Front 3/4 view of Chevy Bolt RS in Habanero OrangeGMThe history of the Chevy Bolt is one of bad timing and bad luck, which is ironic given the Bolt has been one of General Motors' better electric vehicles.Introduced in 2016, the affordable electric car received positive reviews and later spawned a small crossover, seemingly positioning GM at the forefront of the EV revolution with a credible product to take on Tesla. Remember, 10 years ago there weren't that many EVs in general, let alone low-cost models with good range.But it was always something with the Bolt. In a vacuum, the name is great for an electric car, but it was a curious choice given Chevy also sold the Volt at that time, which was a plug-in hybrid. The Bolt also had an infamous recall for a risk of battery fires, which might have been a death knell for other cars, but GM replaced the batteries and the Bolt bounced backAdvertisementAdvertisementMomentum for electrification stalled, though, and wouldn't pick up again until the Biden administration became a vocal proponent of the technology, which was exactly when GM oddly decided to kill the Bolt, or at least decided building larger electric trucks in its place made more sense.Bolt production ended in late 2023, as GM was about to launch the Chevy Equinox and Blazer, which used more modern batteries, called Ultium, and the Bolt was running older tech.In the end, the Bolt seemed to be a placeholder that was a little too good and perhaps ahead of its time.Nearly three years later the market for electric cars is worse. Part of that is due to their cost, with the average price of an EV coming in at $56,126, about $6,477 more than a gas-powered vehicle, according to July data from Cox Automotive. Additionally, in 2025, the Trump administration ended federal tax credits that offered up to $7,500 on a new EV.The Chevy Bolt is BackRear 3/4 view of the Bolt RS in Habanero OrangeWith this as a backdrop, GM sensed an opportunity for an affordable entry, and the Bolt was back from the dead. With a starting price of $28,995 (including destination charges), it's one of the few new EVs you can buy for under $30 grand. With a range of 262 miles, the Bolt has more than enough juice for commuters, which is what most people do with a car this size.AdvertisementAdvertisementBut the Bolt's return may be short-lived. GM will build it for the 2027 model year and press statements refer to it as a "limited run model." Unless you're referring to a Ferrari or an Aston Martin, that's not a great sign, and reports indicate the Bolt's encore performance might only last a few model years or less.Talk about whiplash. The Bolt is the future. Then it's gone. Now it's back. But might be gone soon.No one kills an electric car like GM.That would be short-sighted. The Bolt is a solid car, electric or otherwise. I spent a week in one and came away impressed with its value and features, many of which are cutting edge.Test Driving the 2027 Chevy Bolt RS2027 Chevrolet Bolt RS and LTFor starters, the Bolt is a great deal. I tested the 2027 Chevy Bolt RS, which is the top-of-the-line model that starts at $32,995. That's still well below the average price of a new car in the United States, which is estimated at $50,000 or more. The Bolt has more range than some versions of the Dodge Charger, BMW i5 and Genesis GV60, which all cost significantly more than the Chevy.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Bolt also has available Super Cruise (part of an option pack that costs $4,450). Until recently Super Cruise, GM's driver assistance system, was the domain of Cadillacs and high end GMC models. It's easy to engage and is one of the best on the market.Chevy says the 2027 model can charge up to 2.5 times faster than the previous model, and it can juice up from 10% to 80% in as little as 25 minutes. The Bolt is also the first Chevy to use the universal North American Charging System (NACS) port, which was originally developed by Tesla and offers access to more charging locations.The Bolt RS is a quick car. The RS trim offers a sporty appearance and more features, but doesn't change the driving dynamics. I cued up Sport Mode when I was feeling spicy, and the steering is responsive for quick wheeling through corners. It's not bad on the expressway. I expected that the small vehicle might feel a little rickety. Quite the opposite. I opened the sunroof, turned on Super Cruise and vibed my way across Interstate 696 with the radio up.Inside the 2027 Chevy BoltThe Chevy Bolt RS exclusive interior with red stitching detailThe interior is clever and well-laid out. It's a nice mix of technology, comfort and usable storage space. The Bolt has good visibility although the A-pillars are a little larger than I expected, which can cut your line of sight during turns.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe cupholders are pure genius. As someone who's constantly drinking coffee, always carries an icy water bottle and then might stop for an espresso—I really put a premium on cupholders. They're next level in the Bolt. You can actually customize the center cupholder layout with removable dividers.One weird quirk: The Bolt doesn't always turn off immediately. The infotainment stays on, especially if you leave your phone or the key fob in it. Apparently, this is how it's supposed to work. I left it on a side street blaring Sponge while doing school drop off. I'm sure the fellow geriatric Millennials appreciated the soundtrack, though it's unsettling to leave a car on, even if the power isn't going and it ultimately turns off.Infotainment screens in cars these days are so ubiquitous that it's easy to gloss over what they can do and how large they are because the short answer is they can do almost everything and they're huge. In this case Chevy wisely put an 11-inch display in front of the driver with useful information that's colorful and clear, while the main 11.3-inch infotainment is easy to operate. I found it simple to change the radio, climate control and ambient lighting, as well as drive modes. It's just as quick to drop the Bolt RS into Sport as it is to cue up the Lithium channel on satellite radio. Chevy added some analog knobs buttons right below the main entertainment screen, which I always think is smart play. In 2016 and 2021 GM used the Consumer Electronics Show as a stage for Bolt news, and despite its small hatch stature, it's always had tech-forward ambitions.There's also cubby holes over the glove box and beneath the main center stack. I wonder how usable some of these nooks and crannies really are. You can get a narrow purse in the storage area between the driver and front passenger, but the spaces over the glove box are small and seem performative. Your keys and wallet are going to fly out of them during aggressive maneuvers. The front seats with black perforated material and red stitching are comfortable. They look sporty, and wouldn't be out of place in a Camaro. I fit a carseat in the second row, and put down the other side to make room for golf clubs in the trunk.AdvertisementAdvertisementFrom a design perspective, it looks like, well, the Chevy Bolt. GM didn't change all that much from the 2023 model to today's car, leaving most of the changes to the batteries and other tech. Sometimes automakers get more aggressive with their smaller vehicle design—especially with EVs—but Chevy played it conservatively with the Bolt. It's a sharp car, though, even in the lower LT trims. The RS I tested came in Habanero Orange with 17-inch gloss black wheels, which garnered attention. Props to Chevy designers for the angled front end with cool headlights.My Verdict on the 2027 Chevy BoltThe NACS Charging PortThe 2027 Chevy Bolt is a solid value. It's tough to get an EV or really any car at this price point. In that sense, the Bolt delivers. Downsides? Well it's pretty small and the larger and more substantial Equinox EV starts only $3,800 more than a Bolt RS. I'd take the Equinox at $36,795, and it's one of the better EVs I've tested in the last few years.That said, the base Chevy Bolt comes in well under $30,000, which is significant and democratizes electric transportation in a way few other models can. For that reason alone, it's great the Bolt is back. Here's hoping GM gives it a real shot.This article was originally published on Forbes.com