2023 Kia Soul EV Review: When Range Isn't Everything

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Күн бұрын

There aren’t many cars over the last 15 years that have been as lovable as the Kia Soul. Maybe it’s not quite in Mini Cooper or Volkswagen Beetle territory, but it’s close. Where it differs most from those endearing automobiles, however, is that it’s actually practical. And when it comes to the 2023 Kia Soul EV, very little of that practicality has been sacrificed to make way for its all-electric powertrain.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that range falls a little short of where it probably needs to be. But the Soul EV counters with a couple factors that just might matter more.
AutoTrader.ca Road Test Editor Dan Ilika reviews the electric version of Kia's subcompact crossover. The Soul comes up short on range compared to other EVs with dedicated electric platforms, but does it pull ahead in other categories to make it a worthwhile option for EV buyers?
Read the full review on AutoTrader.ca:
www.autotrader.ca/editorial/2...
00:00 Intro
00:49 Tons of practicality, and an EV too
02:15 Controls and Ergonomics
04:14 Infotainment and User-friendliness
06:13 Powertrain and Specs
06:58 Battery range and Charging speed
09:28 Driving impressions
11:44 Pricing and Value
13:00 Pros and Cons
13:19 Conclusion

Пікірлер: 18

@Koulis_ Жыл бұрын

I have a Soul EV here in the UK. The range I think is impressive even compared to some newer entrants. It was actually a selling point for me as the WLTP here is 280 miles and the GOM is accurate due to efficiency. Winter is less mileage but very good still.

@seanpeacock5595 Жыл бұрын

We have a Soul and love it. Few more practical for its size, but the EV prices have got to come down $10,000 in Canada for more mainstream acceptance. I can buy a regular Soul and have $15,000 extra cash.

@rodbhar6522 Жыл бұрын

that $15k of cash will disappear in 5 years in gas and maintenance.

@rightlanehog3151 Жыл бұрын

Dan, Boxes work. In a world of slippery, sloping, 'swoopy' car designs that simply don't work for driver, passenger or cargo practicality, I hope space efficient, upright, TALL boxes come back in style soon. I offer a big THANKS for highlighting the proven benefits of fully independent rear suspension 10:08. A retrograde torsion beam or, as I call it,Torture Beam Rear Suspension® is, was and always will be a third rate, cost-cutting exercise. No car on the market today is cheap enough in price to justify an ox cart rear suspension. Automakers should be named and shamed for trying to foist them on an unsuspecting public who are trying desperately to cope with the potholed streets that dominate the Canadian landscape. Reviewers who soft-pedal the detrimental effects of torsion beams should be sentenced to a lifetime of driving them. 😉

@danilika9420 Жыл бұрын

Hahaha! Couldn’t agree more! Torsion beam is awful no matter how much a brand like Mazda has tried to put lipstick on that pig!

@rightlanehog3151 Жыл бұрын

@@danilika9420 But it's a 'Premium' torsion beam on a Mazda, Motor Trend told me so. 😉

@patrickmckowen2999 7 ай бұрын

They lost me with no one pedal driving -- I am so use to that in my Bolt! My 2019 Bolt does very well in estimating range, is appointing that you said the EUV did not. Cheers

@Reddylion Жыл бұрын

Hyundai and kia ev 👍

@rafael2diego Жыл бұрын

The rated 383km range is at 80% SOC.

@danilika9420 Жыл бұрын

That would be news to Kia, which states on its own website that the Soul EV has “a range of up to 383 km at full charge.”

@rafael2diego Жыл бұрын

@@danilika9420 At 100% SOC, I could get 515 - 530 Km during warmer months. I read that some owners could get close to 600 Km. However, the manual does not recommend to charge the battery to 100% frequently and to not let it go down lower than 20% to prolong the battery life. In colder temperatures, for example at -10 C, I could only get around 340-350 Km at 80 % SOC.

@kingt.2811 9 ай бұрын

Ev is great for some but not all. Can you imagine an ev charge station to chare your ev. In a city of 15 million people, with minimum of two hours to charge. Cali is a great example. If 50% of the populous in cali all had ev's it would be un sustainable. People would wait hours to charge.