2027 Chevrolet Bolt review: The value EV returns?
Things in Canada’s affordable electric vehicle space just got very interesting. Low-tariff Chinese EVs are coming, in small numbers at first but with enormous market potential. At the same time, established automakers are once again looking to lower-cost subcompact EVs as affordability becomes a key concern. Key among those EVs is the subject of this 2027 Chevrolet Bolt review.
I was among the first people behind the wheel of the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt in North America when I had 15 minutes with it at the 2026 Montreal auto show. It wasn’t a long test drive, but it was enough to assess what’s new on the surface level such as the redesigned interior and updated infotainment system. It was also a very snowy trip around the block, which offered a chance to sample the Bolt’s performance in Canadian conditions.
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2027 Chevrolet Bolt pros and cons
2027 Chevrolet Bolt pros
- Over 400 kilometres of range
- New interior has a classic design
- Starts under $40,000 before fees
2027 Chevrolet Bolt cons
- No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
- Front-wheel drive only
- May feel generic to current Bolt owners
What’s new on the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt?
The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt returns to Canada after a roughly two-year hiatus. This new Bolt is based on the previous Bolt EUV, while the smaller Bolt EV remains discontinued. The latest version receives updated hardware from other General Motors EVs, most notably the same X76 permanent-magnet motor used in the larger Chevrolet Equinox EV. It’s also the first Chevrolet EV to ship with a Tesla Supercharger-compatible NACS charging port. Larger screens, available Super Cruise hands-free highway driving technology, and a new RS trim round out the highlights.
What competes with the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt?
As a subcompact electric vehicle, the Chevrolet Bolt competes directly with other small EVs such as the Nissan Leaf, Kia Niro EV, and Hyundai Kona EV. The Volvo EX30 and Mini Countryman SE, while a fair bit more expensive, also fit within this segment. The Fiat 500e is more affordable but has a lower range of 227 kilometres.
Size and exterior design
The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt looks familiar because it is. The shell essentially carries over from the Bolt EUV but with revamped front and rear fascias. A new RS trim is added this time around with unique grille badging, high-gloss black wheels, roof rails, and an exclusive available colour combination of Atomic Yellow paint with red interior accent stitching.
Atomic Yellow joins three more new exterior colour choices for the 2027 Bolt: Habanero Orange, Marina Blue Metallic, and Relic Green Metallic (the latter is available on the LT trim only).
Interior design
One of the biggest changes in the 2027 Bolt is in the interior design. The previous Bolt EV and EUV were panned for their lightweight (read: cheap-feeling) materials. While the new Bolt doesn’t launch into luxury territory, its interior feels more classic in layout and appropriate for its price point.
A new shifter stalk on the steering column opens up storage space between the driver and front passenger. There’s a good balance between screens and traditional buttons and knobs. Textured paneling brings visual interest, especially when paired with the available multicolour ambient lighting.
In Canada, the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt comes with standard heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Ventilated front seats are available, but heated rear seats are not an option.
How much interior storage does the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt have?
In addition to the newly open space between the front-row occupants, the 2027 Bolt has multiple storage cubbies built into the right side of the dashboard. The front-row cupholders are built into the centre console and sit low and out of the way ahead of a tall and narrow covered bin. There’s space in the generous front door pockets for tall bottles. Storage in the second row is limited to cupholders in the pull-down centre armrest and the relatively small door pockets.
How much cargo space is in the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt?
As of this writing, Chevrolet has not declared a total cargo capacity figure for the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt. The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV on which this new Bolt is based had 462 litres of space behind the rear seats and 1,611 litres behind the front seatbacks, so the figures for the 2027 Bolt are likely very similar. Chevy has integrated an underfloor storage compartment at the rear, which creates 113 litres of additional covered space.
Infotainment and technology features
The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt comes standard with an 11.3-inch infotainment screen running Google Built-in. This means Google Maps, the Google voice assistant, and other functions are built directly into the infotainment system, and Bolt owners can access the Google Play Store to download additional apps. Through the navigation, drivers can find charging stations along a mapped route. If Super Cruise is equipped — which is now available on the Bolt for the first time — roads where the system can be activated are shown in the navigation as well.
