The Kia Soul EV remains unchanged for its second year, with rumours of a range increase circulating for 2018. The estimated range of 149 km puts it at less than half the available range of the 2017 Bolt EV, but it also starts at more than $7,000 less than the Bolt. The range is much more than the cheaper Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and in line with the similarly priced Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus Electric.
The Soul EV gets its range from a 27 kWh lithium-ion battery. Acceleration is slow, but in line with the slower end of the class and much quicker than the Nissan Leaf. The electric motor produces 109 hp and 210 lb-ft compared to the 200 hp from the Bolt EV. The Soul EV is largely the same as the gas-powered Soul on the inside, with all of the cargo area the gas Leaf provides. Unlike the Focus Electric, it loses no space in the rear to the battery. It does lose space in the rear seat though, with 75 mm of rear legroom lost to the battery. It's still comfortable, and with a 149 km range you won't be sitting back there long anyway.
The Soul EV is available in EV and EV Luxury trims. Both come with 16-inch alloys, projector headlights, heated mirrors, a rear-view camera, air conditioning, a six-speaker stereo with an 8.0-inch navigation system, power windows and locks, heated steering wheel, and a height adjustable driver's seat.
The Luxury trim adds parking sensors, a heat pump for the climate control that improves electric range, synthetic leather seats with air-cooling, and synthetic leather trim for the doors.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
