I just completed a first drive of the redesigned 2027 Chevrolet Bolt RS, and as a longtime fan of the Bolt lineup, I went in with high expectations. Having spent months behind the wheel of previous Bolt models, including the EUV, I know what made this EV a standout. But after comparing notes with a current Bolt owner who also drove the new model, we both came to the same conclusion: the 2027 Bolt gets a lot right, yet one issue stands out as a dealbreaker.
I’m a veteran EV tester who has the opportunity to test drive EVs and plug-ins from the affordable end of the spectrum to the exotic. My friend, Bill Hagen, is a longtime Bolt owner and fan, and he’s an all-star contributor to the internet’s best Bolt club. Bill and I both drove the higher-level Bolt RS trim this week. Here’s what we found to like about the Bolt, and what we wish that Chevy had done differently. Including one aspect of the new Bolt that both Bill and I agree may be a dealbreaker for many shoppers.
2027 Chevrolet Bolt RS Driving Impressions
Bill: This car takes off faster than my 2023 Bolt. It feels like it really flies. And less front-end sway if you really push it. No regen paddle, but you can adjust the amount of regen braking for greater or lesser braking. The Normal setting felt fine to me. The brakes seemed much more sensitive than mine. They grabbed very quickly.
Near my house is a parking lot with terrible potholes. In my Bolt, you rock back and forth like you’re on the back of an ox (though on the road, the ride is very smooth). It seems to me the new Bolt has better suspension; it did much better on the potholes. The ride on the highway was very smooth.
John: Having not driven a Bolt for the better part of a year, I found the new 2027 Bolt RS to be peppier than I remembered it. I loved the Bolt EUV and the original Bolt both for their snappy, darty, point-and-shoot personalities. The 2027 RS has that in spades. With its great greenhouse, you feel like you are in a Jetson’s Bubble Car and can see and do things that traditional cars cannot. It’s fun and a joy to drive in the real world.
Our roads are also badly damaged by a harsh late winter, and the Bolt was smooth over all of the normal imperfections. I didn’t nail any whoppers, partly because I could see and then dodge them inside my own lane due to the Bolt’s nimble handling. Entering my first corner, I discovered the nifty little regen paddle was gone. Boo! I loved that aspect of the Bolt. It’s been replaced with a menu hat that allows you to set the regen force. I enjoyed doing it on the fly in the old Bolt.
As Bill points out, the Bolt isn't just good in traffic; it’s a great highway car as well. The ride was smooth and serene. The on-ramp was not the rush of acceleration I’ve come to expect from EVs in 2026, but I can’t name a $30K gasser that would do better.
2027 Chevy Bolt RS Interior Design and Style Elements
Bill: GM made many improvements to the interior. I like that there are at least eight compartments and cubbies where you can put stuff, including the side pockets in the doors and glove compartment. In my Bolt, I often wonder where to put small items. In the large door pockets, they’ve built in a nice bottle holder. Red stitching on the black seats looks really sharp.
The infotainment screen and the screen in front of the steering wheel are bigger, nicely laid out and customizable. I like that you can see the numerical percentage of charge remaining. And I like that you can see the outside temperature without having to turn the climate control on; it always shows. A small but welcome improvement: Whenever I park, I use the camera that gives me a view as if you are looking down from above the car. To turn the camera on, I have to touch two “buttons” on the screen while I’m turning into the parking space. The salesperson told me that on the 2027 Bolt, you can set this camera to be always on at a slow speed. A small improvement, but a good one.
John: I started by checking out the back seat. Yes, there is clear Bolt EUV genes here. The backseat is way better than anyone might expect by looking at the Bolt from the outside. It’s big and looks big enough for car seats, though I didn't test it.
Moving to the front, I felt the seats were a smidge small, but at six feet and 200 pounds, I did fit. If you’re bigger, try before you set your mind to a Bolt. The lumbar support was almost too good. I felt like I moved it back three times, and it still poked me in the lower back.
Every part of the interior looked good to me. Quality is subjective, but I felt that at $30K-ish, this interior is among the best you’ll find, with perhaps Kia being its match. I loved the new screen layout, but I also like the EUV’s as well. Bill seems to like the new one better, so let’s call him right.
The visibility is excellent in the Bolt, and if you are comfortable with a small car, I imagine anyone would find the Bolt a very easy car to drive. It feels like the ultimate inner-city urban runabout to me. Easy to find a gap in traffic, and when you arrive, nothing will be easier to park.
One very positive surprise for me was the large and practical cargo area. It was bigger than I remembered it being in the older Bolts, and the sub-floor storage space seems huge. It really looked like a compact spare tire could be worked in. On that topic, I looked very closely at the Bolt RS tires. They are still Michelin, which is great, but I didn't see any Self-Seal logo. I did a bit of checking and found out they are not self-sealable. That’s a step in the wrong direction, in my opinion.
2017 Bolt Super Cruise
I’m a fan of GM’s Super Cruise, and I’ve tested it in many different GM products, including the Bolt EUV, but I did not have a chance to try it in my limited seat time. Note that you will pay for it after its initial trial period ends, so, although you have it in your Bolt, you don’t own it. That’s a problem for me as a consumer, and I’d opt for a trim without it if I had the option.
2027 Bolt RS - The Dealbreaker For Bill and John
Bill: I’m one of those people who, for several reasons, doesn’t want a car that doesn’t have Apple CarPlay.
John: Although I am team Android, I concur with Bill. I don't see myself buying any vehicle that doesn’t have Android Auto. I’ve explored Google Built-In, and it’s not as good, and it's far less convenient than Android Auto. Pair that with having to pay for a data plan, and it’s a dealbreaker for me personally.
2027 Bolt RS - Conclusions
Bill: I think GM pulled off a very thoughtful and well-implemented redesign. I was impressed, but I plan to keep my 2023 Bolt for years to come. (Bill mentioned the lack of Apple CarPlay here, and I moved that up to the section above)
John: I’m a fan of affordable, fun cars, and if they are EVs, all the better. GM deserves credit for bringing back the Bolt as a new generation, and I will hold out hope that two things happen. First, GM opts to keep it on the market well past the expected 1-year production run. Second, that GM reverses course on removing phone mirroring. There is no need to remove Google Built-In, simply give Bolt shoppers the same system as the other GM models that offer both.
Story Note: This is not a full test and review. It represents a short first drive akin to a test drive a customer may take. Images by John Goreham. Bolt RS, tested by John, had a price of $32,995.
What’s your take? Did our first drive impressions match your hopes for the new 2027 Bolt? Do you own one? If so, please tell us your impressions in the comments section below.
My thanks to Bill Hagen for generously agreeing to help us with this story.
John Goreham is a 14-year veteran of Torque News. An accomplished writer and a long-time expert in vehicle testing, Goreham also serves as the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association and has a growing social media presence. He’s also a 10-year staff writer and community moderator for Car Talk. Goreham holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an undergraduate Certificate in Marketing. In addition to vehicle and tire content, he offers deep dives into market trends and opinion pieces. You can follow John Goreham on X and TikTok, and connect with him on LinkedIn.
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