Kia E-Soul review | Winner of Irish Car Of The Year 2020

[@XENONEZZ2]

Bought this Kia EV a few months ago.....it's a great all round package. And the range is excellent...getting around 250 real world miles on a full charge.

[@ELMS]

I own this vehicle in Victoria, Canada. It’s my first EV and I never would have thought I’d be so extremely happy with it. Comfortable, well equipped and the large battery means sayonara to range anxiety. I put in a 220v home charger and that’s the cherry on top. Great review!

[@smaemurray]

Owning an EV is a real no brainer. I've had mine just over a year and it's been a joy. Totally agree re home charging. It's just so convenient to charge the car with what you need on any given day. Overnight. While you sleep. Great review.

[@nitelite78]

Only if you own a house with a drive.

[@nitelite78]

@excollier114 I would be happy with 200 miles. Don't really need more than that. Most I ever drive in terms of long distance is about 120 miles and then I stop half way for a toilet break anyway so could charge for 20 mins.

[@honeyhonesty3784]

It's comfortable and nice to listen you because you speak very calmly and effortlessly. Also very good review and camera work.

[@NobbyOnCars]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@TheBronx_911]

Good balanced review Mark. You hit the nail on the head about charging at home. I haven’t used a public charger in 3 years.

[@NobbyOnCars]

You'd be mad not to have a charger. Mad! My house is wired for one and even though I don't own an EV I think I'll get the box fitted because it will make life easier when I've an EV for a video.

[@seandoherty925]

I think you're right. That's a shame for those of us who live in apartments that don't allow for on street charging.

[@mariebrady7213]

Good review, I love my Kia Soul EV, got it last year and only used public changer once, charge at home. Range is great. Electric cars are definitely the way forward.

[@art322]

Next time someone says to me they’ll never take an electric car, I might say “that’s fine but I’m afraid you’ll have to give back your electric phone as well: they come as a package.” And then talk them through the “advantages” of a combustion phone. Fill it petrol once a week, not like waiting hours for the electric phone to charge. Ok it’s bit loud when it’s running but the speaker on it is very good so you can still hear the other person. And ok, you can’t use it indoors because of the fumes (bloody health and safety, eh?) but it’s good to get some fresh air, etc etc.. Great review, l like your calm style.

[@dday1412]

Please do also consider researching and doing a video on the current and possible 2nd hand market for EV. It'd be good to hear your common sense approach to possible resale issues and benefits of EV in Ireland.

[@btnbiker]

I have had my Ioniq in the UK for 18 months, no way could I go back to an ice vehicle. The cost difference is not so much when you factor in the cost savings. Here in the UK I know many owners they don't have home charging, it's doable

[@ferryengr]

We have the 2017 Kia Soul EV with only 94 US EPA rated miles range. Still we love it. Why? Because at the get-go, we put in a Level 2 home charger - which lets us charge at the max for the car, 7.2Kw. The point you make about home charging, is exactly right. When (not if) you purchase an EV, put in a home charger! . . . . and next time you test an EV, drop by my daughter in Dublin and take her family for a ride :)

[@davidodoherty349]

I've just bought this car in this colour thanks to your review! Thanks Nobby! Gonna have to contribute on Patreon to show my appreciation! 👍

[@NobbyOnCars]

Thanks for the support David 😎

[@Muushondje]

Nobby, a bit late but what a superb review. Keep up the good work !

[@ruudkraan7072]

I have this car and I can only say, it’s a supercar. No problems and driving super. BETTER THAN. ID3, BUY HIM.

[@NobbyOnCars]

The range is great in them!

[@ruudkraan7072]

Kia e soul, I love it.

[@richardshiggins704]

Yes Nobby you answered my doubts in one sentence , don't buy unless home charger . If on the street then Hybrids are the way to go . Therefore Toyota Yaris Cross etc etc .

[@oceanfroggie]

Good review. No hype just useful info

[@gzcwnk]

One of my top3 EVs but it wont be imported into NZ :(

[@ruudkraan7072]

E soul is the best car you can buy.

[@sprockkets]

The pop up screen is better, because to get it to work on the windshield requires a special coating on it that makes it way more expensive. Or so I've read.

[@TheMichaelRN]

Kia got this EV just right, now if they would build a performance crossover EV with longer range and AWD.

[@NobbyOnCars]

I"m sure it's only a matter of time...

[@saltynipsyup2025]

i have a 2011 soul with 350,000 miles and the AC still blows frosty lmao

[@buixote]

I *know* these aren't available in the States; I'd *still* like an update... how are they selling, are there any common complaints? How are they faring against the Niro and Kona, etc.

