2023 Kia Soul EV: Prices, specs and release date
- 2023 Kia Soul EV range grows to include an additional battery option
- ‘Medium range’ 39.2kWh battery joins existing ‘long range’ 64kWh version
- Prices start from a more affordable £32,795 and orders are open now
The Kia Soul EV range has been expanded for 2023 with the addition of a new, more affordable battery option. Those looking to buy or lease a new Kia Soul EV can now choose from either medium range or long range models.
Kia’s most affordable electric car, the 2023 Soul EV is an SUV-style crossover. It will provide strong competition for rivals such as the Vauxhall Mokka-e, Peugeot e-2008 and the recently-enhanced DS 3 E-Tense.
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2023 Kia Soul EV prices and release date
Prices for the new 2023 Kia Soul EV are more affordable than before, thanks to the new battery option. The Kia Soul EV Urban, which uses the 39.2kWh battery, costs from £32,795.
The Kia Soul EV Explore, which uses the same 64kWh long range battery as the current model, costs £38,995. Kia says both models are now on sale, with the first UK deliveries expected in Q4 of 2022. Despite the appealing price of the entry-level Urban, the company expects the Kia Soul EV Explore to be the best-selling model.
2023 Kia Soul EV styling, interior and technology
The 2023 Kia Soul EV has a boxy profile and bold, upright lines. The windows are squared-off and the flat roofline ‘floats’ on top of the body. It is a decidedly SUV-style small crossover.
We like the slimline grille and LED headlights, which give it a modernist look. This is matched at the rear by high-mounted LED tail lights that wrap around the rear window. Higher-spec Kia Soul EV Explore models feature an SUV styling kit, which includes silver skid plates, lower body cladding and roof rails. They also feature rear privacy glass.
The 2023 Kia Soul EV comes as standard with a vivid Mars Orange paint colour. On Urban models, optional Inferno Red, Neptune Blue, Snow White Pearl and Fusion Black metallics are available for £595. The Kia Soul EV Explore offers two-tone combinations for £745; choose Inferno Red or Neptune Blue with a Fusion Black roof, or either Snow White Pearl or Fusion Black with an Inferno Red roof.
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The 2023 Kia Soul EV Urban has a prominently-positioned 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. A 7.0-inch OLED driver instrument display is also fitted. Move up to Explore and you get a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, complete with sat-nav and seven years of Kia connect connectivity services. Both screens incorporate a colour reversing camera.
Cloth upholstery features on the Kia Soul EV Urban, while Explore grade features black leather upholstery, an electric driver’s seat, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather and the car also gains satin chrome interior door handles. The Kia Soul EV has a roomy rear seat, with plenty of headroom. The boot is on the small side with the seats up – it has 315 litres of luggage space – but this expands to a 1,339 litres with the 60:40-split rear seats folded.
2023 Kia Soul EV batteries, performance and fuel economy
The 2023 Kia Soul EV has a choice of two battery sizes. The Kia Soul EV Urban uses the new, more affordable 39.2kWh battery. This gives an official WLTP combined electric driving range of 171 miles. Kia says that if you stick to city driving, it is capable of more than 250 miles. The battery is paired with a 134PS electric motor and single-speed gearbox. Zero to 62mph takes 9.9 seconds and it has a top speed of 97mph.
The Kia Soul EV Explore uses the larger 64kWh battery, which gives a longer driving range of 280 miles (or more than 400 miles if you stick to the city). Kia says a flexible regenerative braking system, which is controlled via steering wheel paddles, helps drivers recover energy and cruise along with less use of the brake pedal. It has a more powerful 201PS electric motor, which will do 0-62mph in a sprightly 7.9 seconds. The top speed is 104mph. Both versions boast an ample 395Nm of torque.
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Both Kia Soul EVs also feature an 80kW rapid charger. They can be charged from 0-80 per cent in 54 minutes, while using a home wall box will give a full charge for the Explore model in just under 10 hours. A full charge for the Urban takes six hours.
The 2023 Kia Soul EV has a three-setting drive mode switch, so you can toggle between economy, normal and sport modes, according to your mood (or how economical you want to be with the battery). A clever adaptive smart cruise control function is also standard, helping take the strain out of motorway cruising.
How much is a used Kia Soul EV?
The current Kia Soul EV was launched in 2020. There are growing numbers of used examples on the market, starting from around £30,000. The previous-generation Kia Soul EV costs from less than £20,000.
Does the Kia Soul EV have a good warranty?
Kia’s excellent new-car warranty features on the Soul EV. It is valid for seven years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Does the Kia Soul EV help to keep your devices charged?
You can use a little of the Kia Soul EV’s battery power to keep your devices fully charged when on board. In the front, there are USB-A sockets, while there are dual USB-C sockets in the rear.
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Before you step into a showroom, read our in-depth guide to all the new cars coming in the next 12 months and beyond – some are well worth the wait.
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