MOTORS: ‘Fresh and funky’ Soul has modern boxy design
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Now into its third generation, the Kia Soul is still not the bonniest car on the road but look beyond its styling and there’s a lot to admire and appreciate with this Korean crossover.
The test car came in a distinctive colour scheme of white body with red roof which prompted more than one comment that it looked a bit like a scaled-down ice-cream van.
Putting that to one side I enjoyed my few days behind the wheel of the latest all-electric version, helped by the more useful long-range 64kWh battery which meant that almost 300 miles was possible on one full charge. If you’re lucky enough to find a 100kW charger you can top up the battery to the recommended 80 per cent in just 47 minutes and even a 50kW charger can do the job in just over an hour, long enough for a comfort stop and cup of coffee on a long journey.
It has a definitely modern look – Kia describe it as fresh and funky, futuristic and youthful – but its boxy design is distinctive especially in the Explore spec of the test car with an SUV pack and roof rails.
The Soul EV is the smallest of Kia UK’s current battery electric vehicle line-up, alongside the Niro EV and EV6 which are about to be joined by the much-anticipated EV9 in Kia’s ambitious plans to launch 15 EVs globally by 2027.
The all-electric model is the only version of the Soul now available in two trim levels, Urban and the flagship Explore. It now comes with fully independent rear suspension which makes the car more engaging, responsive and comfortable with improved handling and reduced vibrations at higher speeds when travelling over poor surfaces.
The electric powertrain gives the car a lower centre of gravity than many combustion-engine vehicles with the flat battery pack beneath the cabin. It’s also wider than the previous model which results in greater stability on winding roads with minimal body-roll. It is well balanced and agile and there’s no lack of power around the upper end of the speed limit. It’s especially nippy around town where its vertical back end also makes it a cosy parker when space is limited.
In both versions there’s a Drive Mode Select system which lets you adapt the handling and characteristics to your preferred driving style or the road conditions. You can choose from Normal, Eco, Eco+ and Sport mode. The two Eco modes maximise range with power-saving measures while Sport increases responses and weights up the steering, maximising the dynamic driving feel of the car. The regenerative braking system is effective, with paddles behind the steering wheel to adjust the intensity so that you can bring the car to a halt without using the brake pedal, which in turn reduces wear and maintenance costs while simultaneously harvesting kinetic energy to recharge the battery pack.
The EV has 17-inch alloys, an inch bigger than the previous-generation, and they come with low-rolling-resistance tyres.
The all-electric powertrain means it’s remarkably quiet at low speeds, but the flat underside of the car also reduces drag and wind ‘roar’ beneath the body.
It comes crammed with equipment, with a premium sound system, 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satnav, adaptive cruise control, heated leather seats and LED lights all round. The Kia designers have done a brilliant job in creating some dramatic interiors and that also goes for the Soul. It has an upmarket look and feel and all the switches and controls are exactly where they should be, easy to use and effective.
At almost £40,000 it’s pricey compared to some of the competition and the boot is quite small although there’s plenty of passenger leg and headroom.
And for peace of mind, Kia’s 100,000-mile, seven-year warranty is still the best in the business and importantly, also covers the battery and electric motor.
Kia Soul EV ‘Explore’
PRICE: £39,045
ENGINE: 64kWh Permanent Magnet Synchronous electric motor, single speed auto transmission
POWER: 201 bhp
TORQUE: 395 Nm
TOP SPEED: 104mph
0-60mph: 7.9 secs
RANGE: 280 miles