[@wolvoman1]

Im looking forward to the R sport version

[@TheBronx_911]

4.22 damn! Quick call to the local PDR Guy 😂😂😂

[@tommyroche9142]

Nobby, a small suggestion/request. When you're reviewing SUV's or crossovers would it be possible to include a quick shot of the floor space in the rear so that viewers can see the transmission tunnel ? Small thing in the many and varied reasons why someone would choose a particular make or model, but a huge tunnel can make a big difference to the comfort of the middle seat passenger, and is actually a consideration for people who would carry 3 in the rear regularly. Like I say, just a small thing. Love the reviews, well done, and nice to see you picking up plenty of subs.

[@NobbyOnCars]

hi Tommy - there should be a clip of the flat floor in this one somewhere in there. I agree though it's a big thing to factor in and generally try to get some of the rear legroom in, I'll do a few longer bits of footage though!

[@Muushondje]

Nobby, another question wat is in your opinion the better EV. The Citroën e-C4 or The Kia eSoul. It seems to me that Kia is lightyears ahead of Citroën with elektrical drivetrains. Thanks for your input.

[@NobbyOnCars]

Citroen is based on the same setup as many other tried and tested though, e2008 etc etc but range in an eSoul is better. Older car though, not sure if you’re talking about new or used. eC4 is arguably the better looking car too :)

[@Muushondje]

@@NobbyOnCarsThanks for your wise advise.

[@JoeL-zx2tl]

Wish this car would come to America. I live in Washington state so we have adopted California ev requirements

[@NobbyOnCars]

Tesla it is so :)

[@JoeL-zx2tl]

Nobby On Cars I don’t care for Tesla over priced, over rated.

[@jwenting]

it'd be nice to have a charger at home, but for most people living in cities it's simply not an option. The city council isn't going to like me running a charging cable from my front door over the sidewalk for a hundred meters to where I can park my car, and I'm living in a row house. For people living in apartment buildings they'd have to run that charging cable from the window of their apartment on the 5th floor down to ground level and across a parking lot (if they're lucky enough to have a parking lot adjacent at all). Then again, I don't now have a petrol station in my garden to fill up my current car either, but have to drive to the nearest commercial filling station twice a week. Not much different from driving to a public charging station twice a week, if the infrastructure is there to support the number of vehicles out there which is improving rapidly.

[@NobbyOnCars]

It's do-able and sure it would get you out of the house !

[@jwenting]

@@NobbyOnCars might be technically doable, but it's also illegal (at least where I live) and I'd be seriously worried about people stealing the cable.

[@NobbyOnCars]

CaptainDuckman ah no I meant using the fuel stations. You can’t unplug a car anyway once it’s locked the connector can’t be removed until you open the doors again with the fob

[@jwenting]

@@NobbyOnCars that's not stopping people here stealing electrical wiring left and right... Some even go as far as to use explosives to blast their way into transformer stations to rip out the coils (and getting themselves electrocuted in the process).

[@kyliefan7]

Probably why they don’t name it the E-Soul in the US....I didn’t realize that until you said it like that and I was lol-ing! By the way your E-Soul looks rather tight in the back!

[@andrewmorgan1802]

Am I correct in thinking that BIK exemption for EVs means no grant?

[@NobbyOnCars]

€3,800 is the max if buying it through a company.

[@007desir]

I just bougth one 😍

[@gazzrobb2366]

No mood lighting on 2021soul and I’m pissed off 😤

[@deeweeuavp]

Unusual? Remember Kia Soul Ex has been around with a comparison body shape, nice but pricey. I'll be staying with it's diesel brother.

[@NobbyOnCars]

Ah it's a little bit square box looking, even the older versions too though! Great car looks aside.

[@jwenting]

@@NobbyOnCars Ah, I like the looks :) It's one reason I ordered one over the e-Niro

[@wolvoman1]

Within 12/18 months of use there will be a recall for battery problems

[@martingrady7654]

How and why do we not get air-cooled seats in the front and heated seats in the back like the rest of Europe get in the Soul EV, do they have a meeting and think stuff them lot.

[@NobbyOnCars]

Weird alright. I've used cooler seats in Kias before and they worked well.

[@martingrady7654]

@@NobbyOnCars I had an Optima with front and rear heated and front cooled seats, I just do not understand why the USA, Canada and all of Europe accept us get this as standard and we do not, as the air-cooled option is cool:) We can even have it as an optional extra.

