The Chevy Bolt EUV makes a strange rival to the Ford Mustang Mach-E. But make no mistake — these two EVs are taking the age-old Ford vs. Chevy battle to an electrifyingly new level. No, the Bolt EUV can’t compete with the Mustang Mach-E in performance. You won’t see the cute subcompact SUV beat its bigger, faster rival on the race track. However, the Bolt EUV is about to overtake the Mach-E in sales. 

The Ford Mustang Mach-E outsold the Chevy Bolt EUV last year

After getting off to a slow start, Chevrolet moved 16,108 Bolt EV and Bolt EUV units during the fourth quarter of last year. That number includes 4,866 Bolt EVs plus 11,242 Bolt EUVs. For the year, Chevy sold only 38,120 units, including 27,091 EUVs. 

In comparison, sales of the Ford Mustang Mach-E increased 37% from the prior year to 11,369 units for the fourth quarter and 39,458 for the year. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 placed fourth, after the Bolt. with 4,490 cars sold in the fourth quarter, followed by the Volkswagen ID.4, with 4,055 units, to round out the fifth spot.   

But the EUV is quickly closing the gap

According to GM Authority, the slow start was due to a combination of a battery recall, the associated stop-sale, and a production pause to fix the issues. Now that Chevrolet has resolved those issues, the Bolt EUV is gaining ground on the Mustang Mach-E — fast.  

Although its performance doesn’t match that of the Mustang Mach-E, the Bolt EUV has several things going for it. For starters, it rides on the GM BEV2 platform, sharing its 65-kWh battery and single-drive electric motor with the Bolt EV. In the Bolt EUV, this combination produces 200 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque while delivering up to 259 miles of range per charge. 

Those stats might not seem impressive, but they’re enough for most drivers’ needs. What is impressive is the base price. The Bolt EUV is the cheapest new electric SUV you can buy. Starting at $27,800, it undercuts the Mustang Mach-E’s base price by $46,895, a difference of almost $20,000. More remarkable, it also undercuts its stablemate, the Chevy Equinox’s base price of 28,000. So the Bolt EUV is not only inexpensive for an EV but also inexpensive, period. 

So while the Ford Mustang Mach-E is selling the sizzle, the Chevy Bolt EUV gives you the steak at a price that undercuts most hamburgers.      

The 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV boasts more features and a new tax credit

Chevrolet gave the 2023 Bolt EUV numerous updates, including a trim with GM’s hands-free, semiautonomous Super Cruise technology. It also received a Redline Edition with red accents and 17-inch gloss black aluminum wheels.

As a domestically produced vehicle with a domestically sourced battery, it also qualifies for the full $7,500 EV tax credit for 2023. That rebate, along with a $5,700 price drop and new features, makes the Chevy Bolt EUV one of the best new-car bargains. 

If last year’s fourth-quarter numbers are any indication, buyers will flock to the Bolt EUV in 2023. But when word gets out about the low price and generous rebate, people will stampede to the nearest Chevy dealer, and the Bolt could overtake the Mustang Mach-E by a wide margin. And though you won’t win a drag race against a Mustang Mach-E in a Bolt EUV, you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank, thanks to the money you save.