Chevy Bolt EV - 3 Year Long Term Review - Top Likes/Dislikes 

could have did without all the weird interruptions but thanks for the review.

That music - scared the heck outta me - volume man, volume lol

"When I finally parked it(Bolt) at my home charging station, it had gone 322 miles on a single charge. Not bad for a car rated at 238 miles per charge. Even more impressive was the fact that I didn't really try very hard to get that many miles out of it. I spent plenty of time in traffic, which helped, but there were a few sections that I was moving along at 65-70 mph as well. No matter how you look at it, 322 miles out of a Bolt is pretty impressive." - Ed Hellwig Edmund's

Talk to low, interruptions to loud. Thanks for the review. Our 2017 had no issues either, great car especially considering this was a first year car and the first long range EV. Love the heated wheel. I put my sun glasses in the small pocket. Yep, best regen. Now we have the 2020, great deal from GM.

I'm gonna hold you to that drink!! Nice job with the video. It's informative and entertaining.

everything was good about this review except the transitions and intro music.

I drive a 2018 Chevy Bolt. It’s fast, reliable and fun to drive. No range anxiety. Easy to park. Very low maintenance cost. One pedal driving. I rarely use the car’s brake. Good handling and quiet driving. Best car GM has built in the US. A bit overpriced, but prices will come down. I drive without guilt for the environment. No battery degradation after 10,000 miles. No regrets. Get one!

I like the look of the Bolt EV...

I bought a 2017 when they came out, and still have it. This was an accurate review. I still very much enjoy driving it, and it's the PERFECT uber car !!

Here I am in 2023 researching the Bolt EV. Excellent info..just a side note, I just love, I mean LOVE the Monkees song you have on the radio. Made my day!! Thanks

Excellent review. Didn’t have any issues with volume or your transitions. We love our 2019 Bolt Premier in “shock” yellow!

The pocket is not useless. I use it to hold the excess wire from my dashcam install (the 12v power outlet is right next to it, so it's perfect).

Really great video, you gave us a lot of information about things you have personally experienced. A couple of things one was you mentioned the lack of charging network for long trips. And that is absolutely not the case. Electrify America has a ton of chargers all across the country. In fact the guy did the cannonball run East coast to West coast using electrify America on a solo trip in I think 72 hours because he had to sleep as well as drive. You absolutely could long-distance road trip in the Chevy Bolt or any other CCS fast charging car. "A better route planner" Can help you plan out a route it'll show you where you need to stop how long you'll charge for. The cost estimate for charging is not accurate however. Because you can be a member of electrify America for $4 a month that waves the dollar connect fee and reduces your per minute cost I think about $0.06 per minute. You can go into the settings on a better route planner put in what kind of car you have what the average temperatures are going to be etc and it'll figure out where you need to stop and for how long. It would be nice if this could be integrated into the vehicle like Tesla but you certainly can use your phone or a tablet or something I don't know whether you can bring up a webpage on Android Auto if that's the case you might be able to do it that way but I don't think you have that capability. The other thing you mentioned about the auto seat heater is not showing the level indication one possibility is that in automatic mode it doesn't have the discrete settings that it does when you do it manually. It may be infinitely varying the heat up and down. other way I agree it would be nice to have some kind of feedback with the light to tell you that the seats were even on. other than that fantastic video and it's definitely unfortunate that it doesn't seem like the Chevy bolt gets enough praise in the press or by auto journalists. It's got a ton of room in it it's plenty quick. In fact it has more rear seat legroom and headroom than a Model 3 almost as much as a Kia Niro EV Although the seats are not as wide. The other thing you mentioned was that it's set up to be a crossover well crossovers are the best-selling segment in the country right now. I think the problem is people think it's a tiny ass little hatchback and don't realize how much space is actually in the car. Same thing happens with the Honda fit the Nissan versa note Toyota Prius. They look small on the outside but they're actually really big on the inside bigger than some mid-size cars in fact. Have a wonderful day thanks for the great video

They have some great deals on the 2020 model. I heard they have a lot in stock and they are really pushing them. Might have to pick one up in March. Great video. Thanks.

