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Most affordable American-made EV can drive over 260 miles on a full charge.
BY POPULAR DEMAND, General Motors is bringing back the Chevrolet Bolt. With a starting price of $28,995 for a 2027 Bolt LT, Chevy has revived its affordable American EV utilizing GM’s next-generation Ultium battery technology with expanded range.
By KEVIN WEAKS
The other day I was talking with a neighbor who said that his college-age daughter had been enjoying her Chevrolet Bolt EV and was shopping for a new one. She would probably be disappointed to hear that General Motors had pulled the plug on one of the industry’s most popular electric vehicles.
“I tried to talk her out of buying it and getting a gas-powered small car, but she insisted on the Bolt. She just loves it,” he said. Apparently, lots of other folks loved the Bolt, too. The subcompact Chevrolet Bolt series was a major success for GM, selling well over 100,000 units globally and achieving record U.S. sales leading up to its final model year in 2023, becoming one of Chevrolet’s best-selling EVs.
Well, there’s good news, neighbor: By popular demand, General Motors is bringing back the Chevrolet Bolt. With a starting price of $28,995 for a 2027 Bolt LT, Chevy has revived the affordable American EV that buyers want and, utilizing GM’s next-generation Ultium battery technology, will offer expanded range.
The original Bolt EV subcompact hatchback won the Motor Trend Car of the Year award in 2017. Its spinoff sister vehicle, the Bolt EUV, was a crossover introduced in 2022 and 2023. Both models were discontinued after the 2023 model year.
The Bolt EV was designed as an affordable electric vehicle to target the likes of the Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Ioniq, Toyota Prius, Ford C-Max Energi and even its corporate sibling, the Chevrolet Volt, one of the first plug-in hybrids.
The first Bolt’s relatively low starting MSRP of $36,620, discounted by $4,500 in available tax credits and rebates, made it an attractive new car at the time, but the Bolt was discontinued so its factory could start producing the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the GMC Sierra EV. General Motors CEO Mary Barra hinted that a new Bolt would resurface in the coming years as GM’s Ultium battery technology came online.
“The Chevrolet Bolt was the industry’s first affordable mass-market, long-range EV and it commanded one of GM’s most loyal customer bases thanks to its price, versatility and practicality,” acknowledged Scott Bell, vice president of GM’s Global Chevrolet division.
“After production ended, we heard our customer’s feedback and their love for this product,” he said. “So the Bolt is coming back — by popular demand and better than ever — for a limited time. This is a celebration of what Bolt means to our customers and to Chevrolet. It’s your chance to own a popular EV that’s affordable. So, if you’ve been waiting, this is the moment. Don’t miss it.”
GM’s electric vehicle sales surged in 2025, reaching nearly 170,000 units in the U.S. and making them the No. 2 EV seller behind Tesla.
“The Chevy Bolt adds to our already successful EV portfolio,” Bell said. “With Equinox EV as America’s most affordable EV with more than 315 miles of EPA-estimated range, and Bolt offering the most range in an EV under $30,000, Chevy is leading the way on EV affordability without compromise.”
Bolt and Equinox EV are expected to account for most of Chevrolet’s 2026 EV volume. This comes after a disappointing fourth quarter 2025 following the end of federal tax incentives. While GM remains committed to an all-electric future, the company is taking substantial financial losses, a problem shared by Ford Motor Co. which recently discontinued production of the F-150 Lightning EV pickup.
EXTENDED RANGE, FASTER CHARGING
For 2027 GM somehow squeezed more range from the Bolt’s 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery pack, upping the EPA-estimated figure from the original 255 miles to 262 miles on a full charge. The Bolt’s X76 drive unit was designed from the ground up to maximize driving range and deliver improved efficiency in cost and energy usage. The Bolt also benefits from a regenerative braking system that returns braking energy back to the battery for improved range.
The 2027 Chevy Bolt starts from $28,995 — more than seven grand less than the 2017 model, including destination charges — and comes standard with a front-mounted electric motor that’s good for 210 horsepower.
