Range, performance and connectivity are all buzzwords when automakers promote their electric vehicles but the entry of Chevrolet's 2022 Bolt EUV now forces the issue on one more—value. We had our first chance to take a drive in a deep red Bolt EUV last week from suburban Detroit to the banks of the River Raisin in Monroe, Mich., boyhood home of Gen. George Custer.The first important thing to note is the Bolt is not a luxury vehicle but is squarely aimed at giving anyone interested in moving to an electric vehicle a choice that's attractive, comfortable, functional and stuffed with technology at a modest price for an EV.Perhaps the most audacious tech play Chevy pulled was offering General Motors' Super Cruise hands-free technology on the Premier level of the Bolt EUV—previously available only on much more costly Cadillac models. It''s a $2,200 option which gives you three years of Super Cruise service. After that, owners can continue service by opting into a $25 a month subscription.Autotrader executive editor Brian Moody says offering hands-free technology in a vehicle wearing the marque of so-called value brand is a smart move by GM .“The real story here is that GM is the leading automaker with self-driving cars available to consumers today. Much like OnStar, another ground-breaking piece of tech, GM seem OK with letting others make the big claims. But the truth is: Super Cruise works. It’s a truly capable, hands-free automated driving system consumers can purchase and use right now,” said Moody in comments emailed to Forbes.com.Super Cruise functions on over 200,000 miles of compatible roads, mostly superhighways, in North America, so no better place to put it through its paces than on busy I-75 heading toward Toledo where it's quite normal to be hemmed in by lumbering and swaying semi-trailers and other assorted commercial vehicles.Pulling alongside one of those big rigs it was fun to engage Super Cruise, quickly look over at the driver in the truck cab, wait for the green light on the upper arc of the steering wheel to let me know Super Cruise was ready to take over, and let go of the wheel. Since Super Cruise detects and reacts rather convincingly if the driver isn't paying attention to the road, I dared not look over for the truck driver's reaction. What can be reported is that over several dozen miles of hands-free driving the Bolt EUV stayed in its lane, under control and maintained a safe distance behind the vehicle ahead thanks to Super Cruise's coordination with the vehicle's adaptive cruise control.Read More : pg
