The 2017 Kia Soul EV provides plenty of oomph to get around town while keeping its popular exterior design.
Driving a pure battery electric vehicle in the heartland can be a challenge.
But after a spending a week with the 2017 Kia Soul in around and around Detroit, I found it could be done with a little bit of planning and forethought.
For starters, I enjoyed driving the Kia Soul. The electric motor is fitted into the shape of the gasoline version of the Kia Soul, which has become popular in recent years and is consistently one of the South Korean-brands most popular and best-selling models.
The shape of the Kia Soul EV is distinctive without being carrying the burden of Hollywood-style, faux futurism that has crippled some early EV models that tried way too hard to convey some kind of message about being off to Tomorrow Land. Kia also has given the Soul EV and new face that sets it apart from the version of the gasoline-engine-powered Soul.
At the same time, the interior of the Soul EV retained the basic interior dimensions of a Soul with an internal combustion engine, which meant it was roomy, capable of performing different tasks such as carrying cargo and passengers.
The new Soul EV provides room for five passengers and plenty of cargo space with the rear seats folded down.
Sure EVs attract hipsters and people who like to be the first on their block with a new thing, but I also suspect the majority of EV buyers will ultimately be practical people who like the idea of never having to pay for gasoline.
(Kia expanding green car line-up for 2020. To see what’s coming, Click Here.)
Not everyone has gasoline in their blood or even wants it in their blood — a fact some of anti-EV stalwarts have never seemed to grasp.
The weighty battery pack never got in the way, which was an impressive feat. Indeed, the battery pack actually seemed to improve the overall vehicle dynamics with solid ride, handling and braking with the help of regenerative braking system. I thought its overall performance was better than that of the Nissan Leaf.
Even though the Soul EV weighs about 300 more pounds than the conventional Soul with IC engine and automatic transmission, this electric motor puts out 109 horsepower and 210 foot pounds of torque, which is more than a Soul with an IC engine. Thus, the car glides away from stop lights even when with a light touch on the throttle and if you really want to the Soul EV is more than capable of passing other vehicles, though I have to admit I was usually concentrated on preserving battery range during my test drive.
But I also found during the week with Soul EV that it was quite capable of keeping pace with daily rounds of work assignments, errands and even a couple of trips to the airport. The built-in gauges helped keep track of the charge and the navigation system on the vehicle I drove actually guided me to charging stations.
Kia's new faster charger allows users to get a 94% charge, or 87 miles, in minutes rather than hours.
It was also quiet. Late at night especially I found it pleasure to drive in silence.
(Kia floats like a butterfly and unveils a Stinger in Detroit. Click Here for the story.)
I confess I don’t own a home charger so I had to use a charger at a local science museum not far from my house, but I offset the time the vehicle was charging by using the time for other errands that I could do on foot.
The insight gained from this was I definitely would invest in a home charger if I went electric and if you don’t have a garage space in or near your condo you do have to check on the provisions available for charging a vehicle, which are becoming more common.
The Soul EV is described as Kia’s first mass-market zero emissions, battery electric vehicle and, for 2017 and is offered in three trims – Soul EV-e, Soul EV, Soul EV plus. It also comes with an impressive list of standard equipment as well as options such as a new dark gray 16-inch wheel cover on the EV and EV plus.
Prices start at $32,250 for Soul EV-e, which is sold only in California plus $895 destination charge. Prices go up to $33,950 for EV and $35,950 for the EVplus. Not cheap but more or less in range of the average transaction prices today.
The navigation system in the Soul EV will direct you to available charging stations.
Also new for 2017, the fast charger now provides more energy — 94% of charge, adding 87 miles in each charge event, and drivers can now set the charge time to end at their convenience. Remote climate logic has also been added to precondition the car when it’s not grid connected, and the new Generation II Pedestrian Warning System alters the sound and frequency of the warning depending on vehicle speed.
Kia has also equipped the Kia Soul EV with its own connectivity and control app system that offers more features than ever before, including: immediate HVAC control; on-demand vehicle diagnosis, Speed Alert; Curfew Alert; Geo-Fence Alert; Location POI; Google local search; and Trip Info for app and MyUVO.com.
(To see how Kia is putting a little zip into the new Soul, Click Here.)
Overall, I came away impressed. The Kia Soul EV is basically a nicely proportioned subcompact vehicle capable of performing everyday tasks quietly and very, very efficiently.