2020 Kia Soul EV has a total range of 243 pure electric miles

The Environmental Protection Agency has rated the 2020 Kia Soul EV with a total range of 243 pure electric miles, and an efficiency estimate of 127/101/114 MPGe (city/highway/combined). The EPA has determined that using the 2020 Kia Soul EV for 5 years will save drivers an estimated $3,250 over driving a gas-powered car.   

By John Coulter, CMO, Current EV, July 2019   

This is a mass improvement from the older Soul EV’s 30kWh battery, which provided only 111 miles of range. Its motor was also only good for 109 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. The updated 2020 Soul EV’s improved motor offers 201 horsepower (close to twice it’s previous capacity), and 291 lb-ft of torque. And its new, state-of-the-art, liquid-cooled Lithium Ion Polymer 64kWh battery, provides a range of 243 miles, meaning drivers won’t have to charge as often. A Combined Charging System (CCS) DC fast-charge comes as standard equipment on the 2020 Kia Soul EV.   

Handling and driving dynamics have been improved with the addition of an independent rear suspension. There are also new tools for drivers to “customize” each drive and manage their battery usage. These include: 

• Four drive modes – Eco, Comfort, Sport and Eco+ –which automatically adjust power output to the traction motor, regenerative braking, air conditioning and heating settings, and set speed limits to help manage operating efficiency depending on driving conditions

• A smart regenerative braking operated via paddle shifters will provide drivers the ability to slow the car and capture kinetic energy, adding extra range. Four regeneration braking levels allow drivers to manage driving smoothness, enjoyment and efficiency

• A Brake and Hold System feature allows regen paddle shifter to bring the car to a full stop• A Smart Regen System which will adjust the regenerative braking level when another vehicle is detected in front of the Soul EV; this provides smoother coast-down driving, especially going downhill on a steep road

• A Smart Eco Pedal Guide display on the instrument cluster keeps the driver aware of real-time battery usage based on accelerator pedal input

Kia has dramatically refreshed the Soul’s exterior in a way that stays true to its boxy look while providing a more stylishly futuristic presence. The architecture remains the same, but there’s a new flair which comes from; restyled front and rear fascias; a front grille with the charging port conveniently located on the driver’s side; LED headlights in the upper cross-car bow; added fog lamps; and new 5-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels.   Concerning safety enhancements, Kia engineers have considered all the possibilities. Standard on every Soul is a suite of “Kia Drive Wise” Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems, plus standard and optional equipment including: 

• A high-tech rotary shifter (shift-by-wire)

• A 10.25-inch color touchscreen with rear view monitor and parking guidance

• A 6-speaker audio system (AM/FM/SiriusXM)8with USB input

• Vehicle Safety Systems that include; Antilock braking, Traction control, Electronic stability control, Hill-start assist control, Tire pressure monitoring system, Pedestrian warning system, “Kia Drive Wise” Advanced Driver-Assistance System.

This ADAS includes: Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Blind Spot Collision Warning (BSW) (available), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning (available), Parking Distance Warning – Reverse only (available)  

In-car Entertainment includes: Steering wheel-mounted audio controls, A 10.25-inch color touchscreen with rear view monitor and parking guidance, A 6-speaker audio system (AM/FM/SiriusXM) with USB input, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth with voice recognition.   

The 2020 Kia Soul EV’s revamped UVO telemetrics system allows drivers to oversee a wide variety of vehicle operations including: Notifications of battery and charging status, Real-time charging station update, Scheduled charging, Panic notifications – the vehicle will send a notification to the server if the panic alarm is triggered and the system dials 911 emergency services, provides the car position via GPS, and opens a live microphone so that emergency workers can communicate with the vehicle occupants, “Send2Car” points of interest (POI) and waypoints – owners will be able to plan a road trip with waypoints and send it to the vehicles’ navigation system   

The Next Gen Kia Soul EV will come in two trims: The Soul EV and the Soul EV Designer Collection. The later trim will include two-tone paint with 3 options: Gravity Grey with a Platinum Gold roof; Cherry Black with an Inferno Red roof; and Neptune Blue with a Cherry Black roof.   

Additional Designer Collection features will include: Power-folding gloss-black heated, power-adjustable outside mirrors with signal repeater; a10-speaker Harman/Kardon premium audio with external amplifier; a Wireless phone charger, a Leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats with Sofino premium non-animal seating upholstery; and an auto-dimming rear view mirror.   

Built at the Kia Gwangju plant in Korea, the Soul EV is expected to go on sale anytime now. Kia says its updated Soul EV combines a Soul-ful vibe with an all-electric buzz. It’s super cool and electric too!