The Quirky Box Rocks: An Electric Kia Soul Review For People Who Hate Boring Cars

Let's get one thing straight. If you're looking up reviews for the electric Kia Soul, you're not after another generic crossover that blends into the sea of grey sludge in a British supermarket car park. You're here because the Soul EV is the car equivalent of wearing bright yellow trousers to a funeral – it’s a bold, deliberate, and slightly mad choice. This is the definitive electric car for people who find other electric cars a bit, well, beige .

The Kia Soul has always been a bit of an oddball, hasn't it? A proper Marmite car. When it first landed on UK roads, it was a quirky, petrol-powered box that looked like it had been designed with a set square and a serious sense of humour. It was a car for individualists, for those who cared more about standing out than fitting in.

That heritage is key to understanding the electric version. When Kia decided to ditch the petrol and diesel models for the UK and European markets, they didn't just make an EV; they doubled down on the Soul's unique identity. It became an electric-only statement piece.

This wasn't just a marketing ploy; it was a rather clever strategic move. Kia gambled that the sort of people drawn to the Soul's funky design were the same forward-thinkers ready to embrace electric power. And they were absolutely right. This pivot solidified the Soul's place as a niche, yet beloved, part of the UK’s EV landscape.

It never sold in the same numbers as a Nissan Qashqai, of course, but it quietly built a loyal following. Its peak registration year was way back in 2011 with 3,927 units, but the fact that around 25,697 licensed Souls are still on UK roads today speaks volumes about its lasting appeal. You can actually explore its UK sales journey and see how it evolved from a petrol novelty into a respected electric specialist.

In a market overflowing with electric SUVs, what's the Soul EV's purpose? It’s here to fill a gap for people who want practicality without the predictability. It’s a car that delivers on three key promises:

• Distinctive Style: You will never, ever lose this in a car park. Its upright, boxy stance and unique details are a welcome break from the swooping, generic shapes that dominate the EV world.
• Surprising Practicality: That boxy design isn't just for looks. It creates a surprisingly spacious and airy cabin with fantastic headroom, making it feel much bigger on the inside than its compact footprint would suggest.
• Proven Electric Tech: Underneath that eccentric body lies the same reliable and well-regarded battery and motor gubbins found in its more mainstream sibling, the Kia Niro EV.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of its real-world range, charging quirks, and how it handles Britain's less-than-perfect roads, you need to understand this context. This review isn't just about kilowatts and boot space; it's about figuring out if you're the right kind of oddball for this wonderfully weird electric box.

Right, let's get down to the brass tacks. The official figures from Kia are always worth taking with a pinch of salt. They'll quote the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) number, which for the Soul EV is a very optimistic 280 miles . A great number on paper, but that test was probably done on a perfect day, on a rolling road, inside a lab by a bloke called Derek.

Out here, on a wet Tuesday morning on the M62, things are a little different. This is where we separate the brochure promises from the cold, hard reality of British driving.

The Soul EV packs a decent punch, with a 64kWh battery feeding a 201bhp electric motor . That combination delivers a surprising turn of speed. The 0-60mph dash is over in just 7.6 seconds , thanks to that instant electric torque. It’s more than quick enough to catch a few hot hatches napping when the lights go green.

It's one thing to be quick in a straight line, but how does it cope with our notoriously knackered and twisty roads? You'd look at its boxy shape and assume it’d handle like a wardrobe on wheels, but you’d be wrong. The clever part is that the heavy battery pack sits right down in the floor of the car, giving it a low centre of gravity. This makes it feel surprisingly stable and planted when you show it a corner.

Don't get me wrong, it's no sports car. The steering is on the light side and doesn't give you a huge amount of feedback, but it's precise enough for zipping through town. The suspension is clearly set up for comfort, and it does a commendable job of soaking up the potholes that litter our local roads. It’s an easy, pleasant car to drive, even if it won't have you seeking out the long way home just for the thrill of it.

Now, for the question everyone really wants answered. That 280-mile figure? Forget it. Think of EV range in terms of seasons, not a single number.

