The arrival of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV signals a new beginning for electric cars because it’s promising 200-plus miles of range per charge, something the majority of EVs can’t claim. Once it enters the market the Bolt will go head-to-head against established electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and the BMW i3. Even though we haven’t pitted the Bolt against the Leaf and i3 yet, we can still compare their exterior and interior designs. With that said, how does Chevrolet’s dedicated EV compare to its counterparts from Germany and Japan?
Essentially a small hatchback, the Bolt features a tidy footprint and a more upright greenhouse that makes it look taller than it actually is. Up front, you’ll notice headlights that are similar to the ones found in the Cruze, while the grille is reminiscent of the Volt PHEV. The BMW i3, on the other hand, has a more polarizing exterior and a cube-like shape that doesn’t appear as aerodynamic as the Bolt. Compared to the more traditional hatchback design of the Nissan Leaf, both the Bolt and the i3 are more distinctive because of their in-our-face design. Keep in mind, though, that the Leaf is an older design that’s due for replacement soon.
From the side, the Bolt and the i3 look much stubbier while the Leaf has a longer front end that makes it look longer. Both the Bolt and the i3 also have a distinctive floating roof design that’s achieved by blacking out the car’s pillars. The Leaf, on the other hand, is more conservative and looks like your average hatchback. When it comes to rear end views, the Bolt features a sizable rear window flanked by LED taillights while the i3 continues with its cube-like design. Finally, the Leaf sticks with a more traditional rear end that makes it appear less like an electric car.
Inside, the Bolt has a simple cabin layout that features a large 10.2-inch touchscreen for the MyLink infotainment system as the center piece. At night, the Bolt also has interior ambient lighting to give it a more upscale touch. Moving on the the i3, the quirkiness continues inside with a modern cabin featuring plenty of wood and renewable materials. Compared to the Bolt, the i3’s interior is more eccentric thanks to odd shapes and unique touches like bamboo wood trim and thin seats that look like they came out of a spaceship. In contrast, the Nissan Leaf’s interior is more conservative, featuring a simple center stack with a two-tiered dash reminiscent of the outgoing Honda Civic.
As the first EV to promise 200-plus miles of range per charge, the Chevrolet Bolt has a lot riding on it and GM has high hopes that it will change the way consumers see electric cars. For now, the Bolt is a promising entry into the EV segment, but will it be a success once it hits the market? Tell us in the comments below.
Last week’s Refreshing or Revolting featured the 2016 Nissan Sentra, and the responses were mostly negative.
“It’s a step up from the anonymous styling synonymous to the 10th generation Corolla. It’s Refreshing to say the least, but it needs more than just looks to stay on top of the compact segment. The way the Sentra handles interior space is top line, but it’s lacking feel and posture,” said Kellan.
“Refreshing. Although this design was pretty obvious, it still looks good and further challenges the segment, which is littered with prominent competitors,” said Midosan.
“Revolting. The car is just too short to execute those curves with such teeny overhangs. The front end is jarring as well, said” Scott Satellite51.
“I’d say it’s an improvement but it wasn’t great to begin with. I think Nissan tried too hard to make the original Sentra look like a ‘mini-Altima’ and they succeeded. To my eyes, that is the largest part of the problem,” said sixspeedmanual.
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