Compare the2022 Chevrolet BoltVS 2021 Tesla Model 3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Bolt are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Bolt offers optional Surround Vision to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model 3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Bolt’s optional cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Bolt has standard OnStar®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Bolt and the Model 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Bolt is safer than the Tesla Model 3:

	Bolt	Model 3
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Compression	17 lbs.	42 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	137/187 lbs.	333/455 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Bolt is safer than the Tesla Model 3:

	Bolt	Model 3
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	132 G’s	158 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	330	384
Hip Force	417 lbs.	557 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Bolt’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and 50,000 miles longer than the Model 3’s (6/100,000 vs. 4/50,000).

There are over 22 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Bolt’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Bolt’s reliability 55 points higher than the Model 3.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 109 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 34th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 12th in reliability, above the industry average. With 61 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 30th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Chevrolet 8 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

Tires and Wheels

The Bolt has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Model 3 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires standard on the Bolt can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Model 3 doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Bolt’s turning circle is 4 feet tighter than the Model 3’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

Chassis

The Bolt is 1 foot, 9.6 inches shorter than the Model 3, making the Bolt easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Bolt has 1.6 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear legroom than the Model 3.

Cargo Capacity

The Bolt has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Model 3 with its rear seat up (16.6 vs. 15 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Bolt has a standard rear wiper. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Bolt’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model 3 doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Bolt has standard extendable sun visors. The Model 3 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Bolt’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Model 3’s power mirror controls are embedded in the infotainment system, seriously distracting drivers who have to adjust them while driving.

On extremely cold winter days, the Bolt’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Bolt is less expensive to operate than the Model 3 because typical repairs cost much less on the Bolt than the Model 3, including $528 less for a water pump, $4 less for front brake pads, $148 less for front struts and $297 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Bolt was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2017. The Model 3 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Bolt was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2017. The Model 3 has never been an “All Star.”

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Bolt as the 2017 North American Car of the Year. The Model 3 has never been chosen.