THIS EV IS EASY TO DRIVE, BUT TOUGH ON THE BUDGET
OK, though I'm not a hidebound Luddite, neither am I an early adopter, the sort who enthusiastically buys into a product as soon as it comes out. Once I reach a certain level of comfort, I'm loathe to change. So, it truly surprised me how easily I warmed up to Kia's fully electric Soul EV.
I've tested a few plug-ins before, but only models that offered an internal combustion backup to mitigate the whole issue of range anxiety, such as the Toyota Prius Prime and Chevy Volt. This would be my first real, weeklong leap into the deep waters.
I don't know about public charging sites, but at home, even a regular 110-volt wall outlet will do. Once you figure out how to plug in the car for the occasional recharge, the rest is as close to idiot-proof and user-friendly as any vehicle can be. As long as you remember to unplug before heading off, the Soul EV is getin-and-go simple. And, with a total range that can exceed 400 kilometres, it's ideal inter-urban transportation.
Admittedly, I have a soft spot for the gas-powered Soul, ever since I took my late mother out for a spin in one a number of years ago and she declared the little wagon/crossover “adorable.” The fact it has survived and prospered where the other boxes-on-wheels of the time — Scion xb, Nissan Cube, and Honda Element — have been consigned to the dust heap, is indicative of clever packaging, decent handling dynamics and competitive pricing.
The one big thing that will stop the EV version from following its internal-combustion-powered sibling into a lot more driveways is price. You can pick up a gas-powered Soul for as low as $21,195. The least expensive Soul EV for 2021 is $42,895.
Even taking into consideration the $5,000 federal rebate, plus the subsidies offered by the B.C. and Quebec governments, it's still a substantial outlay to commit to environmentally friendly driving.
Further putting the hurt on, the topline EV Limited model being tested has an MSRP of $51,895.
If you can wrap your head around that, though, you're in for a treat. Regular electric Souls come with a 39.2-kw/ h air-cooled battery and a traction motor that puts out 134 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of
torque. The Limited gets what Kia calls a “new state-of the-art” liquid-cooled lithium-ion polymer battery that generates 64 kw/ h, meaning far less need for daily charging. The motor now outputs 201 hp and 291 lb.-ft. of torque.
Keep in mind that 100 per cent of that torque is available to tap into the second you get on the throttle. Select Sport mode and it's not you who is keeping up with traffic, but rather traffic is trying to keep up with you.
There are two other modes to choose from — Eco and Eco+ — that automatically adjust power output to the traction motor, regenerative braking, air conditioning and heating settings, and set speed limits to help manage operating efficiency depending on driving conditions. For those wanting to eke out every last kilometre between charges, Eco+ disables the car's climate control system and really softens accelerator response. Eco at least allows the driver to use the A/C.
Naturally, the Soul EV offers regenerative braking operated via paddle shifters, which allows the driver to slow the car and capture kinetic energy, adding extra range. There are four regen braking levels (zero to three) that alter driving smoothness and efficiency. Zero means no regeneration while three offers the most. In addition, the “brake and hold” system, controlled by holding the left regen paddle shifter, has the ability to bring the car to a full stop without actually having to touch the brake pedal.
Not that the Soul EV should be flogged on twisting tarmac as though it was a sports car, but the nearly 1,700-kilogram hatchback has good road manners, thanks in part to the addition of an independent rear suspension. There's just a bit of lean when pitched into low-speed corners.
The most noticeable difference between the gas-powered Soul and the EV is that, instead of the usual console-mounted shifter, the latter gets a shift-bywire rotary knob with a choice of Drive, Neutral and Reverse selections.
There's also what Kia calls the Smart Eco Pedal Guide display on the instrument cluster that informs the driver of real-time battery usage based on an accelerator pedal input.
Even though the Soul is a subcompact, there's a surprising amount of passenger room. The EV'S powertrain packaging takes up a bit more room behind the rear seats than the gas Soul, but there's still between 563 and 663 litres of capacity for groceries and gear, depending on whether the cargo floor is in its raised or lowered position.
This new model, with more power, a bigger battery, comprehensive safety and infotainment features, decent driving dynamics and a cheerful personality, makes the thought of eventually owning an electric vehicle a far less improbable proposition.