Chevrolet Bolt EV And Tesla Model 3 Compared By The Owner: Video

Discussing the Tesla Model 3 on the internet is hazardous to one’s health. Pro- and anti-Tesla factions are ready at the keyboard to dox, ridicule, and humiliate anyone with an opinion they don’t like. Everyone is wrong on the internet. Often, views on Tesla and its competitors come from a place of obvious bias, which is why the video above is so refreshing. Here’s a guy who has both Chevrolet Bolt EV and a Tesla Model 3, and he breaks down what he likes and dislikes about both vehicles.

YouTuber Marc Benton leased the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV instead of buying it because he knew other EVs were coming down the pipe. In his nearly year of ownership, he’s found things to both love and hate. He agrees with many Bolt EV owners that the seats can be uncomfortable during long drives. However, he rarely had an issue as much of his driving was local. He also liked the Bolt EV’s Surround Vision camera that provides a bird’s-eye view of the area surrounding the vehicle. 

For as much praise as Benton gave his Chevrolet Bolt EV, he had even more positive things to say about the Tesla Model 3. He mentioned Tesla’s over-the-air updates that improved braking and added heated rear seats, which wasn’t an option available when he got the car. He also liked Tesla’s mobile app, which has a slicker user interface then the Chevy app for the Bolt. He did ding the Tesla for a smaller trunk opening than the Bolt; however, he liked the Model 3’s front trunk, which can fit a pizza box. 

At the end of the video, Benton said he’d recommend buying the Tesla Model 3 over the Chevrolet Bolt EV, though does point out that a mid-range Model 3 is more expensive than the Bolt. Because while the Tesla billed the Model 3 as a $35,000 entry-level electric vehicle, that trim has yet to materialize, making a direct comparison between the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Tesla Model 3 difficult.