KIA EV Soul review - I like BIG butts and I KIA not lie

We take a closer look at the KIA EV Soul, which has doubled its battery capacity since launch.
A simple car that ticks all the boxes. Or does it?
Tish runs us through its... questionable looks, features and specification to conclude what the latest iteration of the KIA EV Soul is all about.
---
We couldn't do this without your awesome support! If you love what we do, please consider donating to us on Patron:
www.patreon.com/electroheads
Follow us on social to keep up with all things Electroheads:
TheElectroheads
Electroheads
Check out the Electroheads website:
www.electroheads.com
0:00 Introduction
0:59 Styling &. Design
3:04 Range
3:40 Boot Space
4:15 Interior, Space & Specification
6:17 Charging Capabilities
6:41 Driving & Performance
8:31 Price
8:54 Conclusion

[@ArmaganDemiral]

That clap transition into the night was genius ahah

[@mickwilson127]

I've had a 1St Edition for a year, and agree with most of what you say - looks that only it's mammy would love. The wheel spin thing is really only an issue on loose road surfaces or damp road conditions IMO. Probably the best spec'd EV around for the money, at least until the Chinese/Indian imports gain err traction. The Guess-O-Meter is far more accurate than other cars, but 280 is a tad optimistic, I recently drove from Glasgow to Dublin a mix of Motorway, A Road, and local roads - I did not achieve the 4.4m/KWH needed to achieve 280m, but overall I achieved around 265 miles on the single charge which is good enough for me 👍

[@mazb4778]

I don’t “ get” why comments have to be made on the look of a vehicle. I can see for myself what it looks like, and can make my own mind up. All I want to know is things like how it handles, what the range is, what extras the vehicle comes with, etc. Aesthetics are very personal. PERSONALLY- I have just bought one of these cars, and I love everything about it. Having owned more cars than I’d like to admit to, without doubt this car is up there as one of the best

[@eagleeatsmonkey3621]

video quality very good

[@edwardott7239]

I agree, Tish...not thrilled with the exterior of the Soul EV, but like the amenities and performance of it. You presenting it (trust me, Tish...you'd never go out of style in my opinion!) is massive. ;) (hugs)

[@8outof10catzDOOM]

not creepy at all...

[@keithreynolds]

I love the style, the front and side my favourite angles. I have a Zoe, but would have had a Soul if I could have justified the cost. I enjoyed my petrol Soul, I wish the Zoe was as rugged.... seems a bit delicate. Will I break it? k (:

[@leebarten4600]

We love it...

[@briancollis9352]

Just to let you know that the Maxx does not have a heat pump, HUD or wireless phone charger. It is still great value and I enjoy driving mine.

[@gchecosse]

It's a nice car, had one for over a year. Realistic range about 240 miles on the motorway. Head up display is only available to short people though - I've never used it because I'm too tall to see it.

[@johndunne7376]

It can be adjusted in the settings….

[@ghismo32]

How tall are you, may I ask.

[@anthonylloyd4425]

Does it have rear air vents for passengers?

[@jimwhook]

Did the EV Soul CCS charging get updated because my 2019 EV soul only has 78KW charging max, not 100KW.

[@AutoSocialUK]

On the Kia website it states ‘DC Fast Charge Time (100kW) - 54mins (0% → 80%)’ it is possible this is a sneaky way of saying 100kW but it won’t actually charge to that full capacity, I have read both 77 and 100 on separate sources.

[@jimwhook]

@@AutoSocialUK I don't know what Website you are referring to. Kia UK says 80kw, which is rounding up. EV database says 77kw. The only thing I can find that is 100KW is the motor on the 39kwh battery version, which kia UK still has mentioned in the small print but no longer on offer.

[@ronseal02]

A reasonable price and range. I'd like a rear wheel drive version soul.

[@blobstrom]

I think you lose the HUD, and heat pump on the Maxx unless you specify it.. The HK sound system is very good though with over 600W

[@Noah_E]

My Forester XT has a Harman Kardon system and it's great. Crisp sound with enough bass to shake the windows/mirrors

[@stevenburtness2905]

Great review, do not think they will be bringing it to North America. And the flipping the bird at the end of the review made me bust out laughing.

[@dlittlester]

It's already here, Steven.

[@stevenburtness2905]

Don thanks. Traveling to the LA auto show. Hope to see it there.

[@crowfoot1199]

It's in some states, iirc, but not all. I think California? It's in Canada too.