I'm pretty sure you're supposed to use a longer charging cable and put your phone in that pocket lol.

Looking under your hood, it looks like you do not have the wiring for DCFC. Is this correct? I have heard that the 2 high voltage wires going to the front of the PDM indicates DCFC but have never confirmed that.

Your voice is so soothing. Thanks for your fun, competent review!

With a regular-length iPhone cable, I can put my phone in the front pocket and have it plugged into the car for CarPlay. I have a 2019 and they have fixed the "auto" seat heater thing too, it now shows the power level.

I have a 2019 Premier and couldn't agree more with your Top Likes. (This is not to mention your idea of fast-charging the Bolt at 10:26 :))) The Bolt is super reliable, very fast, very quiet, very inexpensive to own, and gives you that precious ambassador-from-the-future feeling. For me, there is really not much to dislike about the Bolt, except maybe for the front seats (but then again, all one might need is a gel cushion). In short, I love my Bolt and hope to keep it as long as I can. Thank you GM, you have created a masterpiece!

The Chevy site lists the 2020 Bolt LT Comfort and Convenience package as including the heated steering wheel - on the LT. I'm looking forward to it.

The big space in the front console area is intended for a woman’s purse. And the small slot is supposed to be for your phone, I think they should’ve put it right next to the plug, but I guess they just expect everyone to have a longer cord lol

I'm really considering getting a Bolt --- this was great. Thank you.

Nice honest review. One thing I did want to mention about fast chargers. I never had a problem finding fast chargers, except in Arizona. Also, since you say that you have never taken long trips then maybe you don't know that there has been a great improvement in the number of fast chargers out there over the past 3 years. You just need to plan your trip carefully using MyChevolet app or PlugShare or the other EV charging trip planer websites.

Your Bolt is much cleaner than my 2019! I may need to work harder on keeping the inside clean lol. Great video! Subscribed!

I too have a 2017 Bolt premier. That pocket that you describe as useless is where I place my Samsung S8 while using Android Auto, it's perfectly useful.

Ironically, I put my flip up sunglasses in it's case in the "useless" pocket and clip the garage door opener on it so it hangs off of it. This useless pocket I find very handy!

Getting ready to buy a used Bolt. Thanks so much for this video!

Thanks for your opinions on the Bolt. I am in the market for my first EV & this was an excellent review & excellent content (minus the silly interruption) - your info is too good to be distracted by those inserts. I am looking to purchase a used EV ... do you happen to know the warranty on your 2017?

GREAT VIDEO ! THANKS ! THINKING ABOUT GETTING A USED BOLT AND TRADING IN MY Nissan Leaf !

What are your thoughts of the new 2022 bolt? Should I buy the new one or get a heavily discounted 2021?

Thank you for honest review!

I've been driving a 2020 Bolt Premiere for about 3 1/2 months and I don't have any major complaints about it. A light in the charging port would be nice and faster DC fast charging are the biggies. I also wish the stereo would start back in the mode it was in when you ended the last drive since I almost always listen to my iTunes. I also wish Apple Car Play worked wirelessly.

Iam looming to trade my 2009 Prius touring for a 2017 Chevy bolt, however iam concert about the batteries catching on fire. Are all the bolt models like that or only certain ones? Also we will be buying a rav4 prime in that future but how would I use a bolt charger to charge a rav 4 price or viseversa? thank u

Thank you for making this video! I’m going to go full electric with my next vehicle. So, I’ve been doing the research on what used EV would be best for me. I’m pretty sure, I’ll be getting a used Bolt.

I just bought one. Like it so far. Getting travel charger. We really need more fast chargers.

I have been thinking about getting a Chevy Bolt EV, the only thing i would really miss is not having adaptive cruise control. I have it on my Subaru Forester and love it. With all the high tech features on the bolt, can't understand why they don't even offer it.

