Kia Soul EV Review & Features

As the electric vehicle market has expanded, many car companies have taken the approach of making electric versions of their existing cars. The Kia Soul EV is one such example.

The regular Soul has earned its share of fans thanks to its unique style, voluminous cabin (considering its size), and generous list of standard convenience and luxury features. Those qualities hold true for the Soul EV as well, but it adds an electric powertrain good for about 93 miles of range.

Current Kia Soul EV
The Kia Soul EV is offered in EV-e (California only), EV (aka base model) and Plus (aka +) trim levels. Highlights of the EV-e include automatic climate control, heated front seats and a rearview camera. The base EV is similar with a few added perks, such as a navigation system, an 8-inch touchscreen and more infotainment features. The Plus features front and rear parking sensors, leather upholstery and ventilated front seats.

Powering the Kia Soul EV is a 109-horsepower electric motor paired to a 27-kWh battery. This power team provides an EPA-estimated driving range of 93 miles. That range is a bit less than what the latest crop of similarly priced electric vehicles offer, but it should be sufficient for most EV owners.

In reviews, our editors found the Kia Soul EV sprightly at lower speeds but lagging behind rival EVs in terms of higher-speed passing and merging performance. Handling is lackluster, especially compared to the Soul's gas-powered counterpart, which is known for its responsive dynamics. The trade-off is a softer ride than its stiff-legged athletic sibling, though overall the ride is about average for the segment.

In its favor, the Soul EV is fairly quiet even at highway speeds despite its boxy body that generates some subdued wind noise. Inside are comfortably supportive seats, easy-to-use electronic features (especially with the larger 8-inch touchscreen), and an abundance of passenger and cargo space. The latter quality, rather unusual in an EV of this size, is a strong suit of the Kia. Indeed, its cargo-hauling capability is more akin to that of a subcompact SUV than a subcompact hatchback.

Used Kia Soul EV Models
The Kia Soul EV debuted for 2015 and, apart from a minor shuffling of equipment and trim levels, has seen no notable changes.