Just last month, the Chevrolet Menlo EV made its big debut at the 2019 Chevrolet Gala Night in China, slotting in as the Bow Tie brand’s first all-electric model for the Chinese market. Although the Menlo EV will remain an exclusive offering for Chinese buyers, we can’t help but compare it to our own Chevy EV here in the States – the Chevrolet Bolt EV. Indeed, with both of these models out now, it begs the question: which is better?
To find out, let’s first look at the most critical spec for any EV – driving range. The Chevrolet Menlo EV is rated at 410 km (or 255 miles) on a single charge, as measured in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). Meanwhile, 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV has an EPA-certified range of 259 miles, a 21-mile increase over the 2019 Bolt EV.
Obviously, there’s a discrepancy here with regard to testing standards. That said, EPA test ranges are typically 30 percent lower than those of the NEDC, so with that in mind, the Menlo EV’s equivalent range under the EPA standard would be closer to 170 miles, giving the Bolt EV the clear win in this area.
The Menlo’s range is also practically identical to that of the Buick Velite 6 Plus MAV, which confirms our speculation that the Menlo and Velite 6 MAV use identical platforms and propulsion systems. As such, we believe the Menlo has a 52.5-kWh battery capacity and 110-kW motor.
By comparison, the Bolt EV bests the Menlo EV with a 66-kWh battery and 150-kW motor.
In terms of exterior dimensions, the Menlo EV is 183.6 inches long with a 104.7-inch wheelbase, as well as 71.6 inches in width and 60.6 inches tall. The Chevrolet Bolt EV is smaller in nearly every dimension, measuring in at 164 inches in overall length, 102.4 inches for the wheelbase and 69.5 inches in overall width. However, the Bolt EV is taller, measured at 62.8 inches overall height.
| Dimension (in.) | Chevrolet Menlo EV | Chevrolet Bolt EV |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Length | 183.6 | 164 |
| Wheelbase | 104.7 | 102.4 |
| Overall Width | 71.6 | 69.5 |
| Overall Height | 60.6 | 62.8 |
These differing exterior dimensions translate into radically different styling as well. While the Chevrolet Menlo EV looks low, wide and sporty, taking its direction from the Chevrolet FNR-X Concept, the Chevrolet Bolt EV is more upright and bubblier.
So then, dear reader – which would you prefer? Let us know by voting in the poll below, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Bolt EV news, Chevrolet Menlo EV news, Chevrolet news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
I would say pretty much anything but the Bolt for me. The styling in not me cup of tea and I personally find the interior completely subpar. Maybe the updated 2021 can fix the Dowdy exterior design and have a much posher interior with even more Tech and a Base price of $25,000 and then it might find more garages in the States.
I personally think (not just me but most EV experts) that EV’s should be RWD based with optional AWD.
Hopefully the Next Gen GM EV’s do not disappoint.
Have owned my 2017 Bolt since May of 2017 and can’t imagine going back to a gas vehicle. The hatch is extremely useful. While I think the new Menlo is good looking, I like my Bolt so much we now own 2 of them. The new 2019 Bolt has been so well thought out, that it has never needed a return trip to the dealer.
No gas, no oil, little to no maintenance, and no noise. It also costs a lot less than a Tesla!
I have never heard anything bad about a bolt other than the post above yours. The size of the bolt as just right for the average consumer and interior is more than adequate.
I already miss the Volt! Best of both worlds and a decent looking quality car.
I bought a 2018 Volt. Love it. Still under $100 of gas in 14 months.
Cold weather is gas weather but I love it. Once you drive a EV, so quiet, so much pep. A truly great city car. MyChevrolet app is so 1980’s ish so technology is okay nowhere near great.
Dealer I bought it from sucks. But what else is new. Never heard back from GM.
We love our ‘18 Bolt, even the looks. Yes, better seats and a posher interior would be nice. But it’s form is terrific. Love its size. Visibility. Performance. Nobody talks about its stiff suspension, though. I’d prefer more compliance, a la Mazda. Still, it’s a great car.
Perhaps GM made a running change to the seats. Before I bought my 2017 Bolt I was real gun shy because a lot of automotive journalists and even early owners on car blogs made it sound like bouncing around in a Conestoga wagon would have been more comfortable. I’m over size feet tall, pretty good size, and I do OK with the seats in my Bolt which has the Premier trim line. I haven’t experienced the base model seats because dealer had ordered all the Bolts on its lot in the Premier trim level. Maybe it is the base model seats that are so barbaric.
Neither…no styling and no range…GM cannot compete in EV market….Nuff Said
How much driving range is enough?
If you’re an apartment dweller, or you’ve got to routinely park over night where you can’t get electrical power, then longer range is more of an issue because you can’t charge the car often.
If you want to take frequent extended trips, then range matters more. Owners need to be realistic about how many trips they take that require driving more than 200 miles at a time where recharging en route is not a viable option. If you make an a EV your only car, that deserves some thought. You might save money over all by driving an EV daily and renting a gas powered car for infrequent long trips. You really have to look at the cost numbers and convenience factors for your specific situation.