The front slot I believe was meant for a phone or something but yes, mostly useless. The floor tray between the seats is where my wife put her purse so it didn't take up her leg room but now I found a desk caddy on Amazon that fits it perfectly and holds sunglasses, pens, notepad, cables, and a microfiber cloth. As for the OTA updates, the Bolt isn't like a Tesla that is always adding features and tweaking things so we don't get many updates. Not a huge space for a frunck, it's be large but very shallow.For your dead pedel, I found a maker on Etsy that makes a plastic cover that that just for the Bolt, cheap and it velcros on. Thanks about the auto door locking, I didn't realize!

The useless console pocket: Fits a travel pack of Kleenex perfectly. The space between the foot wells, yeah a purse works there. That is a little trash bin for me for receipts and such you don't want rolling around on longer trips. Phone holder: You really needed to get the Infotainment package, that has a wireless phone charging slot, and it is next to the cable plug in for Android Auto/AppleCar...

Good video overall. I’m really hoping they change the seats in 2021 as they stab me in the scapulas (tall guy). My only issue with video is that you need to work on your audio balance. Your voice is soft and the music transitions are ridiculously loud.

Hello did you find the battery had the same performance/strength 3 years in?

The cubby next to the 12v outlet - I use for a pocket pack of tissues. The large floor cubby between the seats - I use for umbrellas. Not so useless. My Bolt has the wireless phone charger so I keep a small hand sanitizer in the groove behind the USB inputs and keep my phone in the wireless charger or the door handle (I have an old iPhone SE so it fits either place)

Great overview. I liked the seat review.

Rob: Two items: 1. I checked the Weathertech website and it looks like their driver side floor liner has a foot rest covering the carpet where a Chevy foot rest should be. 2) What is your take on all the hard plastics? That seems to be a "feature" often called out as a negative by reviewers. Thanks!

That little spot on the floor in front of the console is where my wife likes to put her purse/bag when we're driving. It's perfect for that.

19:35 Not true about only being available on the Premier - We got the Comfort & Convenience package on our LT which includes the seat warmers. It’s nice to be able to use those instead of heating up the entire cabin with the HVAC and sacrificing range even here in central CA.!

sound can we get a boost ?

The charge cord part I was thinking maybe buy a longer cord..lol

DCFC is hit or miss? Where do you live? North Dakota? I have DCFCs everywhere around me.

One point I haven't seen mentioned in the comments-- as you said, when you hardly ever touch the brake pedal you would think the brakes will last forever right? I don't have a Bolt yet (soon), but after driving my first EV through 5 winters' worth of salted roads unfortunately the discs became so corroded from lack of use that the pads were getting shredded when I did use them. Discs and pads all needed replacing even though there was still plenty of pad left. But I can't really complain as that's almost the only maintenance cost over the past 7 years.

Great video, thank you very much. That said, as an owner I actually disagree with a number of your dislikes. That little pocket next to the 12v dc socket is perfect for my 12v dc charger adapter. I don’t actually use the center console USB so my phone sits right on top of the USB ports & fits perfectly. The seats back pretty darn firm but tolerable. I’m a much MUCH heavier person & I still don’t mind the seats but yeah no road trips. I’m happy not having a frunk if it means more rear cargo room.

good effort ill watch again if you can get the volume up, thanks

Please make the music volume lower in future videos for those of us using headphones. I kept having to turn down the volume for the music and back up for the rest.

I have had my 2023 bolt euv for 30 days I love it I only charge at home on a normal outlet so it’s slow but I bump it up to 12 amps and it cuts the charging time down 8 hrs so that helps and my electricity bill only went up $17 so that’s not bad at all

I own a 2020 bolt, have had it 9 months now, but my chief complaint is the environmental controls. WhereGM should have just put in a Vent button. But instead you turn the fan on and it shows you using power either to hat or cool the car, when nothing is on. That drives me crazy.

Thak you for the incredible video. One detail, the "funny" soud fx are too loud.

The most annoying thing about the Bolt is the media system does not automatically switch and play audio from your phone. Yes, your phone's bluetooth will automatically connect, but the car will stay in the FM/AM/SXM/Aux mode. It does not switch to the bluetooth phone automatically. The other thing I really wish Chevy would put in is at least adaptive cruise control. Also, your speaking volume is so, so quiet.

Auto lock is very nice, but if you have another car that doesn't have it, it increases the probability of leaving that car unlocked (speaking from experience).

I'm leasing a 2021 thru the Costco subsidy program for $288 a month for a 44k car.

Great review

That slot in the front under the screen is to hold your phone while charging

1:45 My undestanding is that some people put cell phones there because it's close to where the bluetooth antenna in the center console stack is, but it's a little small for phablet size ones, and doesn't cope with Otterbox cases too well. 2:15 that is ABSOLUTELY a good place for a purse. It won't get kicked away, won't sit in a puddle from wet feet, but is also far enough away from an open passenger side window that someone can't just reach in and take it. 8:40 Have a Volt with the programmable remote thing. I have to deal with two electronic gates and three garage doors with lifters from different manufacturers. Guess how many things the programatron works with.. One. One of the gates, out of five devices. None of the garage doors. They're not ancient or obscure ones either. Just wrong flavor of LiftMaster or something... 14:45 There is a downside to the magic mirror. Since it's no longer a mirror as such, it's changed where your vision focuses, from "eye to mirror + mirror to object behind" to just "eye to mirror". If you're the sort who needs some pretty emphatic reading glasses, you'll wish you had upside down bifocals for that moment. That's not really a beef because there's literally no way to work around the problem, but...

How does the Bolt compare to the Volt?

I think the auto seats, like in my mom's buick, is by default a low setting.

How on earth do you not find the fact that the radio switches back to FM and yells at you every time you start the car a Dislike? How do you not find the headrests forcing you into a kyphotic neck stressing position if you attempt to put your seat anything close to upright a Dislike? I hate that Chevy has decided that we will no longer be able to upgrade stereos in OUR cars anymore...no BT 5.0 or newer USB ports as the years go by for us. I personally also find it absurd that my Bolt came with 17" rims and 50 series tires resulting in a terrible ride and extraordinarily expensive tires with increased install costs to boot. This, being an economy car with an expensive battery, should have been configured with 15s and the same tire size as a Prius. The suspension is no where near up to the task of mitigating pot holes and speed bumps on 50 series rubber bands. And do not even get me started on the stupidity of implementing a 5x105 bolt pattern! . Thankfully I was able to locate a reasonably priced set of Chevy Sonic 15" alloy wheels which fit perfect with 205/65-15 tires fitted, straightened out the legs of the headrests with a vice and got an AUX BT adapter to bypass the terrible stereo all together. I am much happier with the car for now, but the intentional lack of options to upgrade the infotainment system in future is very disappointing.

Plug Share shows were the charging stations are,Even allows pictures and reviews.They have an app for the phone or desktop.Electrify America would should be your main charging network for road trips.We have a TM3 but the Bolt/Kona were our runner ups.Tesla would be similar to a Mac were all other EVs would be PC(Mac vs PC) LOL

Regarding the automatic seat heater, use your all-in-one butt dyno. Too hot is probably the highest setting; just right is the middle one; and not enough is the only one left. You could have saved all those years of frustration.

12:56 Wow such range, how you get those numbers?

I think that might be my next car, most likely used. I travel approximately 70 miles round trip for work in Ohio.

The pocket under the dash holds a small purell bottle and my sunglasses as their is no overhead, the space behind the shifter has an induction phone charger now at least in the premier

I was considering a Chevrolet Volt but you done it for me I wouldn't have one if you give it to me

local dealer has one for $17k with 25k miles - is that price too high?

Nice review, you sound like Mr Rogers give the review, plus those scary side picture are annoying.

15:50 That's hillarious. Where is it from?

Wow you have a garage door nice

Nice. Thank you. My priority list includes anti-collision electronics and radar cruise control. Your Premier did not seem to have these?

nice content

Good content interspersed with LOUD irrelevant content (very annoying) Why waste time in your editing software adding that stuff. I know others do it, why not buck the trend. Good content, clearly presented... that's what makes good videos.