• Summer Cruising: On a warm, dry day with a light right foot, you can realistically expect to see around 240-250 miles from a full battery. That's still a very useful amount, easily enough for a trip from London to Manchester without a stop.
• Winter Slogging: Okay, let's paint a more realistic UK picture. It's 2°C, it's chucking it down with rain, the wipers and demister are on full blast, and you've got the heated seats cranked up. In these worst-case conditions, the range can drop to as low as 180-190 miles .

This winter dip isn't a fault of the Kia; it’s just the physics of electric cars. Heating the cabin and keeping the battery at its optimal temperature simply uses up a lot of energy.

The Soul EV does have a secret weapon, though: a heat pump . This works a bit like an air conditioning unit in reverse and is far more efficient at warming the car than a simple electric heater. It helps to claw back a few of those precious miles in the cold, making the winter range drop less severe than on some rivals that lack this bit of tech. For the vast majority of UK drivers, the Soul's real-world range is more than enough, as long as you know what to expect.

Pop open the door of the Kia Soul EV, and you immediately understand the benefit of its boxy design. It’s a bit of a TARDIS, this car. From the outside, it looks compact, but inside it feels remarkably spacious and airy, a direct result of that upright windscreen and tall roofline. It’s a refreshing change from rivals who often sacrifice interior space for a sleeker, coupe-like profile.

And don’t think for a second that this is a cheap, plasticky penalty box. Kia has put some real effort into the cabin. Of course, if you go tapping around lower down you’ll find some harder plastics, but the bits you actually touch regularly—the steering wheel, the gear selector, the top of the dash—are all finished in surprisingly plush, soft materials. Everything feels properly bolted together, giving you confidence it’ll stand up to the rigours of daily life.

Up front, there's loads of room to get comfortable. Even if you're well over six feet tall, the generous seat and steering wheel adjustment makes finding a good driving position a doddle. That high-up seating position also gives you a commanding view of the road, which is a real bonus when you’re navigating tight city streets or trying to squeeze into a supermarket parking space.

But it’s in the back where the Soul’s shape truly shines. So many electric cars in this class compromise rear headroom for that sloping roofline, but not here. The Kia offers ample space for two adults to sit comfortably. While legroom is decent, the headroom is genuinely impressive. You can ferry a couple of tall mates in the back without them having to slouch or complain about their hair brushing the headlining.

Alright, let's talk about the boot. If the Soul EV has a weak spot, this is probably it. With the rear seats up, you’re looking at 315 litres of space . To give that some real-world context, it’s fine for the weekly shop from Asda or a couple of carry-on suitcases, but a bulky pushchair or the family’s luggage for a week away will be a serious squeeze.

The space itself is a useful, square shape, and there’s a false floor which is great for hiding away your charging cables and creating a flat loading lip. If you fold the 60/40 split rear seats down, that space expands to a much more useful 1,339 litres . Still, it’s clear that maximising boot capacity wasn't number one on Kia's to-do list.

Thankfully, the infotainment system is one of the car's best features. You get a big, bright 10.25-inch widescreen touchscreen mounted high on the dash, right in your line of sight. It’s quick to respond to your touch and the menus are laid out so logically that you’ll figure it all out in minutes, no degree in computer science needed.

Best of all, Kia has kept real, physical shortcut buttons for essential functions like the media, sat-nav, and climate controls. This is a massive win for safety and convenience, allowing you to quickly adjust the temperature or change the radio station without endlessly prodding a screen and taking your eyes off the road. With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included as standard, it’s a brilliant, user-friendly setup. The Soul EV was instrumental in building Kia’s electric reputation, a legacy that's still going strong, as Kia UK celebrated selling its 50,000th EV in July 2023. You can read more about how the Soul EV helped establish Kia's electric foothold.

Right, let’s get down to the brass tacks of EV ownership in the UK: keeping the battery topped up. Buying an electric Kia Soul is the easy part. The real learning curve is figuring out how to charge it without it costing a fortune or causing a meltdown. Welcome to the slightly chaotic world of plugs, tariffs, and the dreaded public charging lottery.

