The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt returns as a limited-time favourite in the EV market

Very few products inspire the kind of loyal following this one does. Even after it disappeared for years, devoted fans have kept hoping for its return, with an enthusiasm that borders on obsession. Now, for a limited time, it's back.

It's not the McRib. It's the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt.

And much like McDonald's McRib, there are a few possible explanations for why the Bolt has made a comeback.

Since the original Bolt arrived in 2016, GM's electric-vehicle parts bin has expanded significantly, making the economics of a new version much easier to justify, much the same way the McRib's sporadic return is often attributed to swings in pork prices. It also helps that many Bolt owners, like McRib devotees, are intensely loyal fans, including some within GM itself. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

When GM realised it was facing an 18-month production gap at its Fairfax, Kansas, factory, executives approved returning the small electric vehicle.

Unlike the McRib, however, the new Bolt does not stick rigidly to the original formula. Still, there is enough that feels familiar about the updated model to keep long-time Bolt fans satisfied.

Something old, something new

GM began with the chassis and body panels from the Bolt EUV — the slightly bulkier version of the earlier Bolt — and then redesigned the front and rear sections. The company also adjusted the suspension and made some changes to the front chassis, but overall, the underlying structure remains largely the same.

Some interior plastics have been improved, though there are still enough hard surfaces to remind you this is the least expensive EV currently on sale in the United States. Pricing starts at $28,995, including destination, which is a solid value given the current state of the auto market. That said, buyers should not get too carried away, because a fully loaded Bolt can climb past $40,000, and that is where the charm begins to wear off.

What has disappeared? Most drivers will quickly notice the absence of CarPlay and Android Auto, features that are no longer available in any new GM vehicle. The earlier Bolt was one of the few GM EVs to include screencasting, and removing it is likely to frustrate plenty of existing owners. To soften the blow, GM has added native Spotify and Apple Music apps. They help somewhat, but not enough — the built-in apps felt less responsive than their CarPlay equivalents.

Chevy also revised the headlights and taillights, but the real highlights are the battery, the motor, and Super Cruise.

The new 65-kilowatt-hour battery is GM's first to use lithium-iron-phosphate, or LFP, chemistry. Its power is managed through a new battery management system before being sent to an electric motor borrowed from the front-wheel-drive Chevrolet Equinox.

That battery change is a major one. For years, U.S. automakers have been eager to shift to LFP chemistry. It eliminates the need for costly critical minerals such as cobalt and nickel, thereby lowering production costs. LFP batteries also do not degrade in the same way when regularly charged to 100%. Owners of earlier Bolts were often advised to cap daily charging at 80% to preserve the battery for road trips. That was even before battery fire concerns led to a recall that forced owners to follow those limits for an extended period.

LFP cells also maintain their discharge performance more consistently, meaning they can deliver full power much closer to 0% charge than before.

In the new Bolt, the motor produces 200 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque. That torque figure is slightly lower than in the prior model, but around town, the car still feels lively enough.

Kris Keary, chief engineer for EV propulsion systems, said that is because the new motor can spin faster and more efficiently, allowing the team to choose shorter gearing. At the wheels, the actual torque is slightly higher, indicating Chevy expects the new Bolt to accelerate from zero to 60 mph a little quicker than the previous version.

Longer range

Keary said Chevy was able to extract an additional 15 miles of range through the new motor and more efficient power electronics. Even with the smaller battery, the car now goes farther, with an estimated total range of 262 miles.

The updated power electronics also address one of the earlier Bolt's biggest weaknesses: charging speed. Although the old Bolt offered enough range for road trips, its peak charging speed of 50 kW left much to be desired. Adding 200 miles of range took roughly an hour.

Now, GM says charging from 10% to 80% should take 25 minutes. The 400-volt pack can accept up to 150 kW, though one person on the press drive briefly saw 157 kW at a Tesla Supercharger. Yes, the Bolt now comes with the North American Charging Standard (NACS), but plug-and-charge support on Tesla's network is not expected until later this year. I did not see speeds that high myself. In ideal 70-degree weather, I reached just 115 kW. My total session lasted 24 minutes, moving from 24% to 80%. That was not exactly what Chevy was aiming for, but it was still respectable.

With quicker charging and Super Cruise, this little car has the makings of a capable commuter or even a decent road-trip vehicle. The front and rear seats are roomy and reasonably comfortable, though there is no toe room beneath the front seats. The trunk is a decent size for a subcompact, but it will not hold much more than a handful of carry-on bags.

Super Cruiser

As Chevy representatives repeatedly pointed out, the Bolt is the least expensive hands-free driving vehicle on the market today. However, that depends on choosing a very specific trim and package combination: "LT + Comfort + Evotex + Tech + Super Cruise." And of course, cheap is relative. That setup will still cost $35,655.

To evaluate Super Cruise, I drove a short 14-mile loop along Highway 101 northwest of Los Angeles. The Level 2 driver-assistance system handled afternoon traffic effectively, automatically changing lanes when approaching slower-moving cars. Unlike BMW's system, for example, I did not need to glance at the mirror to confirm. Instead, Super Cruise buzzes either your left or right side to let you know a lane change is about to happen. Oh, hello. What's that? Right, incoming lane change.

As before, Super Cruise works only on routes that GM has mapped, which include freeways and some two-lane highways. If the route calls for an exit or interchange, the system will try to move you into the proper lane before asking you to take control. During my drive, it was occasionally unclear when fast-moving traffic in the right lane approached, forcing me to abort the manoeuvre. However, it seemed more assertive when it wanted to move into a passing lane. Drivers can always prompt a lane change themselves by using the turn signal.

This is where Chevy defends its decision to remove screencasting features like CarPlay and Android Auto. The Bolt's infotainment system is based on Android Automotive and is shared with GM's other electric vehicles. That allows the navigation system to communicate with the battery management system to precondition the battery ahead of fast charging, and with Super Cruise to enable the Bolt to perform automatic lane changes as it approaches an exit.

Super Cruise does not come cheaply. Because Chevy requires buyers to select multiple option packages before they can add hands-free driving, the feature adds more than 20% to the base model'sprice, bringing the total to $35,655. Is it worth the extra $6,600, plus the cost of OnStar once the three-year trial ends? That depends on how often a driver expects to use it. For people with long daily commutes, it may be the sort of stress-reducing feature that feels genuinely worthwhile. For everyone else, probably not.

Most people buying the new Bolt already know they want one. They likely either already own a Bolt or have a soft spot for small electric vehicles.

Chevy is betting there are enough of those buyers to sell through the model in about two years. After that, the automaker is not promising another run. But then again, absence has a way of making people want something even more. Just ask any McRib fan.