We had the chance to take the all-new 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV geared up with Tremendous Cruise out for a fast spin final week. Whereas we might want some extra time with the automobile for a extra complete assessment, our preliminary impressions are largely constructive, with a couple of exceptions. 

The Bolt EUV, or electrical utility automobile (as if we would have liked one other acronym, thanks, GM) is not changing the Bolt EV, it’ll be bought side-by-side with it. We suspect that is going to trigger many shoppers to cross-shop the 2 automobiles as a result of they’re so carefully associated.

Their dimensions are practically similar, besides the Bolt EUV is 6.3″ longer, and that enables for 3.1″ of extra rear legroom and a pair of.6 extra Cu. Ft. of passenger quantity. The extra spacious passenger compartment, mixed with the optionally available sunroof as our automobile had, made the inside of the Bolt EUV really feel far more open and spacious than the Bolt EV. 

Nevertheless, aside from the rear legroom and barely bigger passenger compartment, the automobiles are very related. Check out how evenly matched these two automobiles are in each different dimension:

One dimension that had me curious was how the listed cargo quantity of Bolt EUV was barely lower than that of the Bolt EV – it simply did not make sense. So I requested GM’s Automobile Chief Engineer of Battery Electrical Automobiles, Jeremy Brief, as he was one in all our media-drive escorts.

I may see Brief’s eyes roll again after I requested him how the EUV may have much less cargo area than the smaller EV and he rapidly answered: “it would not”. He defined that the way in which the SAE requires producers to measure the rear cargo area is to measure the peak of that space immediately above the rear axle. 

The Bolt EUV has an extended wheelbase (2.9″ longer than the Bolt EV) so the rear wheels are pushed again so far as they are often. Moreover, the rear hatch of the Bolt EUV slopes down at a higher angle than the Bolt EV does, so the roof level that’s immediately above the rear axle on the EUV, is just not as excessive as the purpose above the axle on the EV.

That made the official cargo quantity calculation barely much less for EUV. Nevertheless, Brief defined you can truly match a very good deal extra cargo within the EUV, as they’ve examined it in some ways. 

The rear hatch of the Bolt EV (on left) drops off at a a lot sharper angle than that of the Bolt EUV. Moreover, the roof of the Bolt EV is barely increased as a result of it would not taper down as aggressively because the Bolt EUV does. 

Each automobiles use the identical 200 hp (150 kW) electrical motor, which has 266 pound-feet of torque (360 Nm), and have the identical 288-cell (LG Chem) lithium-ion battery pack. The 90 lbs of additional weight that Bolt EUV carries round provides it 9 fewer miles of vary (250 mi) in comparison with the Bolt EV’s 259-mi EPA vary ranking, and a barely slower 0-60 time of roughly 7 seconds.

Personally, I could not actually inform the distinction and the EUV felt as fast and as responsive as I bear in mind to Bolt EV feeling after I final drove one. Nevertheless, it has been about 6 months since I final drive a Bolt EV. Despite the fact that there was a 2022 Bolt EV on the media occasion, we have been solely allowed to drive the Bolt EUVs, because the Bolt EV that they had onsite was a pre-production model and never cleared for non-GM staff to drive. 

The Bolt EUV (not the Bolt EV) is out there with Super Cruise, GM’s superior driver’s help system. I used to be ready to make use of Tremendous Cruise for some time and it carried out fairly effectively. I did have an issue initially with the system, although. On the primary half of the drive, I used to be sporting my masks. I did so as a result of we have been advised once we arrived that we would have liked to put on our masks for all the media occasion.

Tremendous Cruise would not work effectively when the motive force is masked up!

So once we reached the half-way level of the drive all of us stopped to take footage and seize a espresso, I advised Brief that Tremendous Cruise stored disengaging for me – it would not keep on for greater than a minute or two with out shutting off. He instantly requested if I used to be sporting my masks whereas driving and I advised him I used to be. He mentioned that was the issue, and advised me I may take the masks off on the drive again (we have been on their lonesome in our automobiles).

Evidently, my masks was stopping the digicam system that screens the motive force’s conduct from studying my facial expressions and won’t operate with out the flexibility to take action. With out the masks, the system labored positive. InsideEVs Kyle Conner was at a unique Bolt EUV drive and he is doing a deep dive video that is all in regards to the Bolt EUV’s Tremendous Cruise, so preserve an eye fixed out for that.

There was a refreshed 2022 Chevy Bolt EV available, however we could not drive it

The inside is all-new for the 2022 Bolt EV, and shared by the EUV. It is a massive improve and the inside seems extra in line with different Chevrolet choices. There’s nonetheless a number of exhausting plastics like the present Bolt EV has, but it surely all appears to suit collectively higher. It additionally would not appear like the designers have been aiming to make a futuristic-looking sprint, and went with a extra standard design, and it really works. 

The entrance seats have been redesigned and are far more supportive than these on the earlier Bolt EV. The entrance seats have been one of many most-criticized options of the Bolt EV, and Chevy listened and upgraded them for 2022. Whereas they’re an enchancment, I nonetheless suppose they may (ought to) be much more supportive, as they proceed to be somewhat slim and lack sufficient lateral assist. 

Each variations of the Bolt have a brand new one-pedal driving button on the middle console and the regen-on-demand paddle on the steering wheel that’s on the previous-generation Bolt EV. These two options mix to present the Bolt EV and EUV maybe the very best regenerative braking system accessible in any electrical automobile right this moment. They let you use as little or as a lot regenerative braking as the motive force likes and you may simply drive all day with out ever utilizing the friction brakes for those who so want.

Misses

The Bolt EUV is an even bigger, and even a greater Bolt, in my view. It is bigger, can accommodate extra cargo, has a way more comfy rear seating space and you do not have to sacrifice a lot vary or efficiency. At a beginning worth of $33,995, it is solely $2,000 greater than the Bolt EV and we imagine that is cash effectively spent. 

Nevertheless, there are two comparatively massive misses that Chevrolet whiffed on. First, this type of EUV, or electrical crossover, whichever you select to name it, could be extra interesting to many households if it have been supplied in all-wheel drive. Despite the fact that a front-wheel-drive automobile with good winter tires can carry out as effectively, or practically as effectively, within the snow and ice as an all-wheel-drive one can, many shoppers really feel higher with AWD, and will not think about a automobile that does not have it.

For that purpose, we want that the Bolt EUV was supplied an AWD choice, as each the Volkswagen ID.4 and Ford Mustang Mach-E are. 

Secondly, the Bolt EV and EUV are each restricted to 55 kW DC quick charging, which for 2022, is not simply unhealthy, it fairly pitiful. The massive 65 kWh battery will take so lengthy to cost, that Chevy would not even need to record it within the press supplies. All I may discover was the Bolt EUV can add “As much as 95 miles in 30 minutes.” on a DC quick charger. Each different OEM lists the time the automobile will take to cost from 5% or 10% to 80% on a DC quick charger, so prospects can have an concept how lengthy they could must cease whereas on a highway journey.

The Bolt EUV will in all probability take over an hour to cost from 10% to 80%, and that is going to actually decelerate highway journeys. Nevertheless, we notice many Bolt EUV prospects might not must take the automobile on lengthy journeys so for them it will not actually matter. Nevertheless, we might actually prefer to see GM sustain with the pattern of providing no less than 100 kW DC quick charging, as nearly each different new EV coming to market affords. 

So try the video and tell us for those who agree. Is the 2022 Bolt EUV a greater total bundle than the Bolt EV? As at all times, tell us your ideas within the remark part beneath.