First off, let's be blunt: forget about relying on the 3-pin plug that comes with the car. Trying to charge the Soul EV from a standard wall socket is like trying to fill a bathtub with an eyedropper. You're looking at a full charge time of well over 30 hours . It’s okay for a once-in-a-blue-moon emergency, but for day-to-day life, it’s a non-starter.

To live with any EV properly, a dedicated home wallbox is essential. It's not a luxury, it's a necessity. With a standard 7kW home charger , you can take the Soul’s battery from nearly empty to 100% in about nine and a half hours – easily done overnight. It is, without a doubt, the best investment an EV owner can make.

This is where the true cost savings of running an electric car are either won or lost. Charging at home on a savvy electricity tariff is incredibly cheap. Relying solely on the public network, however, can make you wince and miss the days of petrol prices.

Let’s do some quick, real-world maths.

• Home Charging: If you switch to an EV-friendly overnight tariff, you could be paying as little as 7.5p per kilowatt-hour (kWh) . Filling the Soul's 64kWh battery from empty would cost a staggeringly low £4.80 . For that, you get over 200 miles of real-world range. Your old petrol car would be lucky to get you to the next town for that price.
• Public Charging: Now, imagine you're on a long trip and need a rapid charge at the motorway services. Here, you could easily be paying 79p per kWh or even more. That same full charge now costs a wallet-thumping £50.56 . That’s a ten-fold increase. Ouch.

The Kia Soul EV can handle DC rapid charging at up to 100kW . That number sounds impressive, but what does it actually mean for you on the road? In simple terms, if you find a public charger that can deliver that power, you can boost the battery from 10% to 80% in about 45 minutes .

That's just enough time for a coffee and a loo break on a long journey, which is pretty convenient. But be aware that charging speeds aren’t constant. The speed drops off significantly as the battery fills up to protect its long-term health.

The reality of public charging in the UK is still a bit of a patchwork. You've got dozens of different networks, each with its own app, pricing, and varying levels of reliability. While home charging is a breeze, venturing further afield requires a bit of forward planning. For the vast majority of owners, though, the routine will be plugging in at home, making public charging an occasional task rather than a daily headache.

The Kia Soul EV doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s a quirky fish swimming in an increasingly crowded pond of compact electric crossovers. For every person charmed by its toaster-like aesthetics, there’s another who’ll quietly opt for something that looks a bit more… normal.

So, let’s be brutally honest and see how the Soul fares against the usual suspects vying for your hard-earned cash. This isn’t about endlessly quoting brochure stats; it’s about figuring out which of these cars is the genuinely clever choice for life on Britain’s roads. We’re pitting the Soul against the ones you’ll actually see clogging up the charging bays at your local Tesco.

The competition is fierce. You’ve got the stylish Peugeot e-2008 and the unashamedly value-focused MG ZS EV. Each brings something different to the fight, forcing the Soul to rely on more than just its oddball charm.

First up is the Peugeot e-2008. If the Kia Soul is a pair of brightly coloured trainers, the Peugeot is a sharp Italian suit. It’s all sleek lines, fang-like daytime running lights, and a genuinely posh-looking interior with that fancy 3D i-Cockpit display. On looks alone, many will find it the more desirable car.

The trade-off for all that Gallic flair? The e-2008 runs on a smaller 50kWh battery , which means its real-world range is closer to 170-190 miles —noticeably less than the Soul’s. It also feels a tad more cramped inside, especially for rear passengers, sacrificing practical headroom for that sloping roofline. It’s a classic case of style over substance.

Then we have the MG ZS EV, the undisputed champion of bang-for-your-buck electric motoring. The top-spec Trophy Long Range model packs a whopping 72.6kWh battery , promising a real-world range that can comfortably exceed 260 miles .

It’s also loaded with kit and boasts a much larger boot ( 470 litres ) than the Soul. So, what’s the catch? Well, you can feel where the money has been saved. The interior plastics are a bit scratchy, the infotainment isn’t as slick, and the driving experience is best described as 'unremarkable'. It's competent but utterly devoid of the personality that defines the Soul.

