The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt Somehow Has More Range Now

• The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt is arriving at dealerships across the country.
• The entry-level EV has a higher estimated range than before.
• It can now drive further than its predecessors, as well as the top-spec Nissan Leaf.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt is officially the country’s most affordable new electric car, as the first units are now making their way to dealerships across the United States. For now, at least, because Nissan might undercut the Bolt with an even cheaper version of the latest-generation Leaf.

There’s more good news, too. General Motors somehow squeezed more range from the Bolt’s 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery pack, upping the EPA-estimated figure from the original 255 miles to 262 miles on a full charge. That’s not exactly groundbreaking, but it grants the American automaker some bragging rights.

Photo by: Chevrolet

Before this theoretical range increase, all of the Nissan Leaf’s trims trumped the Bolt’s estimate. Now, though, the 2027 Bolt outpaces the top-spec Leaf Platinum+ version. That said, the remaining two Leaf trims, the S+ and SV+, can outrun the Bolt with 303 and 288 miles of range, respectively.

It’s worth noting that the Bolt’s new range figure, which was confirmed in an email sent by GM, is EPA-estimated and not EPA-rated. At least not yet. It’s also a recent change, as Chevy’s online configurator still advertises the original 255-mile range estimate.

Price-wise, though, GM has a winner on its hands. The 2027 Chevy Bolt starts from $28,995, including destination charges, and comes standard with a front-mounted electric motor that’s good for 210 horsepower. Inside, there’s an 11.3-inch central touchscreen without Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also gets adaptive cruise control and a Tesla-style charging port that can accept up to 150 kilowatts of power, while the options list includes GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance system, heated seats and a heated steering wheel.

Meanwhile, the most affordable Nissan Leaf, the S+, starts from $31,485. Its front motor delivers 214 hp, and it has a bigger, non-LFP 75 kWh battery.

Both models are shipping now, and they have the potential to move the needle when it comes to EV adoption in the U.S., which was hindered somewhat after the discontinuation of the $7,500 federal tax credit. Both are compelling options, and it will be interesting to see how GM will handle demand, as the company has previously stated that the new Bolt is a “limited run model.”

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