2019 Kia Soul EV Performance

Both the base and the Plus models share the same electric motor, which is connected to a new 30-kWh lithium-ion battery. The electric motor driving the front wheels is rated at 109 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque, enabling acceleration from 0-60 mph in 11.2 seconds, which is slower than the Chevy Bolt at 6.5 seconds and Nissan Leaf at 7.4 seconds. The top speed of the Soul EV is only 90.1 mph, limited for the sake of preserving range.

One of the drawbacks of the Soul EV is its range. When the Soul EV first came out a range of around 100 miles was acceptable on an electric vehicle. Now that technology has improved, that sort of range is unacceptable, especially when rivals like the Chevy Bolt have a range of 238 miles.

Both the base model and the Plus use the same electric motor connected to a 30-kWh battery pack. It produces 109 hp and 210 lb-ft. Like other electric cars, the Soul EV has no conventional gears and just has a one-speed direct drive transmission at the front axle.

The Soul EV has great acceleration when taking off due to the instant torque that the electric motor provides. Unfortunately, this surge of power dies down pretty fast as the Soul EV picks up speed. By the time it reaches 60 mph, the acceleration has considerably dropped off and it begins to feel sluggish but bearable. This doesn't bode well for highway driving, and high-speed overtakes take a hefty amount of forward planning with the driver willing the Soul on to make it past whatever obstacle blocks their path.

It shows the age of the Soul EV's powertrain, as newer offerings from within the Hyundai/Kia group are far more practical in this regard and offer vastly improved performance. Take the Kona Electric, for example, with hot-hatch rivaling acceleration paired with a massive range.

The Soul EV only has a short range of 110 miles. For people who do low mileage, or live in areas where charging stations are abundant, this won't be an issue, but for those that do long distance driving, things could get difficult. To make charging as easy as possible the Soul EV comes with a normal AC charger which can charge the battery between 10 and 29 hours depending on the power source (Level I or II). The provided DC fast charger works at fast-charge stations and can charge the Soul EV to full in around 50 minutes in ideal conditions.

Compared to more modern electric vehicles, the Kia Soul EV's 111-mile range is very low. Rivals such as the Chevy Bolt boast a range of 238 miles, while the Hyundai Kona has gone beyond that still, highlighting the age of the Soul EV and proving it's in dire need of a replacement.