My First EV — Half IV: 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV or 2020 Tesla Mannequin 3?

After I determined final yr to purchase an electrical automotive, the primary one I thought of was the Tesla Mannequin 3. (See “My First EV – Half I.”) I check drove one on the supplier and took notes. After attempting the Kia Niro EV, Hyundai Kona EV, and VW ID.4, I ended up shopping for a Chevy Bolt EUV with Tremendous Cruise.

Final week we have been going to a celebration on the Filimon Farms, about 40 miles from residence. It was far sufficient away to justify a carpool, and extra enjoyable. Some pals supplied to drive us and confirmed up at our residence of their 2020 Tesla Mannequin 3. My rapid response was: “Can I drive?”

“Certain,” answered my pal.

After placing 2,000 miles on my Bolt, I actually needed to match it with the Mannequin 3. However is that this a good comparability? My 2023 Bolt was $41,000 out the door. Checking Craigslist, a 2020 Mannequin 3 goes for $35,000 to $40,000, plus DMV charges, so the comparability is honest by way of price. Right here is my (subjective) evaluation.

Acceleration

This can be a no contest. With greater than double the horsepower, the Mannequin 3 is the clear winner. If that is vital to you, the selection is clear.

Tesla: ☆☆☆☆☆
Bolt: ☆☆☆

Dashboard

My pal sits shotgun whereas I’m driving his automotive. “What number of miles in your automotive”? I ask. “I do not know. Let me examine,” he says. And he begins tapping on the pill. He clicks on some “Automobile” tab and opens a display screen with tons of data. He seems, clicks some extra, and after a couple of minutes offers up. “I have no idea,” he concludes. [Editor’s note: After clicking on the symbol of the car, you click on “Software” and your mileage total is there. I agree that it’s not the intuitive place to put it, but once you know where it is, it’s quick and easy to get to. —Zach Shahan]

I’m positive the knowledge is someplace on the Tesla infotainment system, however not simple to search out. In comparison with the Bolt, it’s simply infantile. One other penalty of the minimalistic design that Elon loves a lot.

Maybe the Tesla has a compass someplace and one might in all probability discover it after quite a few faucets. Or perhaps it’s all the time current, however it’s important to search for it. Take a look at the compass on the Bolt show. One look and also you see it. The vary can be clearly displayed. It doesn’t should compete with the navigation map, the automotive historical past, or no matter else you’ve displayed on the dashboard. It’s all the time there, accurately.

The local weather controls on the Bolt are significantly better. Levers you press up and down to regulate the temperature and the fan are conveniently positioned below the show. They aren’t menu gadgets on the monitor.

Tesla: ☆☆
Bolt: ☆☆☆☆☆

Braking

The Mannequin 3, and I believe all of the Teslas, have two methods of braking. In non-regenerative mode, the automotive coasts once you take the foot off the accelerator. In regenerative mode, the automotive brakes closely once you take the foot off. In non-regenerative mode, it’s important to break the automotive utilizing the brake pedal, and you don’t recuperate your kinetic power. In regenerative mode, you utilize your power to cost the battery, however the one approach you possibly can break much less is to press the accelerator barely.

The Bolt is completely different. You don’t swap between the 2 modes. As a substitute, it has a brake-assist lever on the steering wheel, conveniently positioned on the left facet. Whenever you launch the accelerator, the automotive brakes barely — regenerative. You’ll be able to brake closely utilizing your left hand fingers. After just a few hours of driving the Bolt, I realized find out how to use the “hand brake” and I can cease the automotive precisely the place I need, with out ever touching the foot brake. I feel I can drive this automotive 100,000 miles with out changing the brake pads. I used to be not capable of do the identical with the Tesla. It both stopped too quickly or too late, and I had to make use of the brake pedal. [Editor’s note: I think this is again just a case of getting used to it. I don’t remember the process of getting used to it, but I almost never have to touch the brake pedal, and I also don’t suffer from the problem of letting off the accelerator too soon or too quickly. Regen braking is super smooth and, I think, ideal on the Model 3. YMMV. — Zach]

Bolt handbrake

Tesla: ☆☆☆☆
Bolt: ☆☆☆☆☆

Vary

The vary of the 2 automobiles could be very comparable, 240 to 260 miles, relying on how briskly you drive. No winner right here. As you possibly can see within the image above, the Bolt even claims a 290 mile vary — in case your previous driving was somewhat gradual, on metropolis streets.

Tesla: ☆☆☆☆☆
Bolt: ☆☆☆☆☆

Consolation

The Tesla is extra trendy and the seats are very snug. Each automobiles have artificial leather-based. The seats on the Bolt are perforated and the automotive sends scorching or chilly air by way of the leather-based, primarily based on the choice of the local weather. I have no idea if the Tesla has the identical characteristic. [Editor’s note: The Model 3 has seat heaters but does not have perforated seats and cooling through the seat, unfortunately. —Zach]

The local weather is nice on each automobiles, besides settings are simpler on the Bolt. And not using a exact measurement, I discovered the highway noise fairly comparable, perhaps a little bit bit increased on the Tesla. Possibly I’m not observant sufficient, however I couldn’t see a winner.

Tesla: ☆☆☆☆☆
Bolt: ☆☆☆☆☆

Mirrors

SIDE MIRRORS: After I first check drove the Mannequin 3, I discovered the show exhibiting all of the automobiles within the adjoining traces fairly attention-grabbing. Now I’m not so positive. The Mannequin 3 reveals all of the automobiles behind, in line, and forward of my automotive, on the left and proper. A variety of data I don’t care about. Truly, I care solely in regards to the automobiles in my blind spots, left and proper. And right here the Bolt does a wonderful job.

