Before the Kia Soul EV, when you think of soul, James Brown or Aretha Franklin’s music certainly comes to mind. However, Kia would like you to have more automotive soul in your life, exactly like James Carr, the singer of the popular song “You Gotta Have Soul.”
Similar to that song, the Soul has a history of setting trends. The second generation of the Soul was the first to provide customers the option of choosing between gasoline, diesel, or electric propulsion. That occurred in 2014, a full year prior to Volkswagen introducing the e-Golf.
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Kia Soul went electric when?
In April 2014, South Korea began producing the Soul EV. Before a 50% government subsidy, the starting price in the South Korean market was 42 million won ($39,400). Kia established a 2014 global sales goal of 5,000 units. [4] With the delivery of 38 units, deliveries in South Korea got underway in May 2014. [2] [3]
Kia started producing the Soul EV for export on June 12, 2014. The first automobiles to leave the factory were shipped to certain nations in Europe. [4] [24] Retail deliveries to Europe started in July 2014. [4] [25]
Sales for the 2015 model year began in the United States in October 2014.
[5] At first, it was exclusively sold in California, but in March 2015, Kia Motors North America announced the Soul EV would also be offered in Georgia starting in the second quarter of the year, as well as in Texas, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, and Washington.
[26] In late July 2015, sales of 2016 Kia Soul EVs began in the state of Washington.
[27] Pricing for it began at US$33,700 before any applicable government subsidies, and it was offered in two trims. [28]
Following the government’s 5,000 Plug-in Car Grant, the Kia Soul EV went on sale in the UK in November 2014 at $24,995.
[29]
The 2016 Soul EV will be available in three trim levels: EV, EV+, and EV-e, according to Kia. California was the only state that sold the EV-e. The EV+’s Sun & Fun package included a sunroof as well as interior and speaker lighting. Colors and other small adjustments were added. [30]
In August 2015, global sales exceeded 5,000 units, of which 1,177 were sold in South Korea.
[31] The milestone of 10,000 units was attained in January 2016. With 6,770 units sold, Europe was the largest market, followed by South Korea with 1,580 and the United States with 1,411. [6] The top two European markets as of December 2015[update] were Germany with 3,853 units sold[7][8] and Norway with 1,637 units. [32] [33]
2,044 used Soul EVs were imported into Norway in 2015.
[34] According to the publication Der Spiegel, Kia registered the vehicles in Germany before shipping them to Norway, a member state of the non-EU. The Hyundai-Kia Group was able to reduce its fleet’s average CO2 emissions thanks to this legal loophole[35], avoiding a large charge.
Is the electric Kia Soul a decent vehicle?
This unusual Kia is well worth a look if you’re looking for an EV with a little personality and, well, soul. It’s also useful and has a respectable range.
Would never consider it. We won’t spice up this review by recommending that you visit your local Kia dealer if you’re looking for a fun family vehicle. Okay, we couldn’t help it, but puns aside, the Soul is a surprisingly appealing compact car that successfully blends actual personality with respectable value and practicality.
We’ve previously mentioned it, but the Soul is a truly eye-catching tiny car. It resembles a hybrid of an SUV, an MPV, and a typical hatchback and refuses to fit cleanly into any one class. There are many other appealing elements, like the LED rear lights that almost completely encircle the back window and the striking roof color. In other nations, this eccentric Kia is available with both conventional and gasoline engines; but, in the UK, electric power is the only option.
Bold curves and soft touch materials contribute to the interior’s startling luxury air, which many people wouldn’t anticipate from a Kia. The exterior is as beautiful. There is only one trim level, the Maxx (yeah, you read that correctly, it has two “x”s), but it is stuffed full of the kind of standard equipment that would make the owner of an executive saloon swoon. There is a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, climate control, and leather upholstery for the heated seats.
Driving is enjoyable in a laid-back way as well. The controls are straightforward, as they are in many automobiles. You simply pick drive using the short gear selector that is conveniently positioned on the center console, press the accelerator, and you’re off. The big windows, upright driving stance, and light steering make it a breeze to maneuver on the road, and there are no jerky gear changes to obstruct your smooth progress.
Standard braking techniques include regenerative braking, which slows the automobile as you let off the gas while replenishing the battery. While the steering wheel’s paddles let you quickly and easily modify the braking effect to a level you’re comfortable with, from almost nothing to nearly nothing, it feels a little unusual at first but you rapidly get used to it.
It is quiet and comfy, as you would expect from an EV, with barely any road or motor noise, and the suspension smooths out bumps and potholes. The Soul is quick and agile, especially in urban areas, and feels safe and secure as you navigate a sequence of curves. However, it’s not a car you’d take for a ride just for fun.
Oh, and it has a respectable range for an EV, so you shouldn’t experience heart palpitations whenever you travel outside your neighborhood shops.
With the Soul, Kia kept things straightforward by using only one battery and motor. The front-mounted engine produces a powerful 201bhp, while the lithium ion battery offers a respectable 64kWh. These features are shared with more expensive variants of the brand’s slightly bigger e-Niro SUV.
Despite being slightly smaller than the e-Niro, the upright style of the Soul makes it less aerodynamic, which reduces its range on a charge. However, a claimed range of 280 miles is nothing to sneeze at, and our experience with the vehicle indicates that it is easily capable of traveling over 200 miles. This means that you can confidently take on longer runs without being out of breath.
However, if you need to stop and recharge the battery while traveling, you shouldn’t be in a rush. The maximum current flow that the Soul will accept is 100kW (contemporary competitors provide 150 or 200kW), therefore it will take just under an hour to recharge the cells to 80% of their capacity despite the Soul’s support for quick DC CCS charging. This is acceptable if you’re planning a leisurely lunch, but if you need to get to an appointment quickly, it can cost you money.
