Monday, February 23, 2015

Ride & Drive: 2015 Kia Soul EV


Kia just keeps delivering hit after hit.

The fastest growing car company in the world recently rolled out its first electric vehicle, the 2015 Kia Soul EV, and in the process, has delivered one of the best electric-only vehicles on the market.

OK, before sending an email, I agree Tesla has the best EV on the market. The base Tesla S has twice the range and more performance. The base Tesla S also has an MSRP that begins at a price point more than double that of the fully loaded Kia Soul EV, which by the way is sold and supported by Kia dealerships nationwide. (You can only purchase a Tesla from its factory in California).

That said, for EV’s priced below $40,000, the five-passenger, front-wheel drive Kia Soul EV leads the segment in range (109 miles on a full charge), Miles Per Gallon Equivalency (92 highway/120 city/105 combined), as well as interior room (18.8 cubic feet of cargo room behind the rear seat).

Based on Kia’s popular urban crossover, the Soul EV has a top speed of 90 mph and includes two types of charging ports allowing owners multiple options for recharging.

You can plug it into a regular 110-volt outlet in the garage (like I did during my one-week evaluation) and recharge the battery overnight. It also has a fast charging port that allows for an 80 percent charge in 33 minutes.
 
Being based in Texas, when EVs come up in conversation, I’m frequently being asked, “Why in the world would I want an electric vehicle when you can only go so far without having to stop and plug it in?”

EVs aren’t for everyone. But for consumers who do all or most of their driving in urban centers — and rarely need to travel more than 100 miles in a day — EVs make a lot of sense.

They produce zero emissions and you don’t have to worry about fluctuating gas prices. All you have to do is plug it in at home, the office or urban recharging stations. While you are still paying for electricity, the MPGe still produces a substantial savings over what you would pay in fuel for a gasoline-powered vehicle.

The downside is you won’t be able to take it on a long road trip.

But as a commuter vehicle for daily driving, I found the 2015 Kia Soul EV not only practical, but an ideal vehicle.

With a base price starting at $33,700, the Soul EV is available in two very nicely equipped trim levels — Base and +.

Standard features include navigation with an eight-inch screen, HVAC, UVO EV-Kia’s award-winning telematics and infotainment system for in-vehicle connectivity, rear backup camera, six-speaker audio system with Sirius Satellite Radio, power windows/mirrors/door locks.

Additionally, the 109-horsepower electric motor delivers 210 lbs.-ft. of instantaneous torque, delivering excellent performance. And, the ride is extremely quiet.

While EVs aren’t for everyone, for those in the market for an electric vehicle, the Soul EV is a must for the test-drive list.

Neal White has been covering the automotive industry for more than 20 years and is affiliated with the Texas Auto Writers Association.

THE NUTS AND BOLTS

MODEL:

2015 Kia Soul EV

5-seat electric 5-door vehicle

Front-wheel drive

Trim packages:

Base, +

PRICE RANGE:

$34,000-$37,000

ELECTRIC MOTOR:

AC syncronous permanent magnet electric motor (109 horsepower/210 lbs.-ft. torque). 90 kW lithium ion plymer battery.

EPA: 92 MPGe city, 120 MPGe highway

CHARGING: 120V (24 hours full charge), 240V (4-5 hours full charge), or 480V (80 percent charge in 33 minutes).

BRAKES: Regenerative brakes with kinetic energy recovery.

LENGTH: 163 inches

WHEELBASE: 102.1 inches

WIDTH: 70.9 inches

HEIGHT: 63 inches

WEIGHT: 3,289 pounds

TRACK: 62/62.4 (front/rear)

TIRES: 16-inch

CARGO: 18.8/49.5 cubic feet (behind second/first row).




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