2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV vs. Its Competition

John Voelcker

The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV will launch before the end of 2016 with no direct competitors.

To equal its 238-mile range, even the cheapest Tesla Model S costs $70,000 and up.

That gets you a larger, undeniably sleeker and sexier luxury sedan with a liftgate.

But in the $30,000 to $45,000 range, the aging Nissan Leaf remains the world's best-selling electric car.

In its sixth year, however, its graphic displays are primitive, and it tops out at 107 miles of range.

The Kia Soul EV is larger inside than the Leaf, but it's only available in a handful of states as yet, and it too is in the 100-mile category.

The updated BMW i3 has a 114-mile range, though you can boost that to 180 miles if you get the optional gasoline-powered range extender.

Finally, just for showroom floor comparison, the Chevy Sonic subcompact hatchback has less room inside than the Bolt EV, for about half the price similarly equipped—but it has a gasoline engine, so electric-car shoppers will ignore it.