[cab]

So my son and I attended the Ft. Worth auto show yesterday and got to see a blue Bolt in person. it was a premier model with the lighter two-tone leather interior (note: there a a solid dark interior option and a darker two-tone leather option as well). As a point of comparison, I had also seen the base model Bolt in red with the cloth interior at the Texas state fair about 6 weeks ago.

As I anticipated, I really like the blue on the Bolt (it's my favorite color on the Volt as well), and extras like the silver roof rails also added to the look. I further appreciated the details in the front "grills" although the silver grills might pop even more (note: the Bolt has both black and silver grills, but they are married to specific exterior color choices).

There was a siren red Volt and an orange Cruz hatchback near it as well. I know the red is the same color red (but with a different name) that will be on the Bolt and I am pretty sure the orange is as well. The blue was easily my favorite of these three. The red is more burgundy than I prefer (but does look good in sunlight), and the orange is a tad too burnt orange for me.

As to the interior, as expected, the leather does step it up nicely in terms of appearance. It doesn't address the cheap hard plastic door panels (on all surfaces) or cheapness of the dash/console area, but is is a nice step up. I noted the seats were somewhat uncomfortable when I sat in them at the state fair and notice the same thing this time. However, the biggest issues is ingress/egress where the edge of the seat bolsters (primarily the seatback bolster) is just hard and you can grab the metal or plastic frame through the material). It is similar to the feeling you get when getting in and out of some cars with very firmly bolstered sport seats. While seated, this really wasn't too bad. However, the seats aren't terribly wide so depending on how blubbery you are this could be more or less of an issue. Obviously, sitting in it for X minutes doesn't give you a great feel for what it is like to drive for 30 minutes, 2 hours, etc. You may, as an example, find your arms hitting the sides I suppose. I do think the leather seat bottoms felt a bit better than the cloth, but I notice this on a lot of cars. I think, to keep leather more wrinkle free perhaps, the cushioning is often tighter/firmer on leather and I feel less "bottoming out" in leather seats. My wife and I definitely noticed this on the BMW i3 as an example when we did back to back test drives of the cloth and leather equipped cars.

Hoping these pics show up (I seem to have trouble with Google Photos and sharing these days):

Let me know if the pics don't show up!

 

[Fred_B]

Thanks for posting the pictures, they look fine from here.

 

[Raymondjram]

What a beautiful car! I would love to see it, too (I have visited Fort Worth and Dallas twice and stayed at "Las Colinas" in Arlington), but I will not see any here in Puerto Rico for at least one more year. I do hope GM and Chevrolet begin a full time advertisement program of the 2017 Chevy Bolt EV to all the U.S. and generate the sales it needs to continue the production into the 2018 model year, when it may arrive here.

Thanks for the great pictures!

 

[stuart22]

I noted the seats were somewhat uncomfortable when I sat in them at the state fair and notice the same thing this time. However, the biggest issues is ingress/egress where the edge of the seat bolsters (primarily the seatback bolster) is just hard and you can grab the metal or plastic frame through the material). While seated, this really wasn't too bad. However, the seats aren't terribly wide so depending on how blubbery you are this could be more or less of an issue.

Looks like the exact same Bolt I checked out a week ago at the San Francisco Auto Show.

The intrusive plastic seat frames were something I also noticed, especially on the bottom seat cushion upon entry and exit. It got me wondering how worse it will get over time if and when the side padding in the seat loses its firmness and form. If there was anything that was to get in the way of my getting a Bolt, it was this.

 

[BAZINGA]

I love the exterior (blue with black trim) but I think how they designed the gray/black two-tone interior only adds to the "cheapness" look many complain about. For the Bolt I would have hoped for a solid black perforated higher quality leather as an option.

Not much they can do about the plastic door panels and dash at this juncture. But aside from that complaint the Bolt looks like a winner. I just hope GM is positioned to build one for every sold order and enough for fleets and dealers.

 

[jason.meador]

Thank you for these pics! I wish I could make it out there today. I can't wait to sit in one of these!

 

[Steverino]

For those who object to a durable, easy to maintain plastic door panel, perhaps a trip to an auto-upholstery shop to cover the panel in leather will address that concern?

 

[Ladogaboy]

I've actually gotten used to heavier bolstering from previous cars. In my experience, it is only an issue for people who are overweight, but it is a universal issue across all markets.

I do find the double standard a bit funny, though. When you put heavily bolstered seats in performance cars, everyone loves it. Put bolstered seats in something that's not seen as a performance car, and people complain. To each his own, I guess.

 

[stuart22]

I've actually gotten used to heavier bolstering from previous cars. In my experience, it is only an issue for people who are overweight, but it is a universal issue across all markets.

I do find the double standard a bit funny, though. When you put heavily bolstered seats in performance cars, everyone loves it. Put bolstered seats in something that's not seen as a performance car, and people complain. To each his own, I guess.

Have you had the opportunity yet to enter and exit a Bolt? Seat level is higher than an average car - more like a 1957 Chevrolet than a 1959 and newer Chevrolet.

It's not a matter of one's weight, I'm average for my size. The issue I had was that the plastic seat frame wrapped around the cushion at a height that was too close to the height of the seat cushion's side bolster. With the foam in the bolster not being at all heavy but being on the soft side, and the drop down to the ground being higher than usual, the bolster easily crushed down enough for the back of my thigh to rub against the hard plastic frame edge when swinging my leg around to get out.

In my Spark EV, and in many other cars, there is no seat frame that extends forward along the side of the cushion. My concern with the Bolt is that its soft side bolster would lose its integrity over time and that hard plastic seat frame would eventually intrude upon my comfort while driving, not to mention entering/exiting the car.

 

[HGC]

Thanks for posting the photos.
Harry

 

[Steverino]

Maybe someone can comment on where this seat "plastic frame hardness" is being felt using the A -G markers on the image below.

 

[cab]

Maybe someone can comment on where this seat "plastic frame hardness" is being felt using the A -G markers on the image below.

View attachment 124673

None of those actually. On the seat back, it is right on the seam line of the bolster. On the seat bottom, I can't quite remember if it it is on the same seam line or inset a bit.

 

[Ladogaboy]

Have you had the opportunity yet to enter and exit a Bolt? Seat level is higher than an average car - more like a 1957 Chevrolet than a 1959 and newer Chevrolet.

Not yet, but I tend to be fairly adaptable. I can count on one hand the number of vehicles I have trouble getting in and out of, and usually, the problem continues after I am in the vehicle. I passed on buying a Civic as my first car long ago because it just didn't fit my body. Also, if you've worked with elderly or disabled riders, you might be aware of the irony that taller vehicles are actually easier for them to get in and out of.

 

[stuart22]

Maybe someone can comment on where this seat "plastic frame hardness" is being felt using the A -G markers on the image below.

View attachment 124673

B, C, D. If you look at the inside seat cushion bolster alongside the gearshift, its max height difference over the flat center part of the cushion appears about the same as the height difference between the top of the outside bolster and the top of the plastic seat frame. Which indicates the seat frame is as high as the main seating area before sitting one's butt down. The foam inside the bolster is soft enough to be able to be crushed enough for one's leg to contact the frame when sliding in or out of the car. And for those (like me) who sometimes will position their body towards the edge of the seat when driving, feeling the hard plastic edge of the frame would not be comfortable. Annoying, in fact.

 

[Shivetya]

sweet pics, might be the one car that gets me out of my convertible fetish