Automobiles Review

Tag: Kia Soul EV

  • Auto Trader awards Kia Soul EV with Best Value Electric Car

    2021 Kia Soul EVNew Kia Soul EV has won the Best Value Electric Car award at the Auto Trader New Car Awards 2021. The vehicle stood out from the crowd because of its advanced EV system, numerous utility features, and overall fun-to-drive character.

    Auto Trader’s New Car Awards is an annual consumer-led vote and winners are rated by the vehicle owners – they rate vehicles on 16 categories, including stability, reliability, safety, and features.

    Praised for its power, range, durability, and ease of use, the Soul EV blends zero emissions and an elegant design. Also, the vehicle offers numerous possibilities for customization.

    The Kia Niro, Sportage, and all-new Sorento models also received some attention and were shortlisted for awards in various other categories. Kia as a brand was also shortlisted for the ‘Car Brand with the best new tech’ award. 2021 is the third consecutive year in which Kia has won an Auto Trader New Car Award.

    2021 Kia Soul EV

    SEE ALSO: Kia team reveals first teaser pictures for the new Sportage lineup

    Erin Baker, Editorial Director of Auto Trader, said: The Kia Soul EV came top of the class for space that was easy to make use of, and also scored high marks for its power, durability, ease to drive, and easy to park. Owners described the Kia Soul EV as, ‘great value for money, roomy, efficient, small on the outside and big on the inside. Well done, Kia.

    Commenting on the Soul EV’s win, Paul Philpott, President & CEO for Kia UK Limited, remarked: To see the Soul EV win this award is a truly impressive feat, and one which means a lot to us as a company. Value is important to anyone looking to make the transition to fully electric ownership, and the Soul EV demonstrates that there is no need to sacrifice range, equipment or performance when buying and running an electric vehicle. We are delighted that, via our dealer partners, we’re able to exceed expectations with the Soul EV year-on-year.

    2021 Kia Soul EV

     

  • 2016 Kia Soul EV Prepares for Summer With Additional Features

    2016 Kia Soul EV2016 Kia Soul EV is the first mass-produced zero emission Kia vehicle, that uses electricity for its needs. And for 2016 Kia offers and some additional packs. To be precise, there are three of them: Soul EV-e, Soul EV and Soul EV+. In fact, the Soul model (that suspiciously looks like a MINI vehicle) has extended list of additions and furthermore every trim has its own additional offerings. For example, the EV+ trim, the range-topping pack, is further extended and now also offers Sun & Fun pack. Further enhancements include a charge port nozzle lock, illuminated Aux/USB port and two additional colors: Shadow Black and Bright Silver.

    2016 Kia Soul EV

    The Soul EV-e now provides versatility and good price, while the features of the standard equipment are still with that superior quality. The EV trims also include 8-inch navigation touch screen, Rear Camera Display3 and UVO EV Services2: a special system, that searches charging stations via user’s Smartphone.

    And for2016 Soul EV+ comes with the special addition of Sun & Fun. It adds panoramic sunroof, LED interior lightning and speaker lights, There are also ventilated front passenger seats, heated rear seats, leather trimmed seats, Park Assist and folding mirrors.

    SEE ALSO: Kia Sportage Axis Limited Edition: is it That Limited?

    But the technical goodies aren’t the only one, incorporated in the Soul range. The vehicles also include some improved performance tweaks. For example, the whole lineup offers and EPA of 93 miles and EPA MPGe of 92 miles highway and 120 miles city. The heart of the lineup is a state-of-the-art 27kWh air-cooled, 200-watt-hour/kg Lithium Ion Polymer battery, placed just under the floor.

    In fact, the Soul EV vehicles have been honored with a special validation from Underwriters Laboratory (UL) for the innovative use of 52.7 lbs. of bio-based organic interior content. How cool is that? Furthermore, the bio-based materials are used in a total of 19 different interior parts.

    Source: Kia

  • The New Kia Soul EV to be Sold Globally

    There are two things guiding the new Kia Soul EV: it is eco-friendly and fun. Making its worldwide premiere at this week’s Chicago Auto Show, the Soul EV showcases the future in genuine style. The first all-electric, zero-emissions Kia model has a distinguishable look, bold design and practical interior with a unique twist.

    First of all, the Soul EV is built with a fun-to-drive character. Its electric motor produces 109 HP (81.4 kW) in a combustion-engined model with 285 Nm of torque. The car is utterly smooth and silent thanks to the Virtual Engine Sound system at low speeds in both forward and reverse gears which warns pedestrians and cyclists that it is in a close distance. What is more, 2015 Kia Soul EV has a top speed of 90mph and can accelerate from 0-60mph in 10.8 seconds. This makes the vehicle absolutely stable and capable of keeping pace with the intense flow of the always busy city traffic.