Lack of built-in Homelink (GDO), lack of sunglass storage, little control of center A/C vents (plugged with open cell foam), windshield hard to keep streak-free, swallows everything between seats and console, need more gain on the 3.5mm jack input, need cell phone cubby/storage.

My only criticism is volume. I can't turn my cellphone volume up any more and the volume is way *too* low

The lack of homelink is a disappointment

it's a little easier with a 300+ mile car... but the bolt still gets it done. then.. there's sparkcharge. a new startup that will be selling portable lithium chargers for EV's. kind of like carrying a spare can of gas in your car.

Good content but very low volume level. I have it on max and I can almost barely hear you, I have to put my iPad next to my ears.

I put up with the weird interruptions until 9:39. That legit jump scared me. This isn't worth getting my nerves worked up.

How much storage do you expect from a pill cars Lol

I thought these are rated 242 miles only

Sound track in the background is cheesy, and the recording levels are whacked. The narrator’s almost whispering and then when he changed topic the music blared. It sounded like good info but I couldn’t make it through because the audio production was just bad enough to make me leave.

I get your annoyance with the center divider/console issues but every car basically steals this space for useless "utility". With regard to the seats. Totally agree that they are not uncomfortable but are similar to go-kart seats. Any discomfort stems from reference to the overly plush seats Americans are used to. Early European sports seats were criticized for firmness but praised for support. Over the years they have gotten plusher to accommodate fatter Americans. They missed on these. A few cents more in padding and an inch wider would have dispelled the complaints.

Android Auto is better than carplay. AA will tell you if there is an object in the road ahead half a mile before you get to it. It's done that for me twice in 16k miles of driving.

Good review on the car. But could do without the animations, and it was very loud compared to your commentary.

The audio levels.... please normalize them at least a little bit. I appreciate the information but for half the video even at 100% volume it was extremely hard to hear. Also they killed the my Chevrolet app in all the 2018 and later models. You have to pay $15/month just to "start" the car or unlock the doors. It was a nice feature but 100% not worth $15 a month!

This has gotta be the most boomer review I've ever seen lol. Didn't even realize the phone pocket is for a phone

great video, but your voice was too low.

I have a 2015 Chevy Spark 1Lt consider trading for a Bolt. I don't have a Home with charging station I am in a apartment

I put my iPhone pro max in the holder

This fellow obviously has no idea of the extent of the battery, motor and control system if he makes a comment like, "there should be some storage space under the front hood". He says more of the motor components should be serviced UNDER the car (wow! service nightmare, no mechanic likes working UNDER vehicles).

Anyone ever drive one of these at 90 for any extended amount of time. The highway is empty at 5am

Storage compartment under the hood ? Sense or nonsense ? You guess...

Just leased a 2020 Bolt Premier. A black one like yours. There are some changes like a place to put your phone other than the box between the front seats. More choices in the all around camara, etc. a great car, but other than the range, I like my 2018 Kia Soul EV plus with sun and fun package better. The interior is better quality in my view. Better seats, bell doesn't ring incessantly with the driver door open and I'm trying to listen to the radio while cleaning the car, etc. I hate that F^%king bell. Can't turn it off and it hurts my ears!!! My Kia EV huge sun roof is like having a convertible and I love seeing the mountains above me through the roof glass. Not even a sun roof for the Bolt. Sad. The Bolt handles really nice and it is faster than the Kia Soul EV. The Soul feels like a luxury car while the Bolt feels and handles like a nice looking sports car ,but it's kind of cheap plastic inside. Soft touch interior panels like the Kia would be a big improvement. My Kia is for local driving now and the Bolt is for trips where I don't want to take the time to stop and charge on the way home, or long trips. Another feature I love about the Kia is the XM Sirius radio has arrows where you can rewind a program to about an hour back. I travel through the coast range of Oregon where you lose the signal from the satellite in long stretches of road. I can listen to my fav programs and even skip stuff I don't want to hear. The radio records about an hour back from the present time.

Killin it with the transitions

These go for $15k with 40k miles on them all day long. Don't know why anyone in their right mind would pay $40k + for this.