Kia got into the EV game with its battery-powered Soul in 2015, which felt surprisingly early for a company that was then still quite new to the North American marketplace.
You can thank its Hyundai parent company for that: though Kia is the older brand, Hyundai saved it from bankruptcy and now owns a minority share and effectively bankrolls it. Thanks to that, the Soul EV was the first all-electric vehicle to come here from South Korea.
This battery-powered box on wheels returns unchanged for 2018, which means its 149-km driving range is close to the back of the pack in a burgeoning class of plug-in vehicles.
But like most electrics, the Soul EV is the best version of this Kia wagon, its vibration-free powertrain lending the car a level of refinement uncommon for a compact.
The Soul’s electric motor makes 109 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque, figures less-impressive than those of many competitors, but enough to move the car with adequate alacrity. Kia found a way to package the Soul EV so that its battery pack doesn’t intrude on cabin or cargo space, so driving range aside, this is just as practical a car as its gas-powered sibling.
Kia’s problems are the Chevrolet Bolt and second-generation Nissan Leaf, EVs that are both more technically advanced and can go much further on a charge of their battery packs.
For its base price of just under $36,000 (before any government incentives available where you are) Kia fits the Soul EV with 16-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, backup camera, air conditioning, heated steering wheel and navigation. A Luxury trim adds parking sensors, a more sophisticated climate control system that helps boost driving range, ventilated front seats and leather-like door trim.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