Perhaps the Soul’s biggest rival comes from within its own family. The Kia Niro EV uses the exact same 64.8kWh battery and motor, so performance and range are virtually identical. The Niro, however, packages it all in a much more conventional, estate-like body.

The result is a car that’s significantly more practical. The boot is a far more family-friendly 475 litres , and there’s more legroom for passengers in the back. But let’s be honest, it’s also as visually exciting as a tax return. Choosing between them is a direct referendum on how much you value personality over pure, unadulterated practicality.

When you line them all up, the Soul’s unique position becomes crystal clear. It’s not the most practical or the most affordable, but it has a charm that the others simply can’t match.

This table gives you a quick rundown of how they stack up on the key numbers:

Ultimately, the Kia Soul EV carves out its own niche. It loses the practicality fight to the Niro and the MG, and it can’t match the catwalk appeal of the Peugeot. But for the driver who wants a proven, reliable electric car that doesn't look like everything else on the road, the Soul’s unique blend of character and capability makes it a compelling, if slightly eccentric, choice.

Right, let's get down to it. After pulling apart the good, the bad, and the brilliantly boxy, what's the final word? Is the Kia Soul EV a genuinely smart buy for UK drivers, or has it been left behind by newer, sleeker alternatives?

Let’s be honest, the Soul EV is a fantastic car with a couple of potentially huge deal-breakers. On the one hand, its strengths are impossible to ignore: a proper real-world range that takes the edge off most trips, a mountain of standard equipment that puts rivals to shame, and Kia's unbeatable seven-year warranty .

But its weaknesses are just as obvious. That boot is comically small for a car of its footprint, making it a tricky proposition for the main family wagon. And then there's the look. You'll either love it or hate it – there’s really no in-between.

So, who is this car really for? It’s certainly not for the family needing to haul a pushchair and the loot from a big IKEA shop. The Soul EV is laser-focused on a very particular type of driver.

This is the car for you if:

• You live in or around town and want a car with some proper personality to stand out from the endless sea of grey crossovers.
• You’re after a brilliant second car for the household – something fun, dependable, and cheap as chips to run for the commute or school run.
• You value a high driving position and unique character far more than a massive boot.
• A well-made, comfortable cabin with a dead-simple infotainment system is high on your list of priorities.

If you find yourself nodding along and can live with the small boot, then yes, you absolutely should buy a Kia Soul EV. It’s a genuinely brilliant electric car that brings a much-needed dose of fun to a market that’s becoming a bit too serious. It's a clever buy that’ll make you smile every time you walk up to it, proving that practical motoring doesn't have to be predictable.

Got more questions about the Kia Soul EV? Good. You should. Buying an EV is a big decision, and it’s smart to get all the details sorted. Here are the straight-up answers to the questions we hear the most.

Yes and no. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. If you’ve got one or two older kids, they’ll absolutely love the massive amount of headroom in the back – it feels way bigger inside than it looks. The cabin is genuinely spacious.

But here’s the catch: the boot. At just 315 litres , it’s pretty compact. It’ll handle the weekly shop or school bags just fine, but a bulky pushchair or the mountain of stuff needed for a family holiday? You’re going to struggle. Think of it as a brilliant second family car rather than the one-and-only family wagon.

Okay, let's talk real numbers, not the official brochure figures. Kia claims 280 miles , but you know how that goes.

In the real world, you can comfortably expect 240-250 miles during the warmer summer months. When a proper British winter hits and you’ve got the heating on full blast, expect that to drop to a still very respectable 180-190 miles . That standard-fit heat pump really earns its keep, doing a great job of protecting the battery from the worst of the cold.

This is the easy part. Plug it into a standard 7kW home wallbox when you get home, and it’ll be fully charged from empty in about nine and a half hours. Perfect for overnight top-ups.

Out on the road? If you find a decent 100kW rapid charger, you can zap the battery from 10% to 80% in roughly 45 minutes . That’s just about the perfect amount of time to grab a coffee and use the loo at the services.

For more no-nonsense EV reviews, guides, and a bit of a laugh, check out VoltsMonster . We do the digging so you get the info that actually matters. Find your next electric car obsession over at https://www.voltsmonster.com.