REVIEW: 2023 Kia Soul EV. Has Kia ruined our boxy favourite? | Electrifying

#kiasoul#kiaelectric #electriccars
Read the review: www.electrifying.com/reviews/...
We’ve always loved the Kia Soul EV here at Electrifying.com, but to be honest, it’s one of those cars that’s slightly hard to pigeonhole. Is it a hatchback? Is it an SUV? Is it simply a stylised box with wheels?
Well, whatever it is, it’s always been striking and very efficient - sharing the brilliant hardware from the Kia e-Niro and Hyundai Kona EV was never a bad idea. It’s fun, and a little bit different. And now it looks set to be different again - with the introduction of a new 2023 model.
However, you’ll need to be something of a Soul expert to spot any of the differences on the outside. Apart from a few small trim changes and a new location for the boot badge, the new Soul looks very much like the old Soul. But that’s no bad thing.
As far as the inside goes, the cabin gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen as standard in all but the base grade and a through re-model, including a better dash and shiny new body-colour inserts on the inside of the doors, as well as a much more comprehensive package of driver aids.
There will be two versions available in the UK, one called the ‘Urban’ with a 39.2kWh battery and 171 miles of WLTP range that comes in at just under £33,000. That’s the one Kia thinks will suit people in cities, and gives the Soul range a much lower starting price.
The ‘Explore’, which is the one we filmed, gets extra bodystyling, a 64kWh battery and a much more useful 280 miles of WLTP range, and that starts at £39,045. That sounds a bit punchy when you realise that you can have something like a Kia Niro EV in ‘3’ grade for just £500 more. And that has a slightly bigger battery at 64.8kWh and 285 miles of WLTP range.
Join Nicola as she puts the new Kia Soul through its paces. Is the Soul still an Electrifying.com favourite, or have newer models made it an also-ran? As always, we love to read your views, so get busy typing in the comments below.
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[@Lewis_Standing]

DC charging speeds are of overplayed significance. Can only have used DC charging a dozen times in 2.5 years. Was thinking of upgrading my Kona to an ioniq 6, but actually since I never need to DC rapid charge, that's taking on loads of debt for what reason? So I can rush a motorway stop 6x a year, leg it back from the bog or canteen to move it before getting overstay fees? Pointless.

[@AuntieBuddie]

No way is it a pootling car. I have really good fun with mine - all types of road.

[@Arthur_Pint]

I’ve had my Soul EV Maxx for nearly 2 years and I absolutely love it! What’s more, short of winning the lottery, I wouldn’t change it for anything. It’s great to drive, has ‘punchy’ acceleration, is economical, and being an ‘old school’ driver I actually appreciate the somewhat ‘retro’ dashboard layout, as opposed to having some ‘glorified iPad’ in front of me. The only upgrade I did was to replace the ‘default’ tyres with Michelin Cross Climate 2s, because they are ‘all-weather’, and reduce the wheel-spin that comes when ‘calling upon’ the car’s 201 bhp. Back when I got it, it was still ‘just about’ reasonably priced, (along with the then still generous Govt EV rebate) however, KIA are now asking ‘crazy money’ for the Soul, and I can understand people being very reticent to ‘fork-out’ so much for one.

[@AR-zr1om]

These look fantastic. If it had the interior from the Niro I'd have this over that

[@robenglish416]

Buy it second hand! Bought mine in Sweden where I live for £ 26200, model 2022; 64 kWh, 20000 km! Boxy but efficient, now in summer 470 km, approx 290 miles, more than my neighbour’s Polestar long range with 78 kWh! But the Polestar weighs in at 0,5 tons more! And a new Volvo XC40 ICE, cheapest spec cost £ 27500. What is crap is though auto driving, but I turned that of. Charging from wall box 11 kW, with solar panels, it’s a simple solution. A used Niro would also do but prefer the looks of the Soul.

[@mikesmith666]

Nicola is a great addition to the team. Love her quirky, comedic reviewing style.

[@shroomyesc]

Happy to see Nicola on Electrifying! She's a fantastic and entertaining presenter.

[@mikekyffin3779]

Compliments to the video presenter and production. Another quality insight into whether it’s still holds up to the market. Looking at used prices today I would recommend a used one with less that 15k miles, all for around 23kGBP. Still have the warranty and the practicality. Have Kia put back some of the options they removed from the first edition? (i.e. Heat Pump).

[@mikadavies660]

Actually very disappointed with the Kua Soul at £39,000...!! I would definitely be choosing a newer Kia (as the warranty is megga) or a Citroën E-C4, at £32,000

[@pearl.gadgets]

It's great to see Nicola on here. One of my favourite presenters on one of my favourite car channels = winner 🎉

[@paulhw5100]

Agree!!

