Item: Kia Soul EV
Rating: 5
Author: David Lewis

The Kia Soul EV is a uniquely styled electric car with excellent range

Kia Soul EV Review

The Kia Soul EV, launched in 2014, was Kia’s first mass market electric car.

In 2020, Kia refreshed the Soul EV for the second time, giving it a much bigger battery (64 kWh) and considerably more range (252 miles, real world). It’s a quirky electric car that is both fun to look at and drive.

Although the Soul EV looks radically different to Kia’s other fully electric car, the e-Niro, underneath they are almost identical.

The Soul EV and the e-Niro are also priced very similarly, so probably best to take both cars for a test drive to see which one feels best for you.

Page Contents hide

1 Positives

2 Negatives

3 Soul EV Range & Charging

4 Kia Soul EV UK Price

5 Who is the Kia Soul EV for?

Positives

Funky, quirky styling
Excellent range on a single charge
Family-sized
Kia 7-year warranty

Negatives

Boxy looks put some people off, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Soul EV Range & Charging

It has a 64 kWh battery which gives it a range of about 252 miles, in the real world, on a single charge.

That kind of range means – for the majority of driving situations – you no longer have to plan ahead regarding where and when you charge the car. You simply do all the driving you need to do during the day, come home, plug in, and then charge your car at night (using the car’s built-in timer) on a cheap, off-peak tariff.

If you do need to go on a long trip, the Soul EV has a pretty high rapid charging rate of 77 kW (DC). This allows you to charge your car at the motorway service station while you go for a sandwich and a coffee. By the time you’ve finished your food and checked your email (say 20-40 minutes later), the car will be ready to go again. It won’t be charged to 100% – more likely 70-80% – but that should be plenty to get you to your destination.

Kia Soul EV UK Price

The current price is £34,945, including the government grant.

There’s just one version at the moment called ‘Maxx’. No doubt other trim levels will follow.

After a recent price drop, in its segment of long range electric cars up to £40,000, it’s now a very strong candidate. Here’s a price comparison with competitors offering 250+ miles real world range:

Kia Soul EV: from £34,945
Kia e-Niro 2 (64 kWh): from £34,945
Hyundai Kona Electric, Premium (64 kWh): from £35,050
Skoda Enyaq iV, 80 Loft: from £40,130

So it’s tied in first place with its excellent sibling, the Kia e-Niro.

If you would like to compare the Soul EV against other cars, try our Car Selector tool.

Who is the Kia Soul EV for?

This Kia electric car is front-wheel drive, has 5 doors and 5 seats.

Its 150 kW motor (201 bhp) gives it a top speed of 104 mph. It can go from 0 to 62 mph in 7.6 seconds. Instant acceleration is one of the hallmarks of electric cars, and the Soul EV doesn’t disappoint.

Space in the back seats is fine for both legroom and headroom. Like many electric cars in this segment, the Soul EV could be your next family car, although its boot (315 litres) is note as big as the e-Niro (451 litres). You’ll either love or loathe the boxy look. It’s very much a Marmite car.

Would it be a nice city car? Yes it would. It’s almost as compact as a Renault Zoe. It has a reasonably high driving position, so you feel in command as you drive around without emitting any pollutants at all. As city centre restrictions on emissions become tougher and tougher, having an electric car is becoming a big advantage.

Inside, the First Edition is very well specced, giving you: