On Sunday, General Motors revealed the Chevy Bolt EUV, or electric utility vehicle. The EUV joins as the newest member in the Chevy Bolt family, along with an updated version of the Chevy Bolt EV.
The Chevy Bolt EUV serves as a compact SUV but when it comes to size comparisons, there is only a minimal difference between the Bolt EUV and EV. The EUV’s length runs at six inches longer than that of the EV, has a three-inch longer wheelbase and is only two-tenths of an inch higher.
And while the Bolt EUV does not have all-wheel drive, it—along with the EV—will include GM’s hands-free Super Cruise system.
GM and Chevrolet are set to begin production on the new Bolt EUV and EV this spring and will have them in showrooms by early summer. When they do, though, the Chevy Bolt EUV may run into some competition.
Last year, Tesla began shipping out the Model Y, the company’s newest SUV. In comparison to the larger, luxury Model X, the Model Y serves as a more compact SUV and is based off of the automaker’s Model 3 sedan. In 2019, CEO Elon Musk also said that the Model Y would most likely surpass the Model 3 to become Tesla’s best selling vehicle.
Tesla made a name for itself as a luxury electric vehicle brand, but with the announcement of the more affordable Chevy Bolt EUV, those in the market for a larger electric car may want to know the comparisons between the Bolt EUV and Tesla’s Model Y SUV.
Below are a few comparisons between the two to help anyone in making their electric SUV decisions.
Hands-Free Driving
As stated above, the Chevy Bolt EUV includes a hands-free Super Cruise driving system that has only been seen in Cadillac vehicles thus far. Super Cruise uses facial recognition to identify if the driver is paying attention; this eliminates the need for them to touch the steering wheel while driving.
Additionally, Super Cruise can be utilized on more than 200,000 miles of highways and freeways in the U.S. and Canada; the feature uses its cameras, radars and sensors, as well as map data to travel on these roads.
Tesla includes the Autopilot feature for all of its vehicles which also requires full attention of the driver. For those interested in Full Self-Driving software, including Autopark and Auto Lane Change, they can add it for an additional price of around $10,000 in the Model Y, though the feature hasn’t been perfected yet. Musk also revealed that in 2019, all Tesla vehicles would reach the ability to travel “without a geofence” so they can drive anywhere.
All-Wheel Drive and Charging
GM promises that the Chevy Bolt EUV travels up to 250 miles after a full charge and adds up to 90 miles back after a 30-minute charge. The EUV also does not include all-wheel drive, which is a common feature on SUVs, although Chevy chief engineer Jesse Ortega said that he “wouldn’t buy into idea it has to have four-wheel drive to be an SUV.”
The Tesla Model Y offers an all-wheel drive dual motor that helps with driving in rain, snow, mud or off-road for an additional $8,000. In a single charge, the Long Range AWD Model Y travels up to 326 miles and recharges up to 162 miles in a 15-minute period.
How Much Are They?
When comparing the Bolt EUV and the Model Y, the main topic would have to be the pricing of each vehicle.
Knowing that the Bolt EUV would have steep competition with Tesla and other automakers that have released electric vehicles, GM and Chevrolet made its price lower in comparison.
The Chevy Bolt EUV has a starting price of $33,995, whereas the Tesla Model Y begins at $41,990. As these are the bases prices for each vehicle, the two of them also allow modifications at a additional cost. The base model of the EUV lacks some features that come in the Tesla by default, such as heated seats and a leather steering wheel, but offers additions in three different tiered packages that range between $495 and $1695.
Tesla offers far less add-ons, but offers more in the base model. Even with all of the add on features and a custom paint job (the Bolt EUV offers seven colors or finishes to choose from while Tesla offers only five), the Bolt EUV will likely come out lower in price than the Tesla Model Y.
Overall the price of the Bolt EUV beats the price of the Tesla Model Y, but those that are looking for the luxury features that Tesla is known for might be disappointed by the Bolt EUV. The Bolt EUV, however, is the perfect option for drivers that are looking for an electric SUV but don’t want to pay Tesla pricing—even with Tesla’s more affordable Model Y.
