Despite recent setbacks with the recall involving the Chevrolet Bolt batteries, sales of the Bolt EV have been strong since the car first arrived back in 2017. The Bolt offers utility, a competitive price tag, very strong range numbers which do a lot to assuage so-called “range anxiety,” and also a number of added packages to allow customers to tailor the car more to their tastes and needs.
Two of the most popular packages sold with the Chevrolet Bolt have been the Driver Confidence package, and the Comfort and Convenience package. There has been some confusion over these two packages since the names don’t immediately suggest anything so specific about what each one offers.
In today’s blog, we’ll try to offer clarity on these 2 packages, what’s different about them and what kind of drivers would benefit from each.
What is the Driver Confidence Package?
The Driver Confidence package has been a surprisingly complex offering from Chevrolet, in that there were previously two of them:
- Driver Confidence Package
- Driver Confidence II Package
For the 2022 model year, only one package is offered, called the Driver Confidence Package. If you are looking at older models, however, here’s the difference between the two original packages.
Driver Confidence Package included (up to 2021):
- Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Rear Parking Assist (required Comfort and Convenience Package, too)
Driver Confidence II Package included (up to 2021):
- Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking
- Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
- Forward Collision Alert
- Following Distance Indicator
- Front Pedestrian Braking
- IntelliBeam smart headlights (required Infotainment package – more info further below)
Next, there is the unified Driver Confidence package available for the 2022 model year, which includes the following features:
- Rear Park Assist
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Lane change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert (blind spot monitoring)
The cost of the Driver Confidence package is $495 in 2022. If purchasing a used car, it will already be installed and the seller would indicate whether it has it or not.
What is the Comfort and Convenience Package?
Next, we come to the Comfort and Convenience package, which has been consistently the same through the years it has been on offer. It has not been altered for the 2022 model year, and it features the following:
- Heated driver and front passenger seats
- Automatic heated leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror
The price for the Comfort and Convenience package is $945, but it’s not the same across the newest Bolt range.
Where things get quite interesting is when things graduate to the new Chevy Bolt EUV, the sportier SUV version of the Bolt newly arrived for the 2022 model year.
When you purchase the standard Chevy Bolt EUV LT model, you have the option for the same Driver Confidence Package at $495, but the Comfort and Convenience package has been broken up into 2 new packages, namely the Comfort package, and the Convenience package.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV LT – Comfort Package
This package contains an 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat, heated driver and front passenger seats, and an automatic, heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel with a sporty flat bottom. That package comes in at $895.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV LT – Convenience Package
This package contains either Jet Black or Nightshift Blue leather-appointed seating, ventilated driver and front passenger seats, auto-dimming rearview mirror, front passenger seatback map pocket, rear center armrest with 2 extra cup holders, and 17” Dark Android painted aluminum wheels with silver inserts. This package comes in at a much more premium $1,695.
Are Other Packages Available with the Chevy Bolt?
For older models, there were some other packages available, as there are on the new models. For older models, options included:
- Interior Protection package: all-weather floor mats, cargo mat, etc.
- Infotainment package: Bose premium sound, wireless charging, added USB ports for rear passengers, etc.
2022 Model Year
What packages become available as extras depend on which level of Chevrolet Bolt you choose. For instance, the Chevrolet Bolt EV 1LT (base model) gets the above-mentioned Driver Confidence package and the Comfort and Convenience package as options. If you go for the higher-trim 2LT, however, you get:
- Infotainment package: Bose premium 7-speaker system with subwoofer, wireless charging, rear USB ports ($595)
- Adaptive Cruise Control: ($375)
The same is true for the Bolt EUV packages, which are as described above for the base-level LT trim, but for the Premier trim you get the following options:
- Super Cruise package: GM’s hands-free driver assistance system designed to rival Tesla’s Autopilot ($2,200)
- Sun and Sound package: Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus with 10.2” screen, Bose premium sound, power panoramic sunroof, etc. ($2,495)
What Kinds of Drivers are Suited to These Packages?
There’s clearly a lot on offer designed to suit the needs of different drivers. Let’s first take a look at the two packages we put at the center of today’s blog:
Driver Confidence Package Vs. Comfort and Convenience Package
If you were choosing between these two packages, your choice would most wisely be informed by what you feel you would need more when on the road. If you feel you benefit from more ADAS features that help remind you of important safety checks and how to drive safely with more confidence, then the Driver Confidence package is best.
Conversely, if you perhaps take longer trips and would benefit from the added comfort brought by the Comfort and Convenience set, then this one works best for you.
The fact is, however, that many drivers may well have purchased both so that they could have had the best of both worlds. Failing that, they could have purchased the higher trim model and then chosen between the other packages.
Infotainment Package Vs. Adaptive Cruise Control
These have very much the same consideration. The infotainment package helps make the ride more comfortable and enjoyable by providing some premium audio and charging options.
On the more practical side, Infotainment also helps if you have rear passengers with devices that will need charging during any journey.
The Adaptive Cruise Control set is great for those who drive in heavy traffic regularly be it in the city or on the highway. Adaptive cruise control is a nice way to help ensure a safer distance is maintained from the cars in front.
Super Cruise Package Vs. Sun and Sound Package
Super Cruise is GM’s latest technology and would certainly put your Chevy Bolt on the cutting edge. It’s designed ultimately to rival the likes of Tesla Autopilot but is still relatively new and still being developed and rolled out to work in more locations. If you’re the kind of person who likes to get in on the ground floor with car technology, then Super Cruise is a good investment.
The latter package once again adds a lot of comfort features, and the sunroof is a nice addition for those who live in areas where weather makes allowing more light and air into the car a welcome addition.
Conclusion: Remember That Packages are a Game of Profits
The most important takeaway from any discussion on these types of packages and add-ons is that they are often pushed at you by salespeople because this is how a lot of dealerships make their profits. If you buy cars at the base-level, the price is often very close to what the dealership has paid for it in the first place, a practice that helps keep sticker prices lower.
They often make the difference by adding in packages and accessories to beef up the price and the profit margin. Therefore, it’s key to remember that no matter how much a salesperson tells you that you need a package or set of features, it’s only you who knows for sure if that’s true, so you should listen to your own voice most of all when looking at these additional packages.