Photo: Kia
While its predecessor was a joke, the all-new 2020 Kia Soul EV is a car that needs to be taken seriously. If you look at a manga comic interpretation of the car of the future, this is pretty much it - cool, bold, boxy and with enough EV range to solve a cyber-murder.
The Soul EV debuts pretty much alongside the Niro EV, but we like the look of this more, and it's not just due to the acid green color. The 2020 Soul is just boxy enough to be considered a nonconformist rebel of a crossover yet it's still practical.
Looking at the non-oily bits, we find that the Soul EV has the same stuff as the Niro. The electric motor makes 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque, which will undoubtedly torture the front wheels. Meanwhile, the battery stores up to 64 kWh of juice, which is more than double the old Soul EV's 30 kWh.
With the same pack, the Niro manages around 300 miles according to the European WLTP cycle or 260 miles according to the EPA. We think the Soul will do about 240 miles. The liquid-cooled lithium-ion polymer unit supports Combined Charging System DC fast-charge as standard.
They say an electric car is only as green as its driver, and the Soul EV allows him to do a lot. It comes with for driving modes – Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Eco+. Also, smart regenerative braking operated via paddle shifters has three levels of recuperation.
Knowing availability is going to be a bigger problem than demand, Kia fits the Soul EV with a lot of equipment. The safety front is pretty much covered while the interior has heated and cooled everything, a 10-inch main screen, digital dash, and eco-themed trim. Also, the aero wheels and blocked off grille complement the boxy design quite well.
Looking at the non-oily bits, we find that the Soul EV has the same stuff as the Niro. The electric motor makes 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque, which will undoubtedly torture the front wheels. Meanwhile, the battery stores up to 64 kWh of juice, which is more than double the old Soul EV's 30 kWh.
With the same pack, the Niro manages around 300 miles according to the European WLTP cycle or 260 miles according to the EPA. We think the Soul will do about 240 miles. The liquid-cooled lithium-ion polymer unit supports Combined Charging System DC fast-charge as standard.
They say an electric car is only as green as its driver, and the Soul EV allows him to do a lot. It comes with for driving modes – Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Eco+. Also, smart regenerative braking operated via paddle shifters has three levels of recuperation.
Knowing availability is going to be a bigger problem than demand, Kia fits the Soul EV with a lot of equipment. The safety front is pretty much covered while the interior has heated and cooled everything, a 10-inch main screen, digital dash, and eco-themed trim. Also, the aero wheels and blocked off grille complement the boxy design quite well.
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