Kia e-