I saw where GM has dropped the price of the 2023 Bolts but $6K. So the Bolt EV premier edition sits as a bit under $30K now. With 2024 Mini SE coming out of China and the long waits for cars produced overseas, is anyone considering a Bolt instead? I sat in and checked out a 2022 Bolt EV and they are actually quite nice (nearly on par with my 2019 MCS in fit and finish). As is, the current Mini SE I configured comes in a $37,550 where a fully optioned Bolt would be $7K less. Before the GM price cut, both the Iconic and fully loaded Bolt were comparably priced although range was significantly different. I am holding off doing anything now, and will wait and see what the 2024 Mini SE has to offer and where it's priced (in summer of 2023). Time from order to delivery compared to the Bolt which is domestically produced will not be a huge factor as long as I can get everything I want in the 2024 Mini SE and it's range is comparable to the Bolt. Who knows what our foreign relations will be with China going forward.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/01/gm-s...ity-costs.html

https://www.engadget.com/gm-2023-che...193132395.html

 

I like the idea of the eMINI, but I won't buy any car made in China - full stop.

 

Hmmm. Why would Chevy drop the price of the Bolt? I doubt they would do that if the Bolt was in huge demand. When GM announced that all Bolts would get a new battery, many people bought them at bargain-basement prices knowing the most important part would be replaced for free. I imagine (but am too lazy to verify) that there are plenty of those renewed Bolts on the market and that forced Chevy to lower the price of the new ones to get them selling again.

The Bolt and it's EUV sister are soon to be orphaned as GM moves on with the Ultium EVs (including the Honda Prologue). However, Chevy fixed the seats and spiffed up the Bolt in other ways so it's a better car than when it was introduced. The Bolt offers essentially the same acceleration as a MINI Cooper SE while doubling the SE's range, but it's taller and hundreds of pounds heavier than the SE, so it can't match the traditional MINI handling (which is what makes my SE so wonderful).

I believe it comes down to if you want to trade the beauty and sportiness of an SE for the price, range, and ready availability of a Bolt.

 

I think GM wants to produce the lowest priced EV, and since the Bolt no longer qualifies for the $7500 rebate, it's a way to lure some EV buyers back to consider the Bolt as a viable option (and erase the stigma of the battery fires). Additionally, it's my understating that the new Ultium battery is a different form factor than the current Bolt battery and could not be easily fitted to that architecture. There isn't anything stated that a new Bolt (future) won't include that new battery tech.

I don't know how many buyers of an EV are looking at handling or sportiness (my Mini has all that in spades). Certainly having an EV that incorporates all that is best, however most drivers find the immediate acceleration as the most noticeable (and fun) attribute of the EV, and next is the range. I would imagine someone coming out of an ICE Mini into a Bolt would have a huge grin once they hit the accelerator.

Don't misunderstand, I'm a huge Mini fan and want to see the 2024 Mini SE match the range of the Bolt and be priced competitively and be available to order and receive. As is, my Mini dealership has one new car in the showroom and 6 month or longer waits if you order one. Then, if you want the HK system, you may not get it as some options may not be available when you order.

I'll keep the Bolt on my short list as well as the upcoming Ioniq 3 and the KIA EV4 along with the 2024 MIni SE.