Chevrolet Bolt EUV Gen 1

Overview

The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt, in its 'Gen 1' guise as per our data, was a cracking little electric hatch that offered impressive real-world range and a zippy driving experience before its discontinuation in 2023. It was a budget-friendly EV hero, especially in the US market where it was primarily sold. As it wasn't officially offered new in Europe, EU pricing isn't directly applicable, though importers might bring used examples over. Its compact size and practicality made it a strong contender for city dwellers looking to go electric without breaking the bank.

What's New for 2023?

For its final model year, the 2023 Bolt 'Gen 1' didn't see a massive shake-up in terms of features, as Chevy was winding down production. The biggest headline globally was a significant price drop in its home market, making it an even more tempting proposition. While new features were scarce, it carried over its proven electric powertrain and tech. This effectively made the 2023 model the best value Bolt ever, packing all the previous goodness into a more affordable package for its last hurrah before being discontinued.

Design & Exterior

The Bolt 'Gen 1' sported a quirky, upright design that maximised interior space, looking every bit the modern city EV. It’s a distinctive compact SUV-hatch crossover. For 2023, it kept its familiar face, likely with standard LED daytime running lights and neat alloy wheels. Dimensions are city-friendly: length at 4306 mm, width (sans mirrors) a nifty 1770 mm, and height at 1616 mm. While not a head-turner for supercar spotters, its functional and friendly design had a charm of its own, especially with its compact, practical footprint.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Inside the Bolt 'Gen 1', you'd find a surprisingly spacious and airy cabin for its size, though with some harder plastics typical of its price point. It comfortably seats five. You get a decent 462 litres of boot space, expanding to a massive 1611 litres with the rear seats tumbled. No frunk is listed, though. Tech-wise, expect a user-friendly infotainment system, likely a 10.2-inch touchscreen with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a digital driver’s display. It’s all about functional tech rather than outright luxury.

Performance & Driving Experience

This Bolt 'Gen 1' is a proper little pocket rocket! With its front-wheel-drive setup powered by a single Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor, it zips from 0-100 km/h in a brisk 7.3 seconds. That motor churns out a healthy 150 kW (204 PS) and 360 Nm of instant torque, making it feel really punchy around town. The ride is generally comfortable, and its compact size makes it a joy to weave through city traffic. One-pedal driving via regenerative braking is usually a highlight, making for smooth and efficient progress.

Range, Battery & Charging

The Bolt 'Gen 1' packs a 61.8 kWh usable battery, delivering a Green Cars Compare calculated real-world range of around 378 km – pretty solid for daily duties and then some! Efficiency is rated at a decent 6.12 km/kWh. For charging, its standard 11.5 kW on-board AC charger can juice it up fully in roughly 5.5 hours. On the DC fast charging front, it accepts up to 55 kW. If sold in Europe, it would typically use a CCS Type 2 port. No vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability here, unfortunately.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

While a specific Euro NCAP rating for this 'Gen 1' 2023 model isn't listed, its US counterpart, the Bolt EV, consistently scored well, achieving a 5-star overall rating from NHTSA. You'd expect a decent suite of safety kit, potentially including standard features like automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and forward collision alert. Optional extras on similar models often included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring, so availability on this specific trim for imported models would need checking. It’s geared towards being a safe family runabout.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

For US models, Chevrolet typically offered a 3-year/58,000 km basic warranty and a 5-year/96,000 km powertrain warranty. The crucial battery warranty was usually 8 years or 160,000 km, protecting against significant degradation. Maintenance on EVs like the Bolt is generally minimal compared to petrol cars – no oil changes! Reliability for the Bolt platform has been a mixed bag historically due to battery recalls, but later models aimed to resolve these issues. For imported vehicles, warranty coverage would depend on the importer's terms, not directly from Chevrolet Europe.