Chevy's New Bolt Electric Car Is Truly Affordable, at Less Than $30,000

Chevrolet's new Bolt feels like the kind of electric car the market has been waiting for -- an EV that's genuinely affordable but doesn't make major compromises. Starting at $28,995, it brings electric driving back into reach for regular buyers.

But it's not just about the price: the second-generation Bolt looks to fix the weaknesses of its predecessor while doubling down on practicality and smart technology, aiming to appeal to drivers who want something efficient and approachable without paying top prices. It's worth noting that Tesla's new affordable models start at almost $10,000 more.

The Chevy Bolt also launches at a time when shoppers of electric vehicle will be looking for cheaper options. According to June figures from Kelley Blue Book, the average new vehicle transaction price in the US sits at $48,644. That's 2% lower than the market peak in December 2023, but it's still about 13% more than prices in June 2021.

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This car is impressive for a sub-$30,000 EV. Its power comes from a 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack, which Chevrolet says is good for 255 miles on a full charge. That's a modest boost over the last Bolt EV and enough for most daily use, especially when paired with charging that's now genuinely fast -- up to 150 kilowatts, with a top-up from 10% to 80% in just 26 minutes.

Chevrolet includes a CCS adapter for older chargers, and there's a native NACS port, meaning Tesla Supercharger access is built in from Day 1. The Bolt's new bidirectional charging setup allows it to output up to 9.6 kilowatts of power, letting owners feed electricity back into their homes during outages or peak hours.

Performance should feel lively, too. The front-wheel-drive setup puts out 210 horsepower, while regenerative braking can be adjusted between low, high or blended modes for a more tailored feel behind the wheel. The Bolt still leans on practicality, offering 16 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and up to 57 cubic feet when folded. That makes it a good fit for small families or city drivers who occasionally need more room (though an SUV it most certainly is not).

Inside, Chevrolet has modernized the experience with an 11.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-inch digital gauge cluster. The big omission is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which GM has decided to drop in favor of a native infotainment system with built-in connectivity. A 2023 McKinsey study revealed that roughly 50% of car buyers in the US would not consider a car without Apple CarPlay -- so this feels like a big miss from General Motors.

Optional Super Cruise hands-free driving brings semi-autonomous highway capability, including lane changes, route following and automatic merging between interchanges. These features were once reserved for much more expensive EVs, but are now appearing in more affordable vehicles -- a win for car shoppers.

Chevrolet is offering the car in three trims: The base LT at $28,995, an LT Comfort at $29,990 and the sportier RS trim for about $32,000. Deliveries will begin in the US in early 2026, with all models built at GM's Fairfax, Kansas, plant. At a time when many electric cars still cost well north of $40,000, this one might just prove that the affordable EV isn't dead after all.