195, and I got to drive it. It’s the cheap electric car that America has been missing.
An EPA-rated 247 miles of range gives the EUV — America’s cheapest e-SUV after a recent $6,300 price cut — some of the best bang for your buck in the entire EV market. If you break down value into a range-per-dollar ratio, the EUV is beat out only by the Bolt EV hatchback, which costs slightly less and returns 259 miles of range.
Consider the other low-priced EVs out there. An electric Mini Cooper will run you around $34,000, but it only provides 114 miles of range in return. Likewise, the Nissan Leaf starts at $28,000, but it’s rated for a paltry 150 miles. The latest generation of electric SUVs from Ford, Hyundai, and Kia all start at well over $40,000.
In a world where charging stations still aren’t widespread, range and price are two of the top concerns for EV buyers. And the EUV gets high marks on both.
Crucially, all that range and value comes wrapped up in the SUV package that Americans love. Historically, the cheapest, mass-market EVs were always hatchbacks, which Americans have rejected in favor of SUVs of various sizes.
Driving the Bolt EUV isn’t a revelation, but it’s a totally pleasant experience. The EUV cruises comfortably and quietly. It doesn’t provide the same jolt of acceleration as, say, a Ford Mustang Mach-E, but it darts away from a stoplight quick enough thanks to a 200-horsepower motor. Its back seat is roomy enough even for large adults. And you can pay extra for Super Cruise, an excellent driver-assist feature that pilots the car hands-free on highways.
The cheapest of anything is bound to have a few shortcomings. The EUV can’t charge as quickly as pricier rivals (it can add 95 miles of range in 30 minutes, Chevy says), and all-wheel drive isn’t an option. It’s not particularly quick, and its styling looks pretty pedestrian alongside head-turning models from Hyundai and Kia.
There’s clear appetite for cheaper EVs. Surveys consistently cite high prices among the top factors keeping buyers out of the EV market. And according to a new study from S&P Global Mobility, Tesla is losing market share to EVs on the more affordable (sub $50,000) end of the spectrum, where Musk’s brand doesn’t compete.
The Bolt EUV isn’t trying to be a spaceship, speed demon, or smartphone on wheels. What it brings to the table is arguably more important amid a warming climate: Electrification for the masses.