However, like other General Motors EVs, the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt does not come with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto functionality at all.
Other technology features include an 11-inch-diagonal driver information screen, multiple USB-C ports, and available wireless phone charging and rear camera mirror.
How much power does the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt have?
Using the same X76 permanent-magnet motor found in the Chevrolet Equinox EV, the 2027 Bolt has 210 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The latter figure is significantly lower than in the previous Bolt EUV’s 266 lb-ft. Chevrolet representatives state there’s more torque at the wheels than the published figure due to a higher final drive reduction.
What is the range on the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt?
A 65-kWh battery allows the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt to supply a GM-estimated range of up to 422 kilometres. This figure is based on a straight conversion from the EPA range calculated for the United States. The official estimated range for Canada is likely to be lower once cold weather testing is factored in. This test drive was too brief to draw any conclusions about these range estimates or how the car’s energy regeneration systems respond to driver behaviour.
The 2027 Chevy Bolt is the brand’s first vehicle to ship with a North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging port. This means owners can access the Tesla Supercharging network in addition to CCS fast charging stations, which can also be used with an available adapter. The new Bolt can recharge at a Level 3 fast charging station at speeds of up to 150 kW, an improvement over the previous architecture’s 50 kW maximum. This allows it to recover charge from 10 to 80 percent in 26 minutes.
2027 Chevrolet Bolt driving impressions
During this 15-minute test drive, I wasn’t able to draw conclusions about real-world energy use or whether the instrumentation provides feedback on how driving style and external factors affect estimated range. (This is a shame since the previous Bolt’s instrumentation was one of its best features. I hope to revisit it on a future longer-term test drive.)
I did notice the 2027 Bolt allows for true one-pedal driving as I was able to bring the car to a full stop without tapping the brake pedal. However, the steering wheel paddle that activated maximum regenerative braking has disappeared, which previous Bolt owners may miss if they use it often.
The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt is well-planted in snowy conditions despite being front-wheel drive (FWD) only, though it’s important to note this test unit was equipped with winter tires as is mandatory in Quebec. Overall, the Bolt feels fresh yet familiar, gussied up in the places that needed it while delivering on the fundamentals that the Bolt itself turned into expectations in the subcompact EV segment.
Driver assistance and safety features
More than 20 safety and driver assistance features are standard on the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt. These include forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking including intersections, blind-spot monitoring and steering assist, rear cross-traffic alert with braking, a teen driver function with speed limiting and geofencing, and GM’s vibrating Safety Alert Seat. Available features include a surround-view camera, front parking sensors, traffic sign recognition, and a driver attention monitor.
Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free semiautomated highway driving assist system, is available on the Bolt for the first time with the 2027 model year. The package costs $4,200 as of this writing and equips the system for three years, after which a subscription is required to maintain the service.
Where is the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt built?
The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt is built at the General Motors Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas in the United States.
How much is the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt in Canada?
At launch, the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt is offered in two trims in Canada. The starting price for the base LT trim is $43,470, which includes the $39,999 manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) plus the $2,600 destination charge and other fees. The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt RS has a fees-in starting price of $46,033.
Chevrolet will begin shipping the 2027 Bolt to customers by spring 2026. The brand has labeled this as a “limited-run model” amid reports that Fairfax Assembly will be retooled for internal combustion engine vehicles at the end of this model year.
Is the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt worth buying?
As we sit at a critical moment in Canada’s EV landscape, the question of whether the 2027 Bolt is worth buying is a deeply difficult one to answer. On one hand, when we compare its pricing and available features to competitors available today like the 2026 Nissan Leaf (from $47,857), Hyundai Kona EV (from $46,990), and Kia Niro EV (from $46,011), it unquestionably delivers plenty of value.
But that’s in the current environment, and there’s now a huge question mark looming as the federal government has announced its intent to allow low-cost Chinese EVs to enter the Canadian market. Depending on how that quickly that unfolds, the Bolt could be beaten at its own game.
My prediction is that it will take at least a couple of years before Chinese imports have a chance to disrupt the market that deeply. In the meantime, it seems we may see the demise of the Bolt again before long. And in the short to medium term, the 2027 Bolt makes an excellent case for itself as a relatively affordable long-range subcompact EV.
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