The facet mirrors of the Bolt have a little bit automotive and a star subsequent to it embedded within the mirror, in direction of the skin edge. When a automotive is in your blind spot, give or take just a few ft up and down, a crimson gentle on the mirror lights up. I discover this very handy, particularly at night time. I shouldn’t have to search for it. I see it with my peripheral imaginative and prescient with out turning my head. The sunshine will not be too intrusive, simply shiny sufficient so you possibly can see it. GM calls it Blind Zone Help and it does simply that.

REARVIEW MIRROR: On all of the automobiles I drove up to now, the rearview mirror had two positions, for day and night time driving. I didn’t examine the Tesla, however I believe it’s the similar. The Bolt is completely different.

Within the regular setting, the rearview mirror is simply the plain mirror. Whenever you pull on the extent under, the mirror turns into a show exhibiting the view from a digicam. Gimmick or helpful characteristic?

The default setting has a a lot bigger view angle than the mirror. You’ll be able to see objects that you wouldn’t see within the regular mirror. You’ll be able to modify the zoom, luminosity, and tilt additionally. I discovered the digicam mirror very handy when you’ve passengers within the rear seat. The mirror view will be obstructed a terrific deal, particularly when you have tall pals. Not so with the digicam view. Clear, unobstructed view in all instances.

Tesla: ☆☆☆☆
Bolt: ☆☆☆☆☆

Autopilot

Everyone knows Elon brags about “full self-driving,” however this can be a fantasy. The Mannequin 3 I drove didn’t have it to the fullest. Simply common Autopilot on the freeway, comparable with the Bolt. I’ll evaluate completely different segments of this individually.

Deployment

The Mannequin 3 has the “gear shift” on the best facet of the steering wheel stage, the place you usually have the wiper controls. The wipers are managed from the flip sign stalk, which I didn’t have the possibility to experiment with, however I discover somewhat unconventional. Nonetheless, deploying Autopilot could be very simple. You simply press twice on the lever, and if the situations are correct, the pilot engages.

The Bolt is rather less handy. It’s a must to press a button on the left facet of the steering wheel. Not an enormous deal, however it’s important to look at it. Not as handy because the Mannequin 3, which doesn’t require trying.

Tesla: ☆☆☆☆☆
Bolt: ☆☆☆☆

Auto Steering

When Autopilot takes over, it steers the automotive within the heart lane and it drives on the preset velocity, or it retains a continuing distance to the automotive upfront. It was in all probability laborious for Elon to surrender on the “minimalistic” method, however right here he conceded and put in a devoted wheel to regulate the gap. I discovered it alone with out asking. The Bolt has an identical wheel, besides the result’s proven on the dashboard in entrance of you, not on the monitor to your proper.

Conserving the middle of the driving lane is an attention-grabbing problem. The automotive has to “look forward” to see when a curve is coming, in an effort to begin steering early sufficient. I feel each automobiles do an excellent job of navigating the curves — considerably anticipated from the Tesla, however a pleasant shock from the Bolt. They’re each significantly better than an ICE Camry I rented final yr which had its personal type of Autopilot.

Tesla: ☆☆☆☆☆
Bolt: ☆☆☆☆☆

Engagement Show

When Autopilot engages, the Mannequin 3 reveals some indication of that on the touchscreen to the best, however checking the show is cumbersome. On the Bolt, fairly reassuring, the highest sector of the steering wheel turns inexperienced. You shouldn’t have to search for it; you possibly can see it proper in entrance of you. If the pilot has doubts about steering, it turns blue. If it offers up, it turns crimson.

Tesla: ☆☆☆☆
Bolt: ☆☆☆☆☆

Lane Altering

The Mannequin 3 is aware of find out how to change lanes. The Bolt doesn’t. On the Mannequin 3, you inform it to alter lanes by urgent on the flip sign. On the Bolt, you sign your intention, the show turns blue, and you change lanes. After the lane change, the pilot re-engages and the show turns inexperienced. I ought to give the Bolt zero stars, and 5 to Tesla, however I discover the lane change characteristic a somewhat harmful exercise for the autopilot. If there is no such thing as a site visitors, the Mannequin 3 does an ideal line change. If the site visitors is heavy, overlook it. I attempted it on the Tesla and I needed to take over. No ranking right here — I choose to take over once I change lanes.

Conclusion

Simply by merely including up the scores, the Mannequin 3 acquired 39 stars and the Bolt 42. I certainly am subjective, as a result of I dislike the Tesla (lack of) dashboard and I discover the position of the pill annoying. I confirmed extra footage of the Bolt controls, as a result of there’s nothing to point out on the Tesla.

So, in case you are available in the market for an EV, what must you select? The Mannequin 3 begins at $40,000. The Bolt EUV begins at $27,000. So, in all probability ultimately, the Tesla will price no less than $10,000 extra. Your wealthy Uncle Sam will pitch in as much as $7,500 for the Bolt or $3,750 for the Mannequin 3 (except you purchase the Mannequin 3 Efficiency, the most costly possibility, through which case Uncle Sam will present $7,500). When you just like the minimalistic method and cash will not be vital, the Mannequin 3 is for you. When you like the standard design and don’t care what folks assume for those who drive a Chevy, the Bolt is your more sensible choice. However be sure to examine them each earlier than deciding.

By Mihai Beffa