First Family Drive in the Chevy Bolt: Danvers to Hampton

Last night I fully charged the Bolt to 100% and woke up ready to take the family on our first real trip in it. We decided on a drive up Route 1 to Hampton, NH so we could hit a few stores. It's about an hour from home. Nothing epic, but a good first test.

When I unplugged in the morning, the display showed three range estimates:

• Max: 300 miles

• Average: 255 miles

• Min: 182 miles

That range spread is GM’s way of showing how far you might go depending on driving style, terrain, and accessory use. It’s actually reassuring because you’re not locked into one number—you get the optimistic, the realistic, and the cautious guess.

The Drive

The ride up Route 1 was quiet and smooth. No air conditioning, no radio, just three passengers and windows down. By the time we got back from Hampton, I had used 14.6 kWh over 71.4 miles, which works out to about 4.9 miles per kWh. For context, the EPA rating for the Bolt is 3.9 mi/kWh, so this was very efficient driving.

When we parked, the range adjusted to show:

• Max: 239 miles

• Average: 203 miles

• Min: 166 miles

Not bad at all considering the car still had plenty of charge left. 

The Food Stop

We went to the Shaw's at Lafayette Crossing to grab some pre-made ham and turkey sandwiches, parked the Bolt in the shade at the Dunkin Donuts across the street, and hung out for a bit. The car had plenty of room and everyone was comfortable. Even opening the giant bag of popcorn we bought was easy and I never felt cramped. I appreciated the cubby under the radio that fit my wife's large bag perfectly, giving her more room than our other cars in the past.

Driving in “L”

The whole trip was done in “L” mode, which is GM’s single-pedal driving setting. Instead of constantly moving between the accelerator and brake, you just use the accelerator to both go and slow down. Lift your foot and the car automatically applies strong regenerative braking, sending energy back into the battery while slowing the car smoothly.

It takes a little practice, but once you get the hang of it, you hardly ever touch the brake pedal except at the very end of a stop. On this Route 1 drive of mixed speeds and stops, it felt natural and comfortable. I highly recommend this mode. 

First Impressions

• Comfort: For a compact hatchback, the Bolt was comfortable for the whole family during an hour-long drive. The leather seats are perforated, but not actively cooled. The seats were comfortable and didn't make you feel sweaty like most on a hot day...something I was worried about.

• Noise: Almost no road noise or wind buffeting, which made the ride relaxing. 

• Efficiency: 4.9 mi/kWh is better than expected and should make longer trips easier, for people with DC fast charging, with fewer charging stops.

• Simplicity: Plug in overnight, wake up full, drive. Hard to beat that.

What the Numbers Mean

At 4.9 mi/kWh, the Bolt’s 66 kWh battery could theoretically deliver over 320 miles of range. Realistically, you’ll never hit that number because of weather, traffic, and accessory use, but it shows what the car is capable of.

Put another way: from Danvers you could reach New York City on a single charge if you drove carefully, or comfortably make it to Portland, Maine and back with miles to spare.

For a car that many people dismiss as “just a commuter,” this first trip showed me it’s ready for much bigger family adventures.