Chevy might not be the first car manufacturer to spring to mind when you think of electric cars, but the Chevy Bolt has always been a strong contender in the category. Overshadowed by its more popular competitors like the Hyundai Kona Electric, the Kia e-Soul,  the Nissan Leaf, and the Tesla Model 3, this awkward hatchback does have a few things going for it.

The Chevy Bolt has more range

The 2020 Chevy Bolt has an important new feature – more range on the battery, according to Car and Driver. This means that it has the edge over the Tesla Model 3 in standard range. How much of an edge?

The lithium-ion battery under the floor of the Chevy Bolt has increased its capacity from 60.0 kWh to 66.0 kWh. This gives it an increased range of 21 extra miles for a total of 259 miles. The new range lets the 2020 Chevy Bolt beat the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus by nine miles, and it just beats the Hyundai Kona Electric by one mile. 

All-electric drivetrain

The 2020 Chevy Bolt isn’t a hybrid, it’s a fully electric vehicle. It comes with the myChevrolet app with Energy Assist that gives you information about the weather to calculate the most efficient route, driving conditions, the vehicle’s current charge, and where to find the nearest charging station. There are over 40,000 charging stations in the U.S. available to Chevy Bolt owners.

Charging is as easy as plugging in a cell phone, and owners can get a 240 volt/32-amp charging station for their home that they can install right in their garages. Home charging gives drivers about 25 miles of range per hour of charge. There is also available fast DC charging that gives about 100 miles of range per hour of charging. Technically, the Bolt can also be charged by the sun, but you have to admit it looks a bit strange. 

The 2020 Chevy Bolt

This unexceptional-looking hatchback debuted in 2016, and not much has changed since then. It has a comfortable interior with an airy feeling and a low, flat floor. It has a good amount of cargo space with 17 cubic feet, and the interior has an attractive two-tone design. A crisp display screen gives you critical information, and advanced safety features keep you and your passengers safe.  

The Chevy Bolt handles fairly well for such a tall vehicle, mainly because of its low center of gravity. It features a 200-hp electric motor that delivers 266 lb-ft of torque that gives the EV a little bit of get-up-and-go. It’s never going to be the most powerful vehicle, but it does hustle from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. Available driver-assist safety features include forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, and automatic emergency braking.

The Chevy Bolt has all the latest technology displayed on the 10.2-inch color touchscreen and the 8-inch Driver Information Center. There’s an available Wi-Fi hotspot, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The touchscreen has a handy feature where it gives you all the real-time information you need like battery levels and estimated range separate from your entertainment features through a split-screen to eliminate confusion. 

Given the meager price difference, buyers will probably choose the stylish Tesla Model 3 over the Chevy Bolt, but the Bolt does have a few things going for it. If you can handle the lackluster styling and non-thrilling drive, the new extra range on the battery make the 2020 Chevy Bolt stand out a bit more from the crowd.