Doug Score Review = 59/100

[oilerlord]

Doug DeMuro hasn't been doing reviews long, but unlike a lot of other reviewers, he's the kind of guy I'd like to have a beer with and talk about cars. Doug seems to be one of the few reviewers that (at least in my opinion) hasn't been bought, and isn't afraid to tell it like it is.

I know that the title of his review "Here's Why the Chevy Bolt is the Uncool Electric Car" will no doubt send some folks here in a tizzy, but the review itself is actually quite favorable. He mirrors my thoughts about the car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2ogGZXmepY

[Allelectric]

When I saw 59/100 I was concerned but having now watched it I see it is actually a good rating on his scale.
Good review that I agree with in a lot of areas. I hope Chevy have seen it and take heed of his very few gripes.

[sgt1372]

I got so BORED listening to all the minutiae that Doug went into regarding the operation of the Bolt controls that I just skipped forward to try to find his "review" actually driving the car. There was only 3 out of 18 mins devoted to that.

Don't know why he has a 100 point scale when he seldom rates anything higher than 60-70? Didn't agree w/his opinion about the acceleration and handling of the car and thought the rating could/should be higher.

It wasn't a "bad" review but the title is misleading (uncool electric?) and the commentary SO BORING, I can't imagine anyone other than someone REALLY interested in the Bolt would be willing to listen to all of it. I certainly didn't and I already have one. LOL!

[oilerlord]

I got so BORED listening to all the minutiae that Doug went into regarding the operation of the Bolt controls that I just skipped forward to try to find his "review" actually driving the car. There was only 3 out of 18 mins devoted to that.

Don't know why he has a 100 point scale when he seldom rates anything higher than 60-70? Didn't agree w/his opinion about the acceleration and handling of the car and thought the rating could/should be higher.

On the contrary, I find Doug's reviews quite entertaining, mostly because he tends to review unusual cars (Lexus LFA, Ford GT, Mercedes R63 AMG, Hummer H2, etc.), and finds interesting quirks about them that I never knew, or that other reviewers missed. I think his "Doug Score" is mostly tongue-in-cheek, and something he does't take too seriously either. I think he liked the Bolt a lot more than his 59/100 score would suggest.

You must have skipped forward and missed the part regarding his opinion about how the car accelerates (12:25). He was quite impressed.

[Bacardi]

He should have rated the Bolt EV higher based on his giddy factor along...Fast forward to 12:20 and look how happy he is (another WOT at 12:48)...If you look at other Doug's reviews, he does not get this happy...

He also got it wrong on why it's uncool, he states it's NOT the styling and IS the Chevy badge...Vettes/Camaros/SS sedans/Silverados wear Chevy badges and are cool...If the Bolt EV wore a Buick or GMC badge, it'd only be a 10% sales boost and if it was a Cadillac, I could see double the sales but that's still a drop in the bucket and overall low sales...The problem is indeed the styling, they took a geeky minivan, made it a tad less minivan-ish, then added the usual geeky EV styling cues...Did you know they made a Mercedes Benz AMG minivan? Yeah, who cares...Bolt EV needs a longer and more horizontal hood/front end...

[SeanNelson]

...If it was a Buick or GMC it'd only be a 10% sales boost and if it was a Cadillac, I could see double the sales...

I'm sorry, I just don't get the obsession over Cadillac. The Cadillac marque certainly didn't do any wonders for the luxury version of the Volt.

[Bacardi]

...If it was a Buick or GMC it'd only be a 10% sales boost and if it was a Cadillac, I could see double the sales...

I'm sorry, I just don't get the obsession over Cadillac. The Cadillac marque certainly didn't do any wonders for the luxury version of the Volt.

MSRP of the MY14 Volt $34,995...
MSRP of the MY14 ELR $75,995...

ELR commanded a $41,000 difference for the same low performance and even had less range/mpg...

Additionally, a very forgotten aspect, for MY14, Cadillac offered another very similar vehicle in the ELRs segment...

MSRP of the MY14 CTS Coupe $39,495...

[SeanNelson]

...If it was a Buick or GMC it'd only be a 10% sales boost and if it was a Cadillac, I could see double the sales...

I'm sorry, I just don't get the obsession over Cadillac. The Cadillac marque certainly didn't do any wonders for the luxury version of the Volt.

MSRP of the MY14 Volt $34,995...
MSRP of the MY14 ELR $75,995...
ELR commanded a $41,000 difference for the same low performance and even had less range/mpg...

Exactly. Why pay for a fancy badge for a BEV just for some luxury trim items if you can get the same basic package in something like a Bolt?

[Bacardi]

I'm sorry, I just don't get the obsession over Cadillac. The Cadillac marque certainly didn't do any wonders for the luxury version of the Volt.

MSRP of the MY14 Volt $34,995...
MSRP of the MY14 ELR $75,995...
ELR commanded a $41,000 difference for the same low performance and even had less range/mpg...

Exactly. Why pay for a fancy badge for a BEV just for some luxury trim items if you can get the same basic package in something like a Bolt?

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone willing to pay a $41K premium for a badge change...With it's original $40300 MSRP, the Volt should have been a Cadillac Volt from day one...The $37,495 Bolt EV should have also been a Cadillac...I'd predict double the sales...

[SeanNelson]

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone willing to pay a $41K premium for a badge change...With it's original $40300 MSRP, the Volt should have been a Cadillac Volt from day one...The $37,495 Bolt EV should have also been a Cadillac...I'd predict double the sales...

I'm skeptical. I'll be the first to admit that I'm really not very familiar with Cadillac models versus GM's other brands, but I think selling the Volt "as is" as a Cadillac might devalue the brand since, as I understand it, it's missing a lot of features that Cadillac buyers would expect.

I really don't know. I'm just coming from a place where the name "Cadillac" really doesn't inspire me.