    A 96-cell, 27-kWh lithium-ion polymer battery keeps the motor alive. For better convenience, Kia can be charged to 80 percent in as little as 33 minutes using a 50-kW system. The Soul EV is fitted with three charging ports: two of the ports are for conventional AC charging, per SAE standard J1772, and the third is for CHAdeMo public stations.

    The interior of the new Kia represents an amalgamation of simple luxury and exceptional comfort. The color schemes soothe and please the eye, thus complementing the overall driving feel. The friendly and spacious inside environment is comprised of striking two-tone colored cockpit, with smooth surfaces, original bio-based trim as well as padding and, finally, plain but stylish contours.

    The new 2015 Kia Soul EV is priced at £24,995 after the government’s £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant.

    2015 Kia Soul EV
    2015 Kia Soul EV
    2015 Kia Soul EV
    2015 Kia Soul EV

    Source: Kia

  • 2015 Kia Soul EV Goes On Sale

    After the successful “hamster” advertisement of the new 2015 Kia Soul EV, Kia Motors America is ready to introduce the electric vehicle to the market. The hugely popular urban passenger car in its electrifying trim boasts best-in-class EPA-estimated range of 93 miles and MPGe4 of 92 miles on the highway, 120 miles in the city and 105 miles combined. In addition, the model received industry-first automotive environmental validation by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) due to its innovative use of bio-based materials in the interior.

    2015 Kia Soul EV is company’s first mass-market electric vehicle and it is the centerpiece of the Kia’s Clean Mobility program. The zero-emissions EV keeps the funky style and functionality of the Soul model, but it also introduces new and more aerodynamic styling cues.

    The car features a 27 kWh lithium ion polymer battery which powers the electric motor. The motor produces 110 hp (81 kW) and 285 Nm (210 lb.-ft.) of maximum torque, and drives the front wheels. The range that it can cover is around 80-100 miles.

    The standard specifications of the Soul EV Base include an array of features such as navigation, Rear Camera Display, Bluetooth hands free operation, power windows, power driver’s seat, cruise control, 6.6kW on-board charger. The exclusive HVAC system is also included, and it was designed to extend driving range by minimizing energy draw.

    Moreover, every Soul EV comes standard with UVO EV Services that provide real-time battery-level status, distance to empty, and the ability to search for nearby charging stations. There is also an UVO EV smartphone app, which owners can use to preset charging time and charging level ratios, as well as precondition the vehicle cabin with remote control of the HVAC presets.

    The next trim is called Soul EV Plus and it adds EV-unique leather trimmed seats, which are tri-level heated and ventilated for front passengers. The rear outboard seats are heated for added comfort. The Plus also includes projection-style fog lamps and power-folding outside mirrors.

    2015 Kia Soul EV has a starting price of $33,700 USD and is currently available to order.

    Source: Kia 

  • Kia Soul EV Under Development For U.S. Market

    Kia-Soul-EV-THUMBKia Motors are currently developing an all-electric version of the Kia Soul. The EV model is scheduled to go on sale in 2014 and it will be company’s first electric, zero-emissions car marketed outside of Korea.

    Soul EV will benefit from the knowledge gained during development of the Ray EV. Of course, the car incorporates the same design philosophy as the recently-launched 2014 Kia Soul. Kia is also promising a range of more than 120 miles at a single charge, which makes it perfect for urban utilization.

    Precisely, this EV will be equipped with a 27 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack. In an effort to optimize efficiency and range, the vehicle recycles back into the battery the energy produced while the car is coasting and braking.

    The charging of the Soul EV is achieved by plugging it into 240v standard outlet. The time needed for full-recharging is up to five hours, while it takes the car only 25 minutes for a ‘fast’ charge with 100 kW output.

    The prototype shown on the picture is powered by a 109 hp (80 kW) electric motor that produces 285 Nm (210 lb.-ft.) of torque. The motor transmits its power to the front wheels through a single speed constant ratio gear reduction unit.

    In terms of acceleration, this Kia Soul EV is capable to cover the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 12 seconds on its way to a top speed of 90 mph. What is more, this EV is extremely “quiet” due to the absence of the noise generated by the engine and to the sound-proofing materials used for the construction of the car.

    In addition, the car will be also equipped with Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS) which produces audio signals at speeds below 12 mph and whenever the car is in reverse, so that the pedestrians can be more aware of the vehicle in their vicinity.

    Soul EV will also offer projection type headlamps, LED positioning lamps, LED rear combination lamps, plus aerodynamically shaped 16-inch alloy wheels and other distinctive exterior features.

    The interior is promised to be fitted with Supervision instrument cluster and center stack with an eight-inch display screen. As a matter of fact, the interior will focus on the use of eco-components and will feature increased range of recycled materials such as Bio Plastic, Bio Foam, Bio Fabric and Bio PET Felt, low volatility organic compounds and newly developed antibacterial materials and paint.

    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul
    2014 Kia Soul

    Source: Kia