By: Joshua Lee
February 15, 2024
Remember those dancing hamsters? It’s crazy to think that it has been around 15 years since the Kia Soul was introduced. The iconic boxy shape along with those fun commercials, were aimed at targeting the younger generation and increasing its brand image. It’s been a favourite ever since, and in its third generation, the Kia Soul is redesigned with an all-electric version.
Our 2023 Kia Soul EV Limited features a 64-kWh battery and a 201-horsepower motor. The Premium trim level has a smaller 39.2-kWh battery, but both offer 291 lb-ft of torque. This front-wheel-drive subcompact SUV is quite fun to drive, as the instant torque accelerates the car very quickly. While the Soul doesn’t have one pedal driving, there is regenerative braking that you can control how aggressive you’d like through the paddle shifters.
Our Snow White Pearl model features 17-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, and a sunroof. We like the sleek design of the Soul, as it stands out with its “Storm Trooper” face and boomerang-style taillights. We also see Kia’s new logo styling, and for 2023, the front logo is now in the centre of the grille. The charging port is also conveniently located right at the front.
Stepping inside, the Soul EV features a seven-inch instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment display with integrated navigation. Both are user-friendly and responsive. Compared to the gasoline counterpart, the only major difference is the rotary gear selector. The Soul EV is comfortable to be in; the Limited features heated and air-cooled black leather front seats, heated steering wheels, two-way driver’s seat lumbar support, and power adjustment controls for the front passenger seat.
There is good outward visibility, which offers a smooth ride. The Limited also features a Harman Kardon premium audio system, ambient mood lighting, and a heat pump, which will effectively warm the cabin in colder temperatures. The cargo room behind the 60/40 split folding rear bench is 663L and can be expanded up to 1735L when folded down.
For 2023, Kia has deleted the heads-up display and rain sensing wipers for the Soul but has added rear occupant alert, lane follow assist, blind spot collision avoidance assist, highway driving assist, and forward collision avoidance with junction-turn assistance.
With the larger battery pack, the Kia Soul EV Limited has an estimated driving range of 383 km and has a 7.2kW onboard charger. It will take around 9 hours to charge on a Level 2 charger and around 47 minutes from 10-80% on a 100kW Level 3 DC fast-charging station. We didn’t experience range anxiety and found that the battery doesn’t deplete very quickly, even if we happened to drive in a more spirited manner.
The Kia Soul EV Premium starts at $43,095; our Limited model has an MSRP of $52,095.
While it’s not a hot hatch, the Kia Soul EV presents itself as an underrated electric vehicle. It’s easy to drive, looks great, and has a considerable amount of range for daily commutes. For a compact vehicle, it’s nicely equipped and comfortable for all passengers. Unfortunately, in 2024, the Soul EV will be discontinued to welcome a new lineup of fuel-efficient vehicles. Kia will be investing its time in the Niro, which will be offered in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric models.
