2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV Gets Fancier and a Whole Lot Cheaper

Published on February 14, 2021 in Electric by Guillaume Rivard

Over 100,000 Chevrolet Bolt EVs have been sold globally since its debut as a 2017 model, including more than 13,000 in Canada. Five years later, GM’s electric hatchback gets a major refresh and a substantial price cut to attract even more customers.

It was unveiled on Sunday at the same time as the highly anticipated electric crossover from Chevrolet, the 2022 Bolt EUV, which rides on the same architecture.

New Look Inside and Out

While the silhouette of the new Bolt EV is unchanged, the front fascia is completely different. There’s a single “grille” with a revised contour and body-coloured panel. The hood now blends into the bumper for a cleaner, more refined look.

Also, check out how the headlights and daytime running lights are integrated. Chevrolet designers took inspiration from the brand’s large SUVs including the Tahoe and Suburban, and gave them a unique treatment specific to electric vehicles. The taillights have a more modern look, as well.

Inside, the company listened to customers and fitted the 2022 Bolt EV with nicer and more comfortable seats featuring contrast stitching. There’s a 10.2-inch colour touchscreen in the middle, with revised HVAC controls below. Behind the new flat-bottom steering wheel with a black Chevrolet bowtie is an eight-inch digital instrument panel providing more information than before.

On the centre console, a new electronic gear shift design uses pull toggles and push buttons to free up more interior space. For increased regenerative braking, there’s even a new One-Pedal Driving button that keeps the system active between drive cycles.

As for technology, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included along with new in-vehicle apps such as Alexa Built-In, Spotify, The Weather Channel and many more.

Same Powertrain

The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV continues to rely on a single electric motor rated at 150 kilowatts (200 horsepower) and 266 pound-feet of torque. The 65-kWh lithium-ion battery provides a range of 417 kilometres with a full charge.

Speaking of which, a new dual-level charge cord is available for the Bolt EV. It has a changeable plug that allows customers to plug into a standard 120V outlet for Level 1 charging and a 240V outlet for Level 2 charging. The on-board charger now has a capacity of up to 11 kW. Additionally, standard DC fast charging capability enables the Bolt EV to regain up to 160 kilometres of range in 30 minutes.

Much More Affordable

Want to know the best past? The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV carries a base MSRP of $38,198, a drop of $6,800 from the current 2021 model ($44,998). This does not include destination and handling charges of $1,800 (plus $100 Air Tax), but don’t forget the federal rebate of $5,000 and provincial incentives of up to $8,000 in Quebec and $3,000 in British Columbia.

“We are committed to making EVs accessible for everyone and the redesigned Bolt EV is giving customers more choices and reasons to switch to electric,” said Scott Bell, president and managing director, GM Canada.

The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV will enter production in late spring and go on sale sometime in the summer. By the way, chief engineer Jesse Ortega has confirmed that the Bolt EV will not migrate to the new, longer-range Ultium battery and architecture at any point in time.