2027 Chevrolet Bolt Hides Big EV Upgrades in Same-ish Package

The Bolt is back and once again one of the most affordable EVs on the market.

At a special event for Bolt owners in Hollywood, Chevrolet yesterday revealed the 2026 Bolt EV. After discontinuing the affordable electric vehicle late in 2023, the brand quickly promised the Bolt would return, and still slide in under the then-upcoming Equinox EV, while using the Ultium tech that underpins that model (and every modern GM EV). Now that the '26 Bolt has broken cover, we've figured out how Chevy did it: by essentially rebuilding the old model, with big improvements to the powertrain alongside styling and tech tweaks.

Let's start with the looks: it's very familiar. The headlight shape is nearly the same as before, with a new daytime running light (DRL) signature and black trim connecting to the lower section, which houses the main beam. Gone is the shield faux-grille, replaced by a thin black trim piece connecting the headlights and a more traditional lower intake. There's even fewer changes out back—the biggest and most welcome news is that the actual taillights are now higher up. Progress!

There will be seven exterior color options for the '26 Bolt. At launch, buyers will have the choice of a sportier RS trim and an LT trim with comfort package.

Bigger changes happen under the skin, where the Bolt adopts a 65.0-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron-phosphate battery. Once again a strictly front-drive affair, the Bolt EV borrows the Equinox's 210-horsepower motor, so performance should be broadly similar to before. Chevrolet is quoting 255 miles (410 kilometers) of range—ever so slightly less than what the Bolt did before.

The new model will spend much less time charging between runs, however. The old Bolt was capped to 50 kW of charging; the new model now does up to 150 kW, making the 10-to-80 percent recharge in as little as 26 minutes. Charging now happens via a North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, so the Bolt can utilize Supercharger networks, as well as Plug & Charge capability. A heat pump is standard, so winter performance should be more consistent. The new Bolt also allows for vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging up to 9.6 kW.

The cabin sees the expected upgrades: a bigger main touchscreen and Chevrolet's current climate control setup, making for lots of easy-access physical controls. There are plenty of storage cubbies inside the cabin, including a new shelf ahead of the front passenger. Cargo space is unchanged from the short-lived Bolt EUV: 16.0 cubic feet with the seats up and and 57.0 with them down. Perhaps best of all, the Bolt will offer GM's Super Cruise system, and it works in conjunction with the native Google Maps to provide the amount of hands-free time on trips, as well as navigate to the correct lanes for exits or interchanges.

Chevrolet is keeping the aggressive pricing with the 2026 Bolt EV. The LT with comfort package will list for $29,995 including destination, while the RS will be around $2,000 more. That undercuts the Nissan Leaf, which is currently the most affordable electric car on the market. And don't forget, Chevrolet will launch a plain LT trim afterwards, pushing the price even lower.