It almost feels like the intro to a superhero movie. The automotive world is in disarray. Gas prices are pushing to European levels, and it feels like every new EV rolling off the line costs no less than $50,000—if not $100,000. Yet what people really need is honest, affordable electric transportation. Then, the clouds split, and CRACK—the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt arcs its way to terra firma, landing with a positively vintage starting price and a wealth of useful updates.
The Bolt's absence these past few years was definitely felt, but it's not like it was the only game in town. Finally receiving its own makeover, the Nissan Leaf has been holding down the affordable-EV fort in Chevy's absence, offering roomy hatchback space and a battery that, unlike before, delivers genuinely useful range. Now that both cars are on the market simultaneously—albeit for not very long, thanks to GM's long-held tradition of making questionable decisions—it's time to figure out which sub-$40,000 EV deserves more attention from the lower half of the K-shaped economy.
From the outside, the Leaf is easily the more futuristic and sleeker of the two, which shouldn't come as a surprise, considering Chevrolet changed maybe four things about the way the Bolt looks. At least the brake lights are in the correct location this time around. The Leaf's slicked-top shape looks positively premium, thanks in part to Nissan's latest corporate face and taillights that borrow from the new Z sports car.
View Price on AmazonIf you're not a fan of range-enhancing design quirks, you'll probably prefer the Bolt's door handles, which are, you know, normal, as opposed to the Leaf's pop-out fronts and high-mounted integrated rears. Both cars have prominent charge port doors located just ahead of the driver's door. Both models shown here—the Leaf Platinum+ and the Bolt RS—are their respective top specs, but the Leaf is the only one with a power liftgate. The Leaf wins seats-up cargo space, offering 20 cubic feet against the Bolt's 16, but the two are effectively tied with the rear seats folded at a rounded 56 cubic feet apiece.
Let's head inside. Once again, the Leaf emits way more futuristic vibes. The dashboard is a series of unbroken spaces made of materials that are nice to both observe and touch. You'll find a smattering of buttons below the infotainment, covering gear selection, one-pedal driving, and quick access to various corners of the infotainment. The climate controls are haptic bits seemingly embedded into the trim itself. The seats are mighty comfortable—Nissan's got this part down pat—and the center console is a floating type with a couple of cupholders and a center armrest.
The Bolt's cost-cutting is more evident from the moment you open the door. In traditional GM fashion, the interior—while attractive—is lined with plastics that register a 10 on the Mohs' scale of mineral hardness. That said, the Bolt's dashboard is filled with all sorts of usable cubbies and hidey-holes, and we prefer the center console's layout, which floats similarly to the Leaf's but contains a proper floor tray for holding extra items.
Source: caranddriver.com
