Chevrolet is apparently feeling the pressure from
the redesigned Nissan Leaf as the automaker has announced the Bolt is now
available throughout the United States.
Priced from US$ 37,495 before incentives, the Bolt
features a 60 kWh lithium-ion battery which powers an electric motor that
develops 200 hp and 360 Nm of torque. This enables the
model to accelerate from 0-96 km/h in less than 6.5 seconds and have an
EPA-estimate range of 383 km.
Besides the eco-friendly powertrain, the Bolt comes
equipped with automatic climate control, a six-speaker audio system, and a
10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
compatibility. The range-topping Bolt Premier goes even further as it adds
leather upholstery, heated seats, and a surround vision system.
The Bolt will soon be facing stiff competition from
the 2018 Nissan Leaf which will arrive at U.S. dealerships early next year. The
redesigned model features an upgraded powertrain that consists of a 40 kWh
lithium-ion battery and an electric motor that develops 147 hp and 319 Nm of torque. This gives the car an EPA-estimated range of just 241 km.
While the Leaf's numbers fall short of the Bolt, it
starts at US$ 29,990 before incentives. That's a difference of US$ 7,505 which could
make the trades off more justifiable.
