Earlier this morning, some of the first details of the new 2027 Chevrolet Bolt percolated out onto the internet thanks to some people that attended a special preview for existing owners last night in California. We’ve now heard directly from the Bolt program team and got a bunch more details about what for now will be the most affordable new electric vehicle in the US market, picking up the mantle from the prior generation.
As we know from the hints and teasers we’ve been getting from GM for some time, the “new” Bolt is actually an update of the previous Bolt EUV that debuted in 2021. That “crossover” was basically a six-inch stretch of the original Bolt EV hatchback. Given the market dynamics in the US and loss of interest in small cars, that smaller model is gone and the 2027 is now just Bolt with no suffix.
The 2027 Bolt is quite obviously an update of what was known internally at GM as the BEV2 platform (BEV3 is Ultium architecture) and much of the sheetmetal and structure from the EUV has been retained. The front fascia and hood are new with some sharper edges but the resemblance is clear as is the evolution from other models like the Equinox and Blazer EVs. Similarly, the rear plastic and tailgate have been updated but anyone that has seen an EUV will immediately recognize this as a Bolt.
The big changes are on the inside and the underside of the Bolt. The original used battery and propulsion components that were unique to the BEV2 and considerably more expensive to produce than what emerged for Ultium. Now that Ultium (I’m using that name even though GM no longer does) has some scale especially thanks to the Equinox EV GM can use those components for the Bolt at much lower cost.
The 2027 Bolt starts with the same X76 drive unit found in the front of the Equinox which means a permanent magnet motor with about 210-horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque along with a reduction gear set and power electronics module. That’s a bit more than the 201-hp of the old model, but it probably won’t have a significant impact on performance. As before, the Bolt will only be offered with front wheel drive.
Feeding the drive unit is GM’s first North American application of a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack. LFP is the dominant chemistry used in China and has been offered here for standard range models of the Tesla Model 3, Mustang Mach-E and Rivian R1. Earlier this summer, GM announced that it would be updating its Spring Hill, TN Ultium Cells plant to switch from nickel-manganese-cobalt-aluminum cells to LFP, but that won’t be ready until later in 2027.
In the meantime, GM is buying the Bolt LFP cells from a supplier that it declines to identify. GM’s joint venture partner LG Energy Solution currently produces LFP cells in Nanjing, China and Holland, Mich. The Michigan cells are only for stationary energy storage, so most likely, the Bolt is getting cells from the LGES China plant for now.
What we do know about the battery is that it uses a cell-to-pack architecture which means there are no modules as in other GM batteries. The inherently stable nature of LFP chemistry makes the battery safer and reduces the safety requirement of isolated modules. Getting rid of the modules frees up space in the pack enclosure so that more cells can be installed. Despite LFP typically having about 30-40% less energy density, the pack still has the same 65-kWh usable capacity as old Bolt and it should come at a significantly lower overall cost, perhaps half of the one in the old Bolt. We probably also won’t see any of the battery fires that caused a recall of the original Bolt.
The other big update is the electrical/electronic architecture. The 2027 Bolt now uses the latest version of GM’s Global B E/E architecture which is also known as the vehicle intelligence platform (VIP). That’s the same setup as the rest of GM’s current lineup which means it’s capable of over-the-air software updates for all systems.
All of these updates mean the range of the Bolt has increased from 247 miles to 255 miles but it also has much faster charging capability. The EUV was limited to just 55-kW maximum DC fast charging so a full charge would take well over an hour. A 10-80% charge is now estimated to take about 26 minutes with a peak of 150-kW. Like the rest of GM’s current EVs, the Bolt also offers bidirectional charging and is compatible with the GM Energy vehicle-to-home enablement kit. Bolt buyers will have to buy their own CCS to NACS adapter to charge at non-Tesla Superchargers since GM won’t be bundling it at this price point.
The interior of the Bolt is also all-new starting with the seats which were one of the biggest complaints of the old model. GM claims to have added more bolstering and improved comfort. Like most other current GM vehicles, the Bolt now has a column shift which frees up the center console area for improved storage. There are USB-C charging ports and adjustable cup holders for massive mugs that many people are now carrying around.
The 11.3-inch infotainment screen uses the same Google Built-in Android system as other GM vehicles and because it’s electric, there is no support for smartphone projection. If you can’t live without Apple Carplay, you may want to opt for the Nissan Leaf instead. However, GM is thankfully sticking with the philosophy of retaining physical controls for the most commonly used functions.
The new E/E architecture means that there is now support for the latest generation of Super Cruise hands-off driver assist. By the time the Bolt hits dealers, GM should be at about 750,000 miles of roads compatible with Super Cruise. The latest updates also feature Google Maps integration to show drivers where Super Cruise is available and provide automatic lane changes for upcoming exits.
GM’s current EVs are already among the best at providing seamless blending of regenerative and friction braking as well as smooth one-pedal operation.The Bolt is inheriting the same control strategy which should improve the driving experience and energy recovery.
The 2027 Bolt will arrive at dealers in the first quarter of 2026 with a $29,990 launch edition based on the LT+ trim. That will be joined by a new RS at $32,995, RS+Tech+Sunroof $35,685 and later a base LT at $28,995. All of those prices include the $1,395 destination charge which means that the Bolt is undercutting the new Leaf by at least $1,500.