[@eagleeatsmonkey3621]

very well package and very nice looking car ... korean have good designers

[@nottooherbal]

Looks like the rear of my 2007 Aygo and almost the same colour

[@docdr7199]

What do I think of the Kia EV Soul? I love mine, except it isn't called that - it's the Kia Soul EV in the UK and the Kia e-Soul on mainland Europe. Apart from getting "EV Soul" repeated again and again and again I enjoyed the video.🙂

[@Karras353]

I cannot say as I love or hate it. Its a bit boxy and I'm not entirely sold on the rear end, though I don't think it is too bad. Comparison with the Multipla seems a little harsh and misplaced though in my opinion, as what makes the Fiat so offensive to look at is the weirdly stepped front end. This one is a bit square but not terrible. I'm curious about eh wheel spin. Is it prone to doing that unintentionally or do you have to be flooring it in sport mode? I can make the wheels spin a bit on a 125bhp Focus if I set my mind to it but its not something that happens all the time. This clearly has a bit more power than that Focus and I can see that it would be a bit annoying if it happens a lot. It does sound fairly decent for the price though. If it will take sufficient luggage for the family holiday then it might just about hit that sweet spot of a do everything car, what with the range and seemingly spacious back seats.

[@docdr7199]

It is relatively easy to get wheel spin, but mainly on wet tarmac or loose gravel. I'm on my second Soul EV, the first being a 2017 30kWh version, and I could spin the wheels in Eco mode without trying too hard! Something to do with the power/torque... The current Soul EV is actually quite heavy - 1,757kg kerb weight of which ~500kg is the battery.

[@SpeedSeekers-f4k]

Decent, positive for 50k

[@BlackadderPW]

Decent Kia that

[@AlbertLamarque]

I always thought the front looks like a stormtrooper helmet. Always loved the slightly mad look you can give people through their rear view mirror. The only thing that put me off in 2018 was waiting times of about 18 months. Have been driving an i3 and i3s in the mean time. No going back for me. Also, that is not how a heat pump works. It takes thermal energy from the air instead of electrical energy from the battery to heat up the cabin or other systems, depending on layout. It has nothing to do with waste energy harvesting systems that use heat from motor, inverter or battery to heat the cabin or other systems to get them into ideal operating range as quickly as possible. Entropy is a bit black magic, but magic is better than running energy through a resistor to give you heat.

[@dlittlester]

Stormtrooper.... I was thinking exactly the same thing. The lights on the rear of a Honda Odyssey remind me of the same thing.

[@Noah_E]

VAG loves to charge you extra for basics other companies make standard. Nothing new there. They also love to lump together multiple functions into one unserviceable unit so if any component fails you need to replace the whole thing. And of course it's made with the cheapest, least fit for purpose materials and requires proprietary tools to replace.

[@FriendlyNeighbourlyPerson]

Decent

[@SignalChange]

32 grand cad difference in price between the base manual gas soul vs the kia ev soul.. 32 grand buys a lot of fuel.

[@martino9134]

There hasn't been a 'gas' version of the Soul available in the UK Europe for 3 yrs. its only a full electric car

[@R2D888]

Did Tish just tell us where to go at 9:14?!🖕🙈.

[@fastfreddy19641]

Reminds me of a skoda yeti. 👍

[@edmundhayes1840]

I like it. It has soul...

[@turbogeek.421]

I love new car electric reviews! 😜

[@cyberyoyo7674]

DECENT

[@gokulkrishnaktn5867]

It's front looks like 😑 this

[@GhostlyVT]

She got weightt

[@DaveDVideoMaker]

This car looks like a small minivan, despite the fact it isn't even classed as one. Niece Tish can agree with me this is uncool.

[@bomberuk1640]

9.15……..🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@eagleeatsmonkey3621]

kia engine is 10 years behind japanese big car mfg, now with electric ... Korean are 10 years ahead of Japanese car ....

[@T1Oracle]

I like the look of the original more. I really wanted one, but I had to settle for a Tesla because my wife hates the Soul.

[@gazzrobb2366]

395 lb ft HaHa 😂 think it’s 291 lb ft ?

[@briantarby675]

Right it's 395 NM

[@Hyfly13]

Great value but fugly!

[@bankruptpensioner]

Far too expensive, thank the lord for pcp 😂

[@alexlacroix8435]

Nah, she's not a 5+5, she's just a 5 at best...

[@ToreHansen]

Comparing this to a Fiatis cruel, well you got Bexit so no other punishments will kick in...

[@mickwilson127]

Eh? whilst Brexit is a crap idea, I've no idea why you think this review has to do with it.

[@MichaelWilliams-ub3ow]

Tore Hansen ... Most of us DIDN'T vote for Brexit!!!

[@ToreHansen]

@@MichaelWilliams-ub3ow That is not how math works... But a sad situation for UK...

[@pyclan5]

what an ugly EV !!! why wouldn't they take the styling from Sportage or make Sportage EV???

[@dylsonwheels8404]

DECENT

[@nanafynnba]

DECENT

[@braw]

DECENT