[@XENONEZZ2]

I bought the 200HP version for my partner. You should have explored the Sport mode a bit more..it actually handles.. because of its more compact size... very well indeed...something some of the competition mentioned aren't able to do.....and it has much more character too

[@Bob_Sacamano]

great video! Nicola is really funny.

[@AhhGeeProductions]

I trade up to the Niro EV this weekend from my Kia Soul EV (Maxx - 2022). I've loved every single drive in the Soul EV. It's definitely on the way out - with the EV3 and EV5 coming in the near future. However, for the second hand market, the Soul EV first edition and Maxx can be found between 15-22k, that is incredible value for a significantly well spec'd EV. The Soul was the perfect first EV for me, now I'm upgrading for a little more space with the Niro - but I would love to have one of these on the driveway again if I could run two EV's in the future.

[@richardnedbalek1968]

😳9:18 50kW DC charging in a “refreshed” model at this price in 2023 is UNACCEPTABLE.

[@Joseph-jy5lz]

Great review. I have always liked that car and still do despite the fact it hasn’t kept pace

[@stephenclay6852]

The soul Ev is a good car but it is just a fill in car until the Ev4 arrives. Kia had pulled it last year but brought it back because of the difficulty in getting the New Niro ev. I was told this by my Kia dealer.

[@blobstrom]

I have the first edition Soul which i bought as an ex-demo in 2021. Still a perfect car for us, but let's hope Kia don't what Nissan. did with the LEAF and let it fall behind as it seems they are going that way. Questions I need to ask is with the new version, does it have V2L like the Niro? One thing i have to love about my Soul which i hope they kept is the Harmon Kardon sound system with its 600+Watt output, which is one of the best for the money IMHO.

[@112deeps]

Does anyone think the one in white looks like Range Rover MINI !? from the front its looks like Land Rover Product Design ?

[@tedwalker1370]

looks like a really good car but the price is way to high for what you get.

[@sgregorybird]

I've been wondering where Nicola was now! I really wish they'd bring these to the US. Especially since they're available in Canada, as far as I know. The Niro is newer and nicer, but the Soul is so much more comfortable for an all torso person like myself.

[@phuketexplorer]

The interior looks like something from the mid 80's. If this the best they can do, then it'll be curtains when the latest vehicles arrive from BYD and SAIC Group.

[@jupiterfive3379]

I’m so glad you favour the car despite its small flaws. Simply giving it the 'boot' wouldn’t be fair. True, it’s perhaps not a 'shoe in' for best electric car of 2023 but as you rightly say, it’s all down to the individual. Me, I’m still a combustion engine guy but more and more, thanks to sensible, yet entertaining videos from your channel I’m seriously thinking of 'kicking' my present motor vehicle into touch….

[@peterurquhart7191]

I will have the Niro ! That is crazy price !

[@nicholasrigg8999]

Battery prices are falling. £39000 is just ridiculous for this.

[@vhol93]

Love Nicole videos!

[@storm4710]

We love our 2022 39.2kwh Weird ours charges at 11kw AC and has almost all the equipment that the refreshed explorer has,

[@MichaelMartinussen]

They should have refreshed the charging time too !!!

[@Soulboy63]

Car reviews no longer dominated by men :) Nicola & Ginny bring character & Knowledge... Soul searching !! Spot on Nicola , the 7 year warranty will ensure i stick to Kia for my 1st used e car . Utube ia awash with battery & other issues with various E cars ,RR , E pace etc .etc , also , nearly new , used values drooping , 23 k ish 1 - 2 years old Soul This Vs Citreon e4 , Kia wins on Warranty alone , for me

[@Richard-io9xe]

I used to have a Soul EV which I bought in 2020 for 32k. What is essentially the same car is now 39k. I used to really like the Soul but I'm sorry, its not a 39k car with that dated interior. Kia have lost the plot a bit with the pricing of this.

[@kevindfung]

Seen this before on electrifying, when filming the boot, you need to light it properly so we can see the depth.

[@brownpartnership11]

Another great review, but he Polestar 2 isn't a bespoke EV, it is based on the platform of the ICE Volvo XC40 and has a tunnel running down the middle.

[@moonshine3333]

There’s no ‘h’ in assume😳😊

[@chasf3433]

Kia the Chinese are coming get real on pricing please if you want to sell any in the UK, this is a £29k car not £39k

[@robsmall6466]

Chinese are already here and MG EV's aren't affordable to many either. Same goes for the proposed BYD pricing. They are all the same and will charge what they think they can get away with

[@mach1nefan]

I’m just glad there’s a cheaper version

[@londonyes1380]

That's probably the reason and they brought back the lower range Soul. Previous customers probably won't be too happy to pay nearly 40K for the same car. Still though at 160 miles range, the cheaper Soul isnt very future proof.