[@AFlyingCookieLOL]

@@NobbyOnCars The air cooled seats work really really well, it can even get too cold. nice thing there is 3 settings!

[@MiniEggs1999]

If a yeti and multipla had a baby 🤣

[@NobbyOnCars]

🤣🤣

[@Indygoflow1]

Speak louder dude

[@whocares264]

irish car of the year..... i thought it was south korean... good car though...

[@NobbyOnCars]

ha

[@geoffbell2106]

N

[@ripmax333]

Its still too expensive and still a car, even your a careful driver some one will always hit it and €35,000 euros are like a huge ice cube. It will be worth nothing.

[@MrEsjmb]

there is only one reason to drive a car with a 64kwh battery, and that's long distance driving. `if you drive in ireland at motorway speed in winter, you will be lucky to get 300km out of this car - I know - I've driven it. That makes it a one way charge at destination vehicle, which is fine if you have up to 7-10 hours to charge it at a public charging station. Big battery means long charge time. Even a DC fast charger will take more than an hour - ESB penalise you if you spend more than 45 mins. Don't forget that the practical DC fast charge limit is 80%, and you will not want to drop below 20% to be sure of finding one working. This means a fast charge will give you at best realistically another 120-150km per stop. The key problem is that the range is just quite big enough to charge at home and reliably do your driving. oh, and with ESB fast charing pricing the cost of charging rises to diesel prices. home chargin is about 2 euro/100km in theory. ESB charge rates are about 4 euro/100km in theory. But now allow 20-24kwh/100km at range driving, add 10% additonal energy to get the battery charged (all motor journalists seem to miss this). It's no longer an economic win. this car makes sense if you can run it chargin at home or on free low chargers in the community. But think, with a charge time of 10.5 hours, how long are public chargers going to remain accessible?

[@MrEsjmb]

incidentally, i own and drive an ev. Just pointing to the engineering challenges of delivering long range while maintaining the economic benefit of low weight EVs. This is a heavy car. The technology is not yet mature. forget about 455km range. 260-350 is more realistic. we await 84kw. if you live in dublin and do a 20km round trip daily, a 64kw battery is a waste. EVs remain a middle class second car proposition for all but early adopters willing to drink lots of coffee in garages.

[@NobbyOnCars]

You make some interesting points. I didn’t experience that level of reduced range that you mention in the eSoul specifically but can vouch that motorways etc will reduce range. This car seemed particularly consistent even when doing motorway driving however. You’re spot on about the public charging, 45 mins on a fast charger should buy quite a bit of charge though. I personally would not buy an EV unless I’d. home charger. It’s not going to do the job all of the time but I think it will do the job 98% of the time. I got a charger installed in my house last week purely for reviewing EVs and I’ve an eNiro next week so it will be interesting to work out the cost involved at home. I think even the cost of the vehicles alone means you’re not necessarily saving money at all but I assumed most people reviewing cars traditionally or online appreciate this.

[@Wmeester1971]

@@MrEsjmb On contrary to other brands the Kia e-soul and the e-Niro advertise with a realistic range. Lots of reviews have found this to be true. As long as you don't drive faster than 100k/h 400km is realistic, especially when it does not get as cold.

[@fyank1]

For the average person with access to a home charger an electric car is a no brainer. I have run an ev since 2013 as my only car and it has saved me a fortune in fuel. Not many people drive 300 miles every day.

[@AFlyingCookieLOL]

@@MrEsjmb It's still cheaper than the M3 tesla here in Canada and come with a heat pump. Because of the larger battery there is less wear on it because discharge rate in comparison to the battery size is also lower. Especially if your idling a lot the larger battery also helps. Usually you only charge for 40 minutes or so at a dc charger but majority of the time you don't even use it since you can charge at home. DC fast chargers in Canada at superstores are free. I have found ranges on Kias and hyandais in general to be more accurate than M3 teslas. I know a few friends that have had the same experience.

[@RD-bu8np]

gift me this car , i am from India , please gift me

[@NobbyOnCars]

no problem, what colour would you like my friend?

[@RD-bu8np]

Any colour as you wish

[@djhvideo]

This car does NOT have a 64 Kilowatt battery. It has a 64 Kilowatt-hour battery which is completely different thing. I stopped watching your video after 59 seconds. Please Please get your terminology right when reviewing electric cars.

[@NobbyOnCars]

Seriously, get over yourself.

[@AFlyingCookieLOL]

djhvideo: Dude this car comes in 2 models and one of them has a 64kwH battery.