The 2027 Bolt is Chevrolet’s first vehicle to offer a Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging port, increasing drivers’ opportunities to access to the ever-expanding public charging network. The 2027 Bolt can take advantage of DC public fast charging up to 150 kW, charging more than 2.5 times faster than the previous Bolt. With DC public fast charging, drivers can now go from 10 to 80 percent battery charge in 25 minutes.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, approximately 80 percent of U.S. EV drivers charge at home. With the average American driving roughly 42 miles per day, and an EPA-estimated battery range of 262 miles, the 2027 Bolt is capable of handling the everyday needs of most EV drivers. Even better, the 2027 Bolt is also vehicle-to-home (V2H) bi-directionally capable, meaning that when paired with a GM Energy Home System, it could provide power to a properly equipped home during an outage.
Modern column shifters have made a strong comeback in new cars, particularly in EVs and luxury models. Moving to the steering column like the old “three on a tree” frees up console space between the front seats for more storage and even an optional wireless phone-charging pad. An available panoramic sunroof provides natural light, giving this subcompact a more spacious feeling.
Open storage spaces below the instrument panel and between the front seats provide easy grab-and-go access. Available heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats provide a premium EV experience at a subcompact price.
The new, driver-centric interior is anchored by an 11.3-inch-diagonal center-dash infotainment screen, plus an 11-inch-diagonal driver information center with user-configurable display. The dashboard has a mix of physical and virtual controls.
‘HEY GOOGLE’ VOICE COMMANDS
The 2027 Bolt’s integrated infotainment system has built-in Google and the latest suite of entertainment apps powered by OnStar Connectivity. With “Hey Google” voice assistance, you can control cabin temperature, seat warmers, voice-to-text, hands-free phone calls and more, all without taking your hands off the steering wheel. You can even integrate smart-home devices, using voice commands to open the garage door as you arrive home.
With Google Maps embedded in the system, the drive route automatically includes information on battery range. On longer drives, Google Maps can suggest smarter routes and charging recommendations. If DC fast charging is available along your route, automatic battery preconditioning gives the battery a warm-up for optimal charging performance.
Google Maps also syncs with Super Cruise driver assistance technology to show Super Cruise capable routes and indicate how many minutes of the trip can be driven hands-free. Enhancements to the Super Cruise-Google Maps integration ensure you’ve navigated to the correct lane at exit ramps or interchanges.
“Fans love the space and practicality of the Bolt’s roomy hatchback layout,” said Phil Zak, executive design director for Global Chevrolet. “We took feedback directly from customers to make sure the 2027 Bolt delivers improved technology and expanded features without compromising space, usability or style.”
UNDER $30,000 PRICE TAG
New exterior styling gives a fresh take on Bolt’s iconic presence. Seven available exterior paint colors and 17-inch wheels available in three finishes allow Bolt customers to style this subcompact to their tastes. For the first time, the 2027 Chevy Bolt is available in Chevy’s sporty RS trim, with unique grille badging, high-gloss black wheels and roof rails. Bolt RS, starting at $31,600, is available in an exclusive color combination of Atomic Yellow exterior with red interior accent stitching.
The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt’s under-$30,000 price tag ($28,995 for the base model) is a huge undertaking for GM, and it’s aimed directly at the biggest chunk of the American car market: used vehicles. Two-thirds of cars sold in the United States right now are used vehicles.
The 2027 Bolt will be assembled with domestically and globally sourced parts by UAW members at GM’s Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas. GM plans to follow up the 2027 Bolt with other models costing around $30,000. This new generation Bolt is described as a “limited run” model. Earlier this year, GM said a mysterious “next-gen affordable EV” will be built at its Fairfax plant that would slot between the Bolt and Equinox. GM President Mark Reuss: “What comes after this, whether it’s called a Bolt or not, will be a family of things that is low priced,” he said.
(Contact Kevin Weaks at [email protected].)
