2019 Kia Soul EV Review

First introduced in 2015, the Soul EV is the electric version of Kia's popular Soul hatchback/ subcompact crossover SUV. It has the same quirky styling as the normal Soul, except that instead of a traditional grille, it has a flap that covers the charging ports. There are only two models offered in the Soul EV range, and these are the base Soul EV and the Plus (+). Both models use the same electric motor connected to a lithium-ion battery that makes 81.4 kilowatts, which translates to 109 horsepower. Starting at around $34,000, the Soul EV has some stiff competition from the Chevrolet Bolt, Nissan Leaf, and Hyundai Kona Electric, amongst others in this fast-growing segment.

What's the Price of the 2019 Kia Soul EV?

The base model Kia Soul EV has an MSRP price of $33,950 and the Plus goes for $35,950. These prices exclude any registration, licensing, tax, and a destination fee of $995. Being fully electric, the Soul EV is eligible for a maximum federal rebate of up to $7,500. There are also state rebates, for example in California and Oregon, with discounts up front at the time of purchase as well as HOV lane eligibility. In comparison, the Nissan Leaf starts at $29,990, the Chevrolet Bolt at $36,620, and the Volkswagen e-Golf at $31,895, making the Soul EV a middle-of-the-road option in price.

Handling and Driving Impressions

Driving a car with no engine noise feels a bit strange at first, but starts to feel comfortable in no time. The Soul EV emits a low electronic noise at low speeds to warn pedestrians of the oncoming vehicle but becomes silent after the Soul EV passes 20 mph. There is a little kick when the Soul EV takes off, but it's short-lived and as the car picks up speed, it peters out.

It's easy enough to drive but nowhere near as quick and nimble as the gasoline-powered Soul, and the placement of the battery under the seats has an impact on the driving maneuverability and cornering of the Soul EV, resulting in it feeling wobbly and unpredictable at times. This suggests a change in the Soul's suspension setup too, which is a pity since the regular Soul was sublime in this regard.

The steering has a natural and intuitive feel, which is more than can be said for the brakes. Due to the regenerative braking, the brakes have a very mushy feel and it's hard to tell how much pressure to put. There are settings to change the amount of brake regeneration, but the driver won't feel much of a difference.

Verdict: Is the 2019 Kia Soul EV A Good SUV?

The Kia Soul has a lot going for it. It has a stylish interior that is unique and functional, as well as decent ride and handling. It also has a comfortable driving position and a decent amount of interior space for passengers. Cargo space is larger than most of its rivals with massive trunk space, as well as enough storage for small items. Overall, the Kia Soul is a solid car with great features.

Despite all the good features, the Soul EV's Achilles' heel is the dismal range of only 111 miles. With most new electric vehicles having more than twice the range of the Soul EV, it's at a huge disadvantage. With such low range, it might be wiser to wait for the replacement model that is imminent rather than buying the 2019 model.

What Kia Soul EV Model Should I Buy?

Since both of the models share most of the same features and have the same performance, as well as space, it's a difficult decision, but the base model comes out on top. It has the same infotainment unit, as well as most of the comfort and convenience features of the Plus model, and has a more affordable price of $33,950, so $2,000 cheaper than the Plus. For the extra $2,000, the Plus model fails to motivate itself well enough for us to recommend it. In truth though, you'd be better off looking at a pricier rival like the Hyundai Kona Electric, or waiting until next year's all-new Soul EV.

2019 Kia Soul EV Comparisons

2019 Kia Soul EV vs Nissan Leaf

The Soul EV and Nissan Leaf have completely different styling, with the Soul EV taking the form of a crossover and the Leaf looking more like a conventional hatchback. Due to its shape and size, the Soul EV has much more interior space, as well as cargo space. The Soul also has a longer warranty, but Nissan has more dealerships should there be any issues with the vehicle. However, the Nissan Leaf wins in the critical areas of performance, range, and price. The Leaf also has a power advantage of 147 hp to the Soul EV's 109 hp. But where the Leaf cements its dominance is in its range, offering 151 miles on a charge while the Soul only lasts for 111 miles. Considering that the Soul EV starts at $33,950, and the Leaf starts at $30 000, getting the Leaf seems the obvious choice.

2019 Kia Soul EV vs Chevrolet Bolt EV

In the compact EV game, Chevrolet has leaped to the front of the pack with the outstanding Bolt EV. But the Bolt is substantially smaller than the Soul, and as such lacks the cargo and interior volume of the Korean offering. Additionally, the Soul has better warranty coverage in case this fairly new tech goes wrong. But that's where the Soul EV's advantages end, as the Bolt has far better safety options with standard surround vision, and optional low-speed automatic braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, and cross path warnings. Crucially, the Bolt is a rapid performer, and is capable of a range of 238 miles on a single charge, more than double that of the Soul EV. The Bolt may be more expensive, but in most aspects that count when buying an EV, it's superior, which is why we recommend the Bolt.