New 2019 Kia Soul EV revealed at LA Motor Show
The covers have come off the third-generation Kia Soul, with the UK only likely to get the Soul EV when it goes on sale next year
The third generation Kia Soul has been officially revealed at the LA Motor Show. The crossover will go on sale in the middle of next year and only be offered as a fully electric model in the UK, priced from around £32,000.
The distinctive small SUV retains the boxy and upright proportions from the outgoing model but now features slender LED headlamps that are integrated into the upper grille. The blanked off nose and five-spoke alloys are unique to the EV, while the charging port is located on the driver’s side behind the grille.
Under the skin the Soul EV is powered by the same 64kWh battery you’ll find in the Kia e-Niro and Hyundai Kona EV. The battery drives one electric motor on the front axle that develops 201bhp and 395Nm of torque – an increase of 110Nm over the old model.
An official range will be confirmed next year, but expect a figure of around 300 miles on a single charge.
Drivers can alter the severity of the regenerative braking using steering wheel mounted paddles. Three levels are available, with the most extreme causing the car to come to a complete stop when the throttle is released.
Kia also says the Soul’s ride and handling has been improved thanks to the addition of fully independent rear suspension.
Inside the Soul features a new 10.25-inch display on the dash, which is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also gives access to a new ‘UVO’ telematics system where battery life, charging status and real-time charging station updates can be monitored.
A raft of safety kit includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist as well as forward collision avoidance assist and a driver attention warning system.
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