Chevrolet Bolt EV Returns, Barely Changed After 2-Year Sabbatical

The Chevrolet Bolt electric hatch is back. Two years ago, Chevrolet killed one of the most affordable and most practical electric vehicles you could buy, and it almost immediately regretted it.
Now, the Bolt EV is nearly back, set to go on sale next year as a 2027 model year vehicle. And, once again, it is set to be one of the most affordable electric cars on the North American market.
Very Mild Makeover, But Changes That Matter
When we say back, we really do mean back. This isn’t a new-generation vehicle. It’s barely even a refresh. For the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, the company made some changes to the nose, chucked a new battery under the floor, and gave it the front motor from an Equinox EV. Probably because it couldn’t get any more of the old parts.
Chevy might not be able to get many of the new parts. The Bolt EV LT will start from $29,990 including freight, making it just slightly more than the ultra-basic 2026 Nissan Leaf S.
Later in the year, Chevy will make an undisclosed change to the LT that drops it to $28,995. But unlike the only slightly cheaper Leaf S (pricing to be revealed), the Bolt EV will offer up to 255 miles of range. The Bolt also gets a heat pump for cold days, while you’ll need to step up to a nearly $36K Leaf SV+ to get one there.
Same Range, Same Power, Way Faster Charge
The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt uses a new 65kWh battery pack. A new motor makes 210 horsepower and is shared with nine other GM EVs. That helps cut costs.
The old Bolt could only fast-charge at 55 kW, but the new one can handle 150 kW. It can charge from 10% to 80% in 26 minutes, versus the hour an old one took. NACS charging, the first Chevy to get that plug, lets you use Tesla’s Supercharging network to juice up.
If your utility provider allows it, the 2027 Bolt can also help power your home. Bidirectional charging (Vehicle-to-Home, or V2H) lets you light up your life in a power outage. While GM doesn’t mention campsite power, V2H often includes that feature.
Chevy has updated the cabin with more USB-C ports, wireless phone charging, and a larger 11.3-inch screen. The dash display is also a more useful 11 inches. Super Cruise, GM’s hands-off highway assistant, will be an option.
The Affordable EV You’ve Been Waiting For?
Bringing back an old EV just after the EV incentives have gone away feels, on the surface, like a strange move. But giving it better (not cutting-edge) electric tech and a low price tag might be more what Chevy needs to sell alongside the Equinox EV and Blazer EV. The old Bolt was already fun and efficient; it just needed a chance. And quicker charging.
Home run or foul ball, the experiment won’t last long. Chevrolet calls the 2027 Bolt a “limited run model.” It’s not clear how many Chevrolet might build at its Kansas plant, but it won’t be many. Even in its best year, the Bolt EV and EUV combo barely topped 62,000 units. Expect this new one at dealers in spring 2026.
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