Kentish Express Ashford & District
Packed with heart and Soul
Kia’s Soul SUV has been updated with only an electric powertrain. Darren Cassey finds out what it’s like.
In an age of cookie-cutter designs, the Soul stands out as genuinely unique. It’s not part of a line-up of SUVs in a manufacturer range that are only distinguishable by size, and it blends a boxy, small vanlike shape with funky styling cues that give its practicality a youthful appeal. It’s also only available as an electric vehicle on these shores, using the same powertrain as the hugely popular Kia e-Niro, another vehicle in the South Korean’s range that’s seemingly targeting a similar audience. The question to be asked, then: does it have the substance to go with this appealing uniquity?
WHAT’S NEW?
The first thing you notice trying to manoeuvre the Soul in a tight space is it feels quite big thanks to its chunky proportions, so it’s no surprise to learn it’s bigger than its predecessor, 80mm longer with a 30mm longer wheelbase. Kia says although the styling is unmistakably like the previous Soul, every body panel has been redesigned.
UNDER THE BONNET?
The powertrain is easily the most impressive upgrade on the previous Soul EV. The electric motor makes 201bhp and 395Nm of torque, considerably more powerful than before, while the battery is a 64kWh unit promising up to 280 miles between charges. Kia says its battery cells are more power dense than most other EVs, so it was able to keep the battery compact, which helps to reduce weight.
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
As with all electric vehicles, the Soul offers punchy acceleration and a quiet, relaxing drive. It’s at its best around town, where the sharp steering and responsive motor make navigating traffic easy. It’s comfortable too, which will have been helped by that new suspension setup. However, the sharp steering is also the main culprit of one bugbear with the driving experience. At higher speeds, the sensitivity doesn’t appear to be toned down at all, meaning you find yourself constantly fidgeting in your lane or not reducing lock enough when exiting a corner, making for a less than smooth drive.
WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?
The Kia Soul starts at £34,295 with the government’s plug-in car grant, which sounds like a lot of money, but is reasonable in the electric vehicle market given the size of the vehicle and its range. To make the cost more palatable, it gets a decent equipment list as standard, including leather upholstery, heated front seats and steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with sat nav, and a Harman/Kardon premium sound system. There are three colour combinations - white or black with a red roof, or blue with a black roof - which are all free options. £35,000.
THE VERDICT
Much like most of the Kia range, the Soul is great to drive, practical and extremely well built. Despite some grumbles about the steering, something owners would likely adapt to quickly, there’s little to complain about. Those who regularly do big shops might find the boot cramped, but otherwise this is a spacious, characterful car that won’t cost the Earth to run.