Chevy's Bolt delivers an electric jolt to the heart

This review first appeared in the November 2022 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

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Sacramento, California -- It's electric, egg-shaped and energetic.

But most of all, the tested 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV 2LT hatchback is -- dare I say it -- an influencer.

It is so finely engineered, so fun to drive and so pleasingly peppy that it should convince most electric vehicle doubters that "this one is actually pretty cool."

Yes, cool.  That's the word.

At first glance, the subcompact hatchback Bolt's lines are definitely egg-shaped, but in an aerodynamic way.  The exterior badging and space-age look tell you that this is something different from the norm.

In this era of super-expensive gas, the biggest difference is the electric/gas mileage equivalent, using a formula that is beyond my brain power.  But the bottom-line numbers tell the tale: 131 mpg equivalent in the city and 109 mpg on the highway.

For the record, charging it up is as easy as grabbing a chocolate chip cookie out of the jar.

Range is good ... nearly 300 miles on a single charge if you're babying it along.

My ride was generously equipped with all the features you would expect in a vehicle powered with something other than electricity.  That included heated seats, LED lights all around and driver-assistance features.

But the best part is the driving.

The tester was exceedingly smooth, perhaps enhanced by the silence accompanying movement.  It takes some getting used to, but it doesn't take long.

Steering is top-tier.  The Bolt doesn't drive into spaces as much as quickly scoot into them.  And that is a heart-racing blast.

Response off the line is incredible.  Repeatedly, without smashing the accelerator to the floor, I zipped away from intersections and glanced at the rearview mirror to realize that I was 20 car lengths ahead of the vehicle that was beside me only seconds ago.

This "instant-go" feeling is habit-forming, and I found myself beating sports cars down the road with very little effort.

This is a universal smile-producer, no matter if you're driving an electric vehicle or a gas guzzler.

The bottom line on the tester was $36,165, hefty for a subcompact but totally justified by the technology under the skin.  One assumes Bolt buyers are in for the long haul.

And for those on the fence about electric vehicles, one test drive in this Bolt might put your feet firmly on the ground.