Chevrolet Bolt Returns: Affordable, Electric, and Unapologetically Practical
General Motors is bringing back one of its most significant electric cars. The Chevrolet Bolt — once the benchmark for affordable EVs — will return for the 2027 model year with more range, smarter tech and a price tag that undercuts the competition at $28,995. Proof that not every EV needs to be a luxury statement.
When it first arrived in 2017, the Chevrolet Bolt represented a breakthrough: a genuinely usable, reasonably priced electric car for ordinary drivers. It wasn’t glamorous, but it worked. When production ended in 2023, it left a gap that even Tesla’s lower-tier offerings couldn’t fill. Faced with strong customer demand and a strategic need to reassert itself in the mass market, GM is reviving the nameplate.
The new 2027 Bolt is built on GM’s next-generation X76 electric drive system, engineered to cut costs and reduce reliance on rare earth materials. The motor uses segmented magnets and silicon-carbide inverters to improve efficiency, delivering a claimed range of 255 miles (about 410 kilometres) and charging speeds of up to 150 kW — two and a half times faster than its predecessor. A 10-to-80 percent charge takes just 26 minutes, remarkable for an EV under $30,000.
Chevrolet says the Bolt will offer the longest range of any electric car in its price bracket. The base LT trim starts at $28,995, with first deliveries expected in early 2026 in limited numbers.
Visually, the Bolt stays true to its compact hatchback format but gains a sportier RS variant featuring black accents, Atomic Yellow paint and red contrast stitching. The interior gets a major upgrade with an 11.3-inch infotainment display, an 11-inch digital instrument cluster and Google integration that brings full app functionality — yes, even Angry Birds and HBO Max run directly from the dash.
New tech extends to functionality, too. Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) capability allows the Bolt to power household appliances during outages. The gear selector now sits on the steering column, freeing up space in the centre console, and while materials are improved, the car remains firmly anchored in its affordable segment.
Safety has also been expanded, with nearly 20 driver-assistance systems, including cross-traffic alerts, reversing assist and collision avoidance. Higher trims gain GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driving system, integrated with Google Maps for real-time navigation and lane automation.
In a market increasingly dominated by premium-priced EVs, the revived Bolt stands as a reminder of what made the electric revolution possible in the first place — practicality, accessibility and the simple promise of getting people moving, quietly and efficiently.
