Chevrolet dropped the Bolt, its smallest and least expensive EV, from its lineup just under three years ago. The brand announced production plans for a second-generation car a few months later, and that vehicle is finally here. But there’s a caveat: The Fairfax assembly plant, which builds the new Bolt, will soon be switching to produce a gas-engine Buick, so the second iteration of the compact EV has a planned shelf life of just 18 months.The Lowdownside view of a bright yellow compact suv parked in a parkAlthough it looks very much like the original Bolt EUV, the new car has been significantly improved with some technology upgrades and a revised interior. The biggest change is a much better peak fast-charging speed, this rising to a competitive 150 kW, as opposed to the old car’s feeble 55 kW. The original Bolt’s lithium-ion battery pack is gone, replaced by a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery that supports the faster charging speed. Chevrolet reports the same 65-kWh capacity and 262 miles of EPA-rated range. The vehicle can also send power back out thanks to bidirectional charging. Propulsion is through a single 210-hp motor that drives the front wheels. As the first Chevrolet EV equipped with a native NACS port, the Bolt is also set up to use Tesla Supercharger stations without an adapter.Two versions are available, with the base Bolt LT set to be the cheapest new EV on sale in the U.S. Above it, for a $4000 supplement, an RS version is mechanically identical but adds gloss-black exterior details, heated and ventilated front seats, eight-way driver’s-seat power adjustment, a heated steering wheel, and multicolor interior lighting. Vehicle Tested: 2027 Chevrolet Bolt RS Base Price: $28,995 Price as Tested: $33,390 Location: Los AngelesMore SpecsPowertrain: Single-motor, front-wheel drive EVPower: 210 hpTorque: 169 lb-ft0-60 mph: 6.8 seconds (manufacturer claim)Battery Capacity: 65.0 kWhWeight: 3776 lbEPA Range: 262 milesHow Does It Drive?2027 chevrolet boltThere isn’t currently much action at the bottom of the EV market, but the new Bolt is set to undercut all the competition with its sub-$30,000 base price. As such, low-cost utility is likely to be the largest part of its appeal to most potential buyers.But there’s no reason a low-cost EV can’t deliver some driving pleasure too, and the Bolt’s simple combination of front-wheel drive, a short wheelbase, and over 200 horsepower gives it the on-paper potential to be an electric hot hatch.Unfortunately, the experience of the Bolt on the road proved it to be some way short of an EV GTI rival. Chevrolet has tuned the throttle response to be far softer and less immediate than is common for a modern EV, and although this sharpens up slightly in the selectable Sport setting, it still didn’t make the Bolt feel any more enthusiastic. Chevrolet’s claim of a 6.8-second 0-to-60-mph time, one we didn’t verify through testing, is respectable for an entry-level compact hatchback. But this figure means that in addition to being the least expensive EV, the new Bolt is actually one of the slowest. Braking performance felt more impressive than acceleration, with new all-season Michelin tires having the same rolling resistance as those on the old Bolt but with the ability to generate more longitudinal grip. The Bolt still had charms on a winding canyon road. Soft suspension settings and a narrow track made for a surprising amount of body roll for something with so much weight in an underfloor battery pack, but the Bolt never felt unpredictable when pushed to its modest limits. Power-steering weighting also increases in the Sport setting, which was enough to make the vehicle feel at least a little lively when being driven hard.The old Bolt featured a steering-wheel-mounted regeneration control, which has been replaced with a switchable one-pedal driving function. Super Cruise is available as an extra-cost option, one that adds $3255 to the Bolt RS and must be ordered in conjunction with the $1195 Technology package. Despite the size of that supplement, the Bolt remains the least expensive way to experience Super Cruise’s level of enhanced driver assistance. The system remains strong on roads where it has the data to be activated, and it worked well on the short 15-minute highway loop where I tested it. What's It Like to Live With?2027 chevrolet boltThe interior is spacious, given the Bolt’s compact footprint but would certainly suffer in any direct volume comparison with the Equinox EV. It offers good space and comfort for the driver, complete with all sorts of cubbies for stowing small items in the front of the cabin. As you would expect for any car this size, seating for five requires flexibility and a spirit of compromise from all three second-row passengers. A new dashboard incorporates a customizable digital instrument cluster and an 11.3-inch central touchscreen that operates GM’s Google-based software. As with most new Chevrolets, there is no support for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay phone connectivity, but the automaker is including eight years of map and music streaming data through the car’s own suite of apps. Chevrolet gave me an opportunity to test the new Bolt’s upgraded charging speeds at a nearby Tesla Supercharger, where the Bolt performed slightly under its advertised best charging curve. I saw a peak charging speed of just over 110 kW during the test from 19 to 80 percent, a burst that took about 34 minutes. The last 11 minutes of that session were the jump from 70 to 80 percent.2027 chevrolet bolt evThe infotainment system has tools to connect to a Tesla Supercharger, but I had an issue using it during my charging session. GM also says an over-the-air update is coming to support "plug-and-play" charging at Tesla stations, entirely bypassing the interface that struggled. That upgrade is scheduled to hit Bolts this summer.Should I Buy One?2027 chevrolet bolt evIf you do want to buy a Bolt, your window to do so is limited. GM says the vehicle's return was driven by consumer interest but was always meant to be short-lived. Thanks to a plan to bring Buick compact-crossover production to the U.S., this kind-of-new generation of Bolt could be with us for only a single model year. The Chevrolet Equinox EV may also have played a part in the Bolt's demise. It starts at $36,795, representing a relatively small jump for a larger car that should appeal more directly to crossover-hungry American buyers. The most affordable EV outside GM is the newly updated Nissan Leaf, which has been sized up to a crossover but still starts above $30,000. Highlights and LowlightsWe Love: Upgraded charging speeds that bring the Bolt into the 2020s. Access to Tesla charging stations and optional Super Cruise. The fact that this is the least expensive EV on sale in the States.We Don't: The limited life span is hardly a ringing endorsement from GM. The hefty subscription necessary to use Super Cruise. The cramped rear seat limits family use.Favorite Detail:2027 chevrolet bolt evUnlike many of the most affordable cars in the U.S., the Bolt is offered in a variety of bright colors. This showy shade of Atomic Yellow is the highlight, and Bolt buyers can also opt for orange or metallic blue.