However, the majority of users will use a 7kW home wallbox to charge, which can fully charge the battery in just over nine and a half hours, making it ideal for overnight use. A three-pin slow charger is also available for use in emergencies, although it takes 29 hours to fully recharge it.
The Kia is more powerful than it appears to be in terms of performance. The Soul can sprint from 0-62 mph in a reported 7.9 seconds, which is far from shabby given its hot hatchback-rivaling 201 horsepower output. Furthermore, it feels much faster in reality thanks to the motor’s rapid power delivery, which enables you to pass slower traffic in an instant. In fact, the Soul’s thin front tires can quickly spin, thus caution is advised when accelerating, especially in slick or wet weather.
When you look past its appealing design, the Kia is actually quite a practical vehicle. It’s about the same size as a conventional family hatchback, such a Volkswagen Golf, and offers adequate space and adaptability.
There is more interior space than you might expect given the car’s height and the relatively upright seating position. Even those who are tall can find adequate head and legroom in the back, making it slightly more friendly than the larger e-Niro.
Even more space is available up front, where you’ll discover several seat adjustment options and a big, deep windscreen that provides a panoramic outside view. Numerous cup holders, a large covered cubby between the front seats, a tray for your phone, and plenty of storage are also available (of course).
Although the boot only has 315 liters of room (compared to the 381 liters of a Volkswagen Golf), it includes a useful changeable height floor with space below for charging cables. You’d be surprised at how many EVs neglect this. The rear seats may also be rapidly folded flat, and a 60/40 split-fold feature increases versatility.
There may be a few other things worth mentioning, not the least of which is the Soul’s innovative technology. Its 10.25-inch infotainment system is a good place to start because it is user-friendly and loaded with options like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The unit itself is situated high in the dashboard, allowing you to access its capabilities without having to take your eyes off the road for too long. The display has clear visuals and simple menus.
The Soul is also jam-packed with practical driver assistance features, such as adaptive cruise control, which automatically controls the accelerator and brakes to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Additionally, it has (deep breath) blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alert, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and lane departure warning (for when you’re backing out of a parking space). Hell, the headlights will even dip and engage the main beam for you automatically.
Oh, and for even more assurance, Kia offers its renowned seven-year guarantee, which has a generous 100,000-mile restriction.
Although it would be pointless to criticize the Soul, the Kia isn’t flawless, much like most things in life. There are one or two minor issues that, while they are by no means deal-breakers, should be taken into account before you make the commitment.
It’s quick and simple to drive, but it’s not exactly enjoyable in the classic sense. Keen drivers will find the Kia to be precise and accurate, but there isn’t much thrill, and the Soul is probably not going to be at the top of your list if you like taking the long way home.
The price is another consideration; it is exactly 34,995the same amount as the somewhat larger Kia e-Niro, which is powered by the same battery and engine and has a marginally longer range. A true “head vs. heart” decision must be made because the larger automobile isn’t as attractive or well-equipped.
The 100kW rapid charging cap is the last drawback, as it will probably make the Soul less useful. This number already seems a little archaic in comparison to the landscape of automobiles with 800V electrical technology and a public charging network that can currently recharge a battery at a rate of up to 350kW, such is the velocity of change in the EV sector. The EV6 from Kia is one fantastic example of one such vehicle.
As we’ve seen, though, Kia already provides a more useful and reasonable option in the form of the well-liked e-Niro. The smaller but equally powerful (64kWh battery and 201bhp motor) Kona Electric is offered by Hyundai’s sibling company.
The Mini Electric is a great alternative if you don’t care about utility and just want something elegant and entertaining. Although its range is absurdly low and its back seats and boot are laughably small, the car’s snappy acceleration and agile handling will make you smile anyway.
The Peugeot e-2008 is also attractive and has a similar SUV character to the Soul. It’s slower than the Kia and has a range that is over 100 miles less, but it gets attention, is well-equipped, and has a pretty spacious interior.
The Soul is a unique and distinctive alternative to more typical family EVs thanks to its eye-catching appearance, a strong range, an exceptional guarantee, and decent practicality.
Kia Souls – hybrid vehicles?
In the brand-new 2020 Soul EV hybrid for sale at Jim Ellis Kia of Kennesaw, get ready for more adventure than ever. Featuring an electric engine that produces an estimated 201 horsepower and 291 pound. ft. of torque, making its debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Does Kia make all-electric vehicles?
The gasoline-powered Niro hybrid has an all-electric counterpart called the 2022 Kia Niro EV, and there is also a Niro plug-in hybrid (both are reviewed separately). An EPA-estimated 239-mile range is provided by a front-mounted motor that is powered by a 64-kWh battery pack.
The Kia Soul is what kind of a vehicle?
It’s true that the Kia Soul is an SUV. It belongs to a market segment that combines the utility and comfort of a small car with the cargo space of an SUV, and according to U.S. News, it’s at the top of the market segment.
How is a Kia Soul EV recharged?
The Kia Soul EV is as much fun to look at as it is to drive because to its distinctive and whimsical appearance that matches that of its gasoline-powered brethren. The first generation had a respectable range, but the 2019 model pushes things even further.
Charging time for a Kia Soul EV
The time it should take to charge your Soul EV from empty to full is shown in the table below. Since charging tends to slow down outside of this range to protect the battery, we only provide the time to charge for rapid charging from 20 to 80 percent.
Connector type and charging rates
With a Type 2 plug, you may charge your Kia Soul EV at home, at work, or at a public charging station. Additionally, a CCS port is present for quick charging.
Where you can charge a Kia Soul EV
You can conveniently charge your Kia Soul EV at home, plug it in when you get to work, or top it off while you’re out and about at places like supermarkets and public parking lots (usually for free!).