Kia Soul Detailed Review with Efficiency Figures - 64kWh Battery Electric Car

A detailed review of the Kia Soul Battery Electric Vehicle including a comprehensive overview of the interior and storage space. I drove it in the city, the country and on 70mph roads. I reset the trip computer to see what the efficiency is like on each drive. This particular car has the 64 kWh battery with 201bhp.
Trim levels:
Urban Includes:
39.2 kWh battery
Front LED Fog Lamps
LED Rear Combination Lights
Electrically Folding, Adjustable & Heated Door Mirrors with
LED Indicators
Automatic Headlight Control
Cloth Upholstery
Manual Driver Seat Adjustment
Regenerative Braking Level Controlled by Paddle Shift Mounted
on Steering Wheel
Charging Indicator on Dashboard
Electronic Parking Brake (EPB)
Adaptive Smart Cruise Control Function (SCC)
Engine Start/Stop Button with Smart Entry System
All-round Electric Windows with Driver and Front Passenger Auto Up/Down Function
Single Automatic Air Conditioning (With Driver Only Function)
Automatic Window Defogger
Reversing Camera System (Integrated into 8" Touchscreen)
Apple CarPlay™ with Voice Control*
Android Auto™ with Voice Control*
7" OLED Colour Display Cluster
2 x Rear USB-C port
12v Power Socket in centre console
Trip Computer - Distance, Energy Consumption, Average Speed
Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 1.5 (FCA) (Car/Ped/CyC/JX turn)
Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS)
High Beam Assist (HBA)
Hill-start Assist Control (HAC)
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS)
Drive Mode Select (Eco, Eco+, Sport)
Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Emergency Stop Signalling (ESS)
17" Alloy Wheels (215/55R17)
Dual Full LED Headlamps
LED Daytime Running Lights
Explore adds:
64 kWh battery
SUV Pack
Roof Rails
Privacy Glass (Rear Window & Tailgate)
Aero Blade Wipers
Rain Sensing Front Wipers
Black Leather Upholstery
Power Driver Seat Adjustment
Heated Front Seats
Driver's Seat Power Lumbar Support
Leather Trimmed Steering Wheel
Heated Steering Wheel
Satin Chrome Interior Door Handles
Sunvisors with Vanity Mirror Illumination (Driver & Front Passenger)
Auto-dimming Rear-view Mirror
10.25" Touchscreen Satellite Navigation
Reversing Camera System (Integrated into 10.25" Touchscreen)
Rear Parking Sensors
Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA)
Safe Exit Warning (SEW)
Rear-Cross Traffic Avoidance Assis (RCCA)
Highway Driving Assist (HDA)
00:00 Looks
00:50 Boot
01:36 Range and power
04:36 Getting in and out
04:58 Rear interior
05:46 Driving position
07:52 Trim levels
09:22 Front interior
13:56 Manoeuvring
16:08 Country roads & launch
18:06 Efficiency on country roads
18:47 Urban roads
22:12 Efficiency on urban roads
22:39 70mph roads
27:56 Efficiency on 70mph roads
29:03 Virtual engine sound system

[@blazbohinc4964]

Probably one of the car reviews I’ve ever watched, and I’ve watched thousands. The clarity and efficiency with which you put forward all information is sublime

[@GoSolarPlz]

I love my 2020 Kia soul electric. It has the 64kwh battery and heat pump. It’s a fantastic EV. Great range and performance in summer and Canadian winters. It’s also loaded with high tech and luxury features!!

[@matthewaride2234]

Underrated car reviewer but absolutely brilliant. I bought my Fiat tipo 2020 after watching your honest review of the car, detailed as always with respect for the manufacturer effort as well as balance expectation for the buyer. Just brilliant and pleasant to watch.

[@daithuan]

Great review, very well made, detailed and informative.

[@decimal1815]

Great review; really informative, and nice to see cars reviewed by a safety-conscious driver. Most people buying an EV like this will be ferrying children around, after all.

[@tallandhairy]

The VESS is just for the artificial external sound at low speeds, one interpretation of the law from manufacturers is that it may not be allowed in some urban environments after 11pm (like horn use) so a few cars available in the UK have a button that allows it to be turned off if required.

[@frostyslife1729]

great review!! this car looks awesome. also another track day soon??

[@RichardFanders]

Thank you. I'm taking a break from track days until next year.

[@prop7184]

The car you are actually reviewing in this video appears to be the 2020/21 model Kia Soul EV First Edition which only came in 64Kwh variant , later versions Maxx and later still Urban & Explore models have less equipment fitted. As an example the 2020 FE you are in comes with HUD, heatpump & wireless phone charging while all later versions do not. Also the HUD height is adjustable in the settings to adjust for individual use.

[@sidewinder86ify]

Did you happen to try out the new Toyota Corolla GR 2023? Its a beast, I think you will love that one. Thanks!

[@RichardFanders]

We don't get that in the UK.

[@orion729]

kekw

[@oiyou5870]

Got to try the "drivers hybrid" as it's been marketed by Honda, the new Honda Civic comes across as a very good car with it's strange ecvt not a gearbox transmission.

[@RichardFanders]

I would like to try that.

[@martinoneill5804]

It does have front sensors and side sensors.

[@savedfaves]

They have kept selling the Soul EV new in the UK (in 2023) but stopped selling it new in Ireland entirely. Quite annoying! Also, if you want the faux 'leather' seats and the larger 10.25" display on the newer UK model (as distinguished by the new KIA emblem) you need to opt for the "Explore" trim with those silly looking, chunky exterior side trims. If you go for the "Urban" trim with the nicer more minimal and clean exterior you get cloth seats and the smaller 8" display. On the previous Irish trim is was possible for the best of both worlds. Rest assured, too, the fake leather seats have nothing to do with saving the old planet and are all about saving the manufacturer money, by giving you cheaper to make plastic seats and the illusion you've saved the world, while genuine leather is 2/3 times more durable and a far more premium feeling material.

[@timsmith5339]

I notice that you worried about ruining your efficiency by quickly getting up to speed. I was always taught that gentle acceleration was best for economy too, but I've been hearing different opinions recently. I think one of the automobile associations have worked out that it is better to get to cruising speed quickly. Great, it makes me enjoy the acceleration of my EV even more knowing that.

[@RichardFanders]

Engines aee moee efficient at higher loads but that does not compensate for the extra energy needed as I found out when I made this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHbRZHZqp9iMqZI

[@quavolaz6826]

What will be the Seat's replacement? Doesn't it have over 200k miles already?

[@RichardFanders]

Not quite 200k, I have no plans to replace it at the moment.

[@quavolaz6826]

@@RichardFanders But do you think the replacement will be a VAG car like a skoda Octavia, golf, a3 or another Leon?

[@TheAaronJP]

Still to pricey for the average person unfortunately. I'll check back with electric vehicles in 5 years again.

[@AdamColl]

Jeez some of those extras are a joke, I have an 11 year old Corsa and it has auto wipers, heated steering wheel and heated seats. I'd be annoyed if I bought a £32k car and they didn't come with that

[@denisrousseau9071]

the 0-60 mph is not good it is 6.8 sec on mine (canadian 2021 limited version tested on GPS) with 64.8 kw battery and 201 hp motor and city driving, the maths give me 513 km or 318 miles on city driving accordig with the algorithm studying your driving habits ( at least 6 month befor having best results.) .

[@charlesmcbride2070]

Ｐ𝐫Ｏ𝕞Ｏ𝓢ｍ

[@naferemix]

Cosmetic speaker grills with no speaker underneath 💔

[@mooseyman74]

About as appealing as Kier Starmer