I’ve taken a handful of 200+ mile round trips using my Bolt without recharging. It does take a day or more to reach a full charge after returning home because I charge at 12 Amps, 240 Volts. I never had a problem with not having enough charge because I could intersperse local trips with trickle charging after returning home. That is pretty much the same as not needing to have a gas tank 100% full every single time you pull out of your driveway if you are only driving for in-town errands.
What part of not enough range do you NOT understand…
I drive a 2017 Bolt. A little over two years in, I am very pleased with the result, especially the driving range. GM appears to have wisely rated the 238 mile range under worst case conditions and I have never had a projected range less than 238 in two years. In warm weather, the projected range may top 300 miles. That is quite a contrast to the first EV I had which was a 2011 LEAF. The LEAF was always overly optimistic of projected range at the outset of a trip, which led to the dreaded range anxiety. There is none of that with the Bolt which gives realistic projections of what to expect. The Bolt has been exemplary in containing cost of ownership. Thus far my only after purchase expenses have been for license plates, insurance, electricity, and window washer fluid. I don’t get what all the grumbling about the Bolt interior is about. Everything is fit together properly, and there are no squeaks or rattles. True, you wouldn’t mistake the inside of a Bolt for a Rolls Royce, but I’m OK with the lack of burl walnut and gold plated trim. I’d rather have the money go to a good power train and the Bolt does well in that department.
They both look cheap to me, but the Menlo is slightly better.
The next EV that GM NA produces better be a rear wheel drive performance vehicle.
Pretty much any CUV format vehicle is indistinguishable from any other CUV from at more than 25 foot viewing distance. This is only so much designers can do with the shape while maintaining needed coefficient of drag performance. Style is not likely a key purchasing decision for the market segment CUVs address. Style conscious purchases would probably do better to stretch their budgets a little more and buy a Tesla Model 3, and they probably will do that. For the purpose I have for the Bolt, I really don’t care what the car looks like, so I bought it. Not to mention, the Model 3 was simply not available at the time I bought the Chevy.
I drive the 2019 Bolt and at first I gotta tell you I am impressed but I cannot say that the range is there yet.The reason I say this is because when driving at highway speeds it is reduced but it serves it’s purpose in fuel economy hopefully some engineers out there can figure out how to make an electric engine shift that’s when they’ll get huge range gains it would reduce the kw at higher speeds
I want the Bolt powertrain with a Menlo Body and AWD.
I’ll just keep my 2018 Volt forever.
Somebody grumbled the Bolt is not rear wheel drive. Indeed, that is an inescapable fact. Drivers in the market segment the Bolt was intended to address aren’t likely to autocross, drift or want to drive twisty canyon roads fast. It wouldn’t surprise me if most of the Bolt’s buyers had no idea of which wheels provide the motive power.
The Bolt does have a lot of torque, yet the steering remains on center from a jackrabbit start with traction control switched off. I know what torque steer is: I had a 1989 Mazda MX-6 with a turbo 2.2L that would rip the steering wheel out of your hand and head for the curb if you didn’t maintain a death grip when mashing the accelerator. The Bolt does a good job of maintaining it’s composure under hard acceleration despite power being applied up front. The OEM tires limit the grip, but that’s the sacrifice made to improve economy. You can change the tires, but the driving range will be less. In fact, you can read a Car & Driver article on putting more grippy tires on a Bolt.
i’d buy the bolt for no more than $25K and the menlo for somewhere around the low $30K’s.
I drive the 2019 Bolt. I like the hatchback styling. I mostl use it for short trips around 190 miles round trip. I love this car. I wish I could use it every day but I just drove too far for work and there is no place to plug it in.
While I agree that an RWD design performs better on an EV, I bought the Bolt mainly because I needed a FWD car. I use my 2017 Bolt as my daily commuter to work, and have made numerous out of town trips since my car is equipped with the optional DC fast charge port. On one such trip I covered 800 miles in two days, primarily when vacationing I travel in a class c motor home. The FWD Bolt is towed behind on a tow dolly. A slight modification was required. I isolated the 12 volt ground using a knife switch so that the bolt will not automatically apply the parking brake while in tow.
We bought our 2019 Bolt a year ago, and love it. We installed a 50 amp 240V JuiceBox charger on our carport and use it once or twice a week, depending on how many “extra” trips we make. Now when I take my wife’s 2003 Impala to Costco for refueling, I can smile while waiting in line because it’s so infrequent. Bill has represented us Bolt drivers well, methinks. I’ve owned several “special” cars, perhaps most notably a TR-3 convertible, an MGA hardtop and a 1974 E-type Jag V-12 convertible that I sometimes enjoyed over my 15 years of ownership and outlandish expense. I’ve lived that “Look at me! Whee!” car thang. I’m over it. Now I’m grinning through traffic with one-pedal ease for pennies per mile.
I would have to say Menlo EV because of the style but also because it looks to have plenty of room compared to the squished lunchbox looking Bolt.