Compare the2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUVVS 2023 Tesla Model S

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Chevrolet Bolt EUV are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Tesla Model S doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 S 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 S 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 S 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 S 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 S 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.

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.

On the EPA test cycle the Bolt EUV gets better mileage than the Model S Plaid 21" Wheels (125 city/104 hwy vs. 102 city/99 hwy MPGe).

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 S 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 S doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

For better maneuverability, the Bolt EUV’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Model S’ (38.3 feet vs. 40.3 feet).

The Chevrolet Bolt EUV may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 900 to 1050 pounds less than the Tesla Model S.

The Bolt EUV is 2 feet, 4.2 inches shorter than the Model S, making the Bolt EUV easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Bolt EUV is 8.5 inches narrower than the Model S, making the Bolt EUV easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Bolt EUV has 2.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Model S (96.5 vs. 94).

The Bolt EUV has .3 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front legroom and 3.6 inches more rear legroom than the Model S.

The Bolt EUV’s entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency. The Model S has a small, single button on the steering wheel spoke that can be hard to find quickly in an emergency.

The Bolt EUV’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Model S’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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

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

The Chevrolet Bolt outsold the Tesla Model S by 820 units during 2022.