Back By Popular Demand For a Limited Time Only: The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt RS

If you were among the people who liked the Chevy Bolt in its first run (2017-2023)---and there was a lot to like---you were probably disheartened when, just as it looked like the Bolt was really catching on, production was discontinued to make room to build the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV pickup trucks. Those are great vehicles, but if you want a Bolt, they're probably not the next best thing for you.

Well, good news! The Bolt is back, but you need to hurry. Chevrolet says this run of Bolts will be "limited production". Best bet is 18 months on the market before it goes away again.

To its credit, Chevy didn't simply start up where they left off. There have been significant improvements to the re-introduced Bolt. This was originally the long-wheelbase Bolt EUV. The short-wheelbase version is no longer available.

Range for the Bolt is now 262 miles per charge (up from 259). Better still, charging times are 2.5 times faster, with a peak speed of 150kW. That translates, according to GM, to 25 minutes for a 10%-80% recharge on a public DC fast charger.

The Bolt also has an NACS charging port, allowing use of the Tesla Supercharger network. An adaptor for other DC fast chargers is available at extra cost ($189). And the Bolt is now bi-directional. If need be, it can power your house when properly equipped (extra-cost opitons required).

In a major advance, Chevy's Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system is also an extra-cost option ($4,450), and more than 20 active safety features are standard equipment.

The new Bolt gets some major interior upgrades, too. The center screen measures 11.3 inches, and offers entertainment apps like Angry Birds, HBO Max, and more through Google built-in. What it doesn't have is Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The new Bolt lives by the current GM edict that those interfaces won't be part of the plan.

A poll by our old friends at American Trucks shows that to be a risky decision, with 36% of Android Auto users and 55% of Apple CarPlay users saying it's a deal-breaker. As much as I like the Bolt, personally, I'm a CarPlay user and yeah, not having it is a disqualifier. Props to GM, though, for having the climate control outside the screen---with actual physical buttons and knobs.

The driver information screen is also larger in the new Bolt---11 inches.

A window sticker for our exact test vehicle wasn't available, but using the Chevrolet consumer site's build option, we can sketch it out.

The base Bolt is the LT, which starts at $28,995 including destination.

Our tester was the RS model, which adds standard heated and ventilated front seats, multi-colored ambient lighting, 17-inch gloss black wheels, gloss black roof rails, a gloss black grille, synthetic leather seating, eight-way power driver's seat, a heated steering wheel, and an auto-dimming inside rear-view mirror.

2027 Chevrolet Bolt RS Base price: $32,995 including destination

DC adaptor: $189

Technology package (wireless phone charger, rain-sensing wipers, rear camera mirror): $1,195

Super Cruise (requires Technology package): $4,450

Total estimated price: $33,184.

That's a good price for a well-equipped small electric vehicle.

I'm glad the Bolt is back. I wish it were staying longer. And I wish GM would reconsider its decision about Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, because that's really the only deal-breaker here.