[@chriss4949]

But you can buy the top spec one at £35k at many Kia outlets…still pricey

[@londonyes1380]

@@michaelgoode9555 we need to get used EVs on the market though. We wont be achieving that by charging 39k for a family hatch.

[@brianiswrong]

For an extra £500 for the niro 3, you must really really want or need the soul.

[@Petelmrg]

Was funky, now dated; the entry height would seem ideal for those less mobile - but you can’t get a wheelchair in that silly little boot…

[@neillgatley8770]

At the right price, this is a brilliant car. The list price is a bet strong and makes an atto 3 or something from MG look more attractive.

[@taomahNEGEV]

A KIA e-Soul vs Smart#1 would be thrilling.

[@neilrwilliams218]

Looks like a massive price hike and various pieces of equipment removed judging from the number of blank buttons behind the steering wheel when viewed from the door. The Soul's a great car, but that price is just too much.The boot is fine for most uses, but small compared to a lot of similarly priced competitors. Glad I got a Maxx last year. In over 9000 miles ive averaged 4.3 miles per kWh. Not had to use the public charging network so the DC speeds have not been an issue for me. Looking forward to seeing what the smaller EV3, EV4 and EV5 offer when they are released as this feels like a stop gap.

[@MrKlawUK]

Its always a bit odd when we get a new Doctor Who but I think we’ll get used to her pretty quickly

[@daveo8673]

I've had a KIA Soul EV for 2.5 years now and while it has been brilliant and fault free it does look dated on the inside now compared to a lot of new EV's. And it's disappointing they haven't upped the charging speed. And it's been great doing 200-mile journeys and not having to stop to charge and that's even been in winter with the heater on.

[@Koulis_]

Too expensive now. I got my First Edition in 2020 and it was good value then as it came loaded with kit and was much cheaper. The charging speed is now dated but I hardly ever use a public charger so this doesn't affect me. The paddles are great and you can drive the car using them like gears. The efficiency is still amazing and among the best. The interior layout isn't modern but works well ergonomically and the infotainment is very good. The Harman Kardon 10 speaker music system is fantastic. The rear suspension is multilink and gives the car a well controlled ride and helps with the effortless drive. The 0-60 mph has been GPS tested in a a couple of previous reviews and has come in at around 7 seconds on both occasions, this is a weirdly fast car in a straight line. The Nexen tyres aren't up to the job of controlling torque steer but I hear Michelins are a good replacement and nothing is lost in road noise or efficiency. If only the price wasn't so high I would still rate the Soul EV highly but Kia have now made this a niche model until the EV4 comes in.

[@nealy2815]

Not sure what's happening with the Soul, America has got a totally refreshed model but not here??

[@stuartj5520]

Kia does not sell the Soul EV in the USA, only Canada.

[@librequito]

The white one looks like an ambulance 🚑😆

[@ricco123tube]

The Niro is a better choice IMO, however the slow charging is a deal breaker.

[@Daniel-jm5hd]

The Niro is a far better car. Agree with the earlier comment re the price.

[@thebeesleybunch157]

I had a E Niro 4+ changed it for a Niro EV. 4 Three months later they had not sold my old E Niro So I had it back lost ££s but much better range and better to drive????? We now have a 1st edition Soul as well. Did 11 miles the other day with a 6.1 I love showing my range history to none beleavers when charging on route to Inverness from Devon 3.5 at 70/80s on M5/M6 You cant beet a Kia for range??

[@112deeps]

@@thebeesleybunch157 Agree on Range , In City driving between 11-22 degrees I once got GOM estimated in E Soul at 348 miles .... if you dont do DC charging regularly then its got more than plenty and the parking foot print is jsut awesome. Only one thing I miss is front parking sensors ..... just dont understnad why KIA skimped on this. Iknow you can install them after market accessory ..., Heat Pump and Passanger seat with no electric control !! my guess is they didn't want soul competing with NERO too much !! keeping price differential

[@desirodriver6651]

Have been generally happy with my 2020 1st Edition. It is sort of fun to drive, maybe the independent rear suspension helps with that? 🤔 Relaxing with the lane keep assist + radar cruise ctrl. Very few reviews mention the sound system, which is excellent. £34k including the old 3k gov't grant was worth it 3 years ago. 39k for tiny tweaks, I'm not so sure. It's not all good. Kia were so mean with the UK spec. No heat pump, no front passenger electric seat, only 1 seat back pocket, no rear seat central armrest, and no mood lighting (despite the doors having the lighting fascia!).

[@robert5008]

While I don't have a problem with converted gas cars into a EV version. That type of car should never be equally priced as a fully design from the ground up EV. On this model the charging is behind the times imo. One thing to think about with this car and all other cars with unpainted cladding is that the plastic that is black when new will turn to gray ash color with time. The cladding would turn me away from this car.

[@bowtoy]

Have they addressed their brake light issue on this vehicle or is it just another Kia? On another channel I learned that Kia decided they don't need brake lights when their cars are decelerating hard in one pedal driving mode cuz nobody needs to know you're slowing down right? Also seems to be an issue with some other brands. But I really got to say calling a car Not terrible. Doesn't seem like a great review in any way. Since you obviously didn't like the car cuz it's a ice conversion you should just say so out loud and be proud of it.

[@Mancozeb100]

Think that problem is only on the eGMP platform - so , the EV6 and Ioniq 5 … certainly in the US - not sure if it’s a thing in Europe. The Soul should be OK - have put a camera on my Soul to check brake lights, and no problem. They work when you would expect them to work. On Regen Level 2 and 3. Don’t operate on Level 1 as it’s just like normal coasting. They work on Adaptive Cruise as you would expect.

[@bryandavies6074]

The dashboard still looks like it was designed by 3 different people who weren't on speaking terms. The slow charging and poor value are going to put people off. Comparing this, its warranty, price and features to an MG 4 Trophy, I know where my money would go. Good review, again, thanks.

[@shroomyesc]

There's definitely some sign with both this and the Niro that KIA want to keep some of the better EV features for the more expensive EV6, but brands like MG that are all budget don't have that issue.

[@Bidyoworks]

LOVE YOUR VIDEO!!!

[@Pottery4Life]

Letting you know in the comments below.

[@robsmith1a]

A three year old one for a midge over £20k is a better bet I think.

[@paulcooper8818]

Would have loved it if a little bit of red tape topped the rim of your shoes.

[@Yanquetino]

Not available any more on this side of the pond. Only the Niro EV and EV6. 🫤

[@phuketexplorer]

The EV6 is soon (this summer) to have a solid state battery pack and 1,000 Klms range. Some manufacturers are going to start sweating!

[@SebaCespedesCL]

Nice to see Nicola Hume on Electrifying 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@whitewalker9622]

Oh no Hume!

[@Reddylion]

Nice hyundai kia ev

[@stevemccormack9948]

No I'd still prefer the Soul to that other crap you mentioned. But even after all these years, EVs are still way to expensive. I'm still driving a diesel

[@bimlico]

I'd rather have a 520d. Super car.

[@tomooo2637]

With all those plastic parts in key components that keep failing give it reputation from reliability hell.

[@wimlaskila6374]

MG4 purchased instead , MG4 EV is 100 times better looking design, comfort & quality and half price than other models , MG4 front design looks like the Lamborghini Urus suv

[@DariuszTech]

I have MG4 and I have to agree with the look. But sadly MG4 isn't very efficient

[@minniesaab7255]

❤❤❤

[@philmorbey1827]

Tbh I think both the new niro and this are a bit,well ugly! And charging on the niro is below the expectation now? My Born has a bigger boot, faster charging looks so much better. (Imo)

[@Noah_E]

Still less than 300 miles of range, slow charging, and the charge port in the only spot dumber than the center of the roof. Bumpers are designed for bumping. Nothing that needs to work 100% should be in the most likely to be damaged part of a vehicle. Considering how nice the EV6 is, the Soul is a disappointment.

[@mrmawson2438]

Looks like the shoe 😂

[@marantamil459]

The Fugly Box

[@razvan1282]

Lol! This woman doesn’t know anything about Kia soul. I ve got this car for two years now and yes I use it in sports mode. Overall the car is amazing and it’s really fast.

[@t3chnno]

Dead on arrival

[@RJ-nk9wb]

Interior looks dated & I can’t believe they are using piano black. The back exterior looks strange. Is this really Kia? Lol

[@Mancozeb100]

Seems like nearly every manufacturer is using piano black - even though people have been complaining about it for years! It’s crazy.

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

40 grand for a Kia Soul?! Is someone having a laugh?

[@onesky8647]

Just to be clear, I don't ashume anything. :)

[@Me-pz5by]

Outdated design.

[@drewheffero9672]

Great legs... Nice car..... Sorry that isn't sexist... It's just my honest review

[@mrmawson2438]

Great video love Tesla expands its Aussie virtual power plant; helps poor families pay power bills The Electric Viking Its all going fast

[@rcosnett]

Far too expensive

[@StephenJoe-em9ef]

Low cost-effectiveness

[@edwardfletcher7790]

Blah, blah, blah.... Give us some actual details FFS ! 😩

[@riaz8783]

Blah blah blah... Learn how to use Google

[@shroomyesc]

A review is to gauge what the car actually feels like, for numbers read a brochure.

[@Bidyoworks]

I HAVE THE 23 KIA NIRO EV JUST LOVE IT.

[@Bidyoworks]

23 KIA SOUL EV IS CUTE!

[@Bidyoworks]

SOME PEOPLE WILL LIKE THE KIA...