The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV is now on sale at dealerships across the country, and its sticker price starts at just $28,995. That makes it one of the cheapest new electric vehicles you can buy in the United States, and it signals that General Motors is serious about winning back budget-minded EV shoppers after a two-year production gap.
Chevrolet confirmed in an April 2026 newsroom update that vehicles are already shipping and available nationwide. The compact hatchback carries an EPA-estimated range of up to 262 miles on a full charge, a number that puts it squarely in daily-driver territory for most Americans.
Pricing and what you get
When GM first unveiled the 2027 Bolt in October 2025, the initial launch trim, the LT, was listed at $29,990 including a $1,395 destination freight charge. GM indicated at the time that a lower-priced LT configuration would follow at $28,995 including destination. That lower figure is now the advertised starting point on Chevrolet’s consumer site, where Build and Price tools are live.
The 2027 Bolt is built on GM’s Ultium platform, a significant change from the previous-generation Bolt that used older battery architecture and was pulled from the market after a high-profile recall. The earlier Bolt’s recall affected roughly 142,000 vehicles due to battery-fire risks and led GM to halt production and offer buybacks to affected owners. Because the 2027 model rides on the Ultium platform with different cell chemistry and updated thermal management, it does not share the battery design that triggered those earlier problems. That said, GM has not published detailed third-party test results to independently validate the new system’s safety record.
“The all-new Bolt EV represents our commitment to making electric vehicles accessible to everyone,” Scott Bell, vice president of Chevrolet, said in the brand’s April 2026 announcement. That kind of corporate framing is worth noting: it reflects GM’s marketing position, not an independent assessment, but it does put the company on the record about its intentions for the nameplate.
Key specs at a glance
GM’s published materials and Chevrolet’s consumer site list the following specifications for the 2027 Bolt EV. These figures come from the manufacturer and carry standard EPA-estimated qualifiers where noted:
Range: Up to 262 miles (EPA-estimated).
Battery: Ultium lithium-ion pack. GM has not disclosed the exact kilowatt-hour capacity in its public announcements so far.
Horsepower: GM lists the Bolt’s electric motor at approximately 200 horsepower.
DC fast charging: The 2027 Bolt supports DC fast charging, though GM’s public summaries have not specified a peak kilowatt rate for the base LT trim.
Cargo space: Chevrolet’s product page lists roughly 57 cubic feet of maximum cargo volume with the rear seats folded.
Buyers should confirm all figures against the Monroney window sticker on the specific vehicle they are considering, since trim levels and options can affect final numbers.
How it stacks up against rivals
At under $30,000, the Bolt undercuts most of its direct competitors. The 2025 Nissan Leaf S starts around $29,280 but offers a shorter EPA-estimated range of 149 miles. The 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric SE begins near $33,550 with an EPA-estimated range of about 261 miles. Tesla’s Model 3, the best-selling EV in the U.S., starts well above $35,000 even after recent price adjustments.
None of those rivals match the Bolt’s combination of sub-$30,000 pricing and 260-plus miles of range. That gap is exactly where GM is trying to plant its flag, targeting first-time EV buyers and commuters who want electric driving without stretching into the mid-$30,000s or higher.
What buyers should know before signing
Despite the attractive price, there are real gaps in the information available as of May 2026. A few things to keep in mind:
Range has not been independently verified yet. The 262-mile figure comes from Chevrolet’s own communications and carries the standard “EPA-estimated” qualifier. The EPA’s public fuel-economy database has not yet posted final test results for the 2027 Bolt. Until it does, the range claim rests on GM’s word. Buyers comparing the Bolt against competitors with independently confirmed ratings should factor that in.
No crash-test scores are available. Neither NHTSA nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has published ratings for the 2027 Bolt. NHTSA’s recall database and complaint portal show no early flags specific to 2027 shipments, but the absence of complaints is not the same as a clean safety record. Shoppers who prioritize verified crash performance may want to wait.
Tax-credit eligibility is not guaranteed. A sub-$30,000 MSRP places the Bolt well within the federal clean-vehicle credit’s price cap, but actual eligibility hinges on battery-component sourcing rules that shift annually. GM has not published a detailed breakdown of where the 2027 Bolt’s cells and critical minerals originate. Before assuming you qualify for the full $7,500 credit, check the IRS clean-vehicle eligibility tool, which lets you search by make, model, and year. Because sourcing rules tighten over time, a Bolt built earlier in the model year could have different eligibility than one produced months later.
Charging details deserve a closer look. GM’s marketing highlights the Bolt’s maximum range but is less specific about charging speeds, included home-charging hardware, and any bundled public-charging credits. Ask the dealer what level of home charging is recommended, what equipment comes with the car, and what installation might cost. Those expenses can add $500 to $2,000 depending on your home’s electrical setup.
A practical step that takes 60 seconds
If you are shopping a specific Bolt on a dealer lot, take the vehicle’s 17-digit VIN and run it through NHTSA’s free VIN decoding tool. The database draws on compliance filings that manufacturers are required by law to submit, so it can confirm the model year, trim, and manufacturer designation. It is the fastest way to make sure the car in front of you is genuinely a 2027 unit and not a leftover from an earlier run.
Why the Bolt’s Ultium switch matters for early buyers
Early buyers of the 2027 Bolt will essentially serve as the first wave of real-world testers for GM’s Ultium-based affordable-EV formula. Their experiences with range accuracy, battery durability, and dealer service will fill in the blanks that marketing materials cannot. For some shoppers, the low entry price, GM’s warranty coverage, and a familiar nameplate will be reason enough to move now. Others may prefer to wait for crash-test scores, independent road tests from outlets like Consumer Reports and Edmunds, and a few months of owner feedback.
Either way, the 2027 Bolt’s arrival marks a concrete shift in the EV market. For the first time in years, a major automaker is selling a new electric car with over 250 miles of range for under $30,000. Whether GM can deliver on that promise at scale, and whether the car holds up under scrutiny, will become clearer in the months ahead. But the price alone has already changed the conversation.
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*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
