2017 Kia Soul EV Review

Our top choice for the 2017 Kia Soul EV is the top trim level called the Plus (+). The Plus is only marginally more expensive than the base trim level below it and includes all sorts of extra equipment such as leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, front and rear parking sensors and eve...

Slotting the shifter to "B" engages aggressive regenerative braking. It feels unusual at first, but you'll quickly learn to love the car doing much of the braking for you, especially in traffic. The Soul EV is otherwise simple and easy to drive.

Abundant low-end torque makes the Soul EV feel spritely pulling away from a light, but this eagerness peters out as speeds rise. In Edmunds testing, a Soul EV accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 9.5 seconds, which is behind the leading all-electric competitors.

In traffic, the Soul EV's brake pedal isn't particularly responsive or easy to modulate. But aggressive regenerative braking is available, and it is a boon once you get used to it. The Soul EV's panic-stop distance of 125 feet from 60 mph is about average for the class.

The steering response is slow without much feedback regardless of the weight dialed in through the driver-adjustable steering system. Settings include Normal (relaxingly vague), Comfort (sloppily loose) and Sport (ironically the most "normal").

This is not the surprisingly keen handler that the regular Soul is. The suspension favors comfort, limits are low and grip is unimpressive. Most EV competitors, especially the Chevrolet Bolt, Fiat 500e and Ford Focus EV, are sharper to drive.

Slotting the shifter to "B" engages aggressive regenerative braking. It feels unusual at first, but you'll quickly learn to love the car doing much of the braking for you, especially in traffic. The Soul EV is otherwise simple and easy to drive.

Without the gasoline Soul's raspy engine churning under the hood, the Soul EV is a quiet car to spend time in even with the elevated wind noise caused by its boxy shape. Ride comfort is average. The seats are commendably comfortable and supportive.

The firm, leather-covered seats with an elevated placement are supportive and comfortable during long drives (well, they would be if you could actually drive far in the Soul EV). But these are better than what you'll find in most small cars.

The added weight of the batteries, smaller wheels and increased tire sidewall result in an improved ride compared to the rather jiggly and sometimes harsh ride of the gasoline-powered Soul. Ride comfort is about average for the small-EV segment.

The Soul EV's boxy shape creates more wind noise than is typical, and this is exasperated by the lack of engine noise. You pretty much just hear the wind. But that silent electric motor replaces the regular Soul's rather raspy, slightly crude engine.

For the most part, the Soul EV's interior is user-friendly. It has a likable tech interface that's relatively easy to use, as well as easy entry and exit. Materials quality isn't as good as we'd like for the price, but it's not a deal-breaker.

All dashboard controls are placed within easy reach. The large, optional touchscreen is generally a model of simplicity for its audio controls, with big icons and logical menus, but swiping to scroll phone numbers or track lists often results in errant selections.

The seats are placed higher than in your average car, making climbing in and sitting down easy. There's no "fall-in" as in a car or "climb up" as in most SUVs. There's near-perfect step-in height. Wide door openings help as well.

The battery placement raises the rear floor a few inches, reducing rear seat legroom and comfort compared with the gasoline-powered Soul. Still, high-mounted seats in all positions yield good room for a vehicle of this size. It's similar to a subcompact SUV.

The boxy shape makes it easy to know where the vehicle's corners are. Tall windows make the view forward clear, but thick rear-quarter pillars restrict the crossview while reversing. A rearview camera is standard on the Soul EV, and our Plus tester came with front and rear parking sensors.

We gave the regular Soul a higher score in this category for its abundant soft-touch points and above-average materials and switchgear. However, it cost much less than the EV. The Soul EV is well built, but in the price range, interior quality is a bit subpar.

Some EVs suffer a reduction in cargo space due to their extra batteries, but the Soul EV does not. In terms of passenger and cargo room, it lines up more with the new batch of subcompact SUVs rather than compact hatchbacks.

A fast-charge port, navigation, an 8-inch touchscreen, a rearview camera, parking sensors, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and leather upholstery are all a part of the Plus trim level. The Soul EV's touchscreen commands are easy to learn and use.