New 2022 Bolt EUV Has Less Cargo Volume Than Smaller Chevy Bolt - No Tow Rating
Those hoping that the new Chevy Bolt EUV will be an "Electric Utility Vehicle" may want to look closely at Chevy's fine print. We did, and we discovered that the new "larger" 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV has less cargo volume than the smaller Bolt hatchback, is only offered in two-wheel drive, and has no towing rating.
We have cut and pasted the cargo capacity data from the General Motors official specifications for the new battery-electric vehicles above. As it stands, the Bolt EUV has slightly less cargo volume than the new Bolt will. That lower utility volume is found both behind the rear seats and also when the rear seats are folded.
To give the Bolt EUV's cargo volume some perspective, we looked back to a prior green utility vehicle with front-wheel drive, the Prius V. The Prius V offered a total of 34.3 cu ft of volume with the rear seats up and 67.3 cu ft with them folded. That is significantly more than the new Bolt EUV will have. The Prius V had about 16% more cargo volume than the new Bolt EUV will have.
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Some other battery electric vehicles now on sale with similar cargo volume include the Kia Niro EV with 18.5 cu ft and 53 cu ft and the Mustang Mach-E with 29.7 cu ft and 59.7 cu ft. Both of those values are with the rear seats up and then folded down.
Those looking for a true utility vehicle with a plug and all-wheel drive that is capable of towing up to 2,500 pounds should consider the Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV. It offers a much larger cargo volume than the Bolt EUV of 33.4 cu ft and 63.2 cu ft. And Toyota managed to find space for a compact spare tire in every trim.
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Chevrolet did not include a tow rating for the Bolt Electric Utility Vehicle, so we will assume it is not rated for such duty. The prior generation Bolt included the warning below in its owner's manual.
John Goreham is a long-time New England Motor Press Association member and recovering engineer. Following his engineering program, John also completed a marketing program at Northeastern University and worked with automotive component manufacturers. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin