Compare the2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUVVS 2023 Tesla Model 3

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 EUV 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 EUV Premier has a standard 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 EUV’s optional Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Bolt EUV 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 EUV 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, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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.

There are over 19 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Bolt EUV’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 79 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 28th, below the industry average.

The Bolt EUV 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 EUV 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.

The Bolt EUV is 1 foot, 3.3 inches shorter than the Model 3, making the Bolt EUV easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Bolt EUV has 1.6 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more rear headroom and 3.9 inches more rear legroom than the Model 3.

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

The Bolt EUV’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 EUV has standard extendable sun visors. The Model 3 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Bolt EUV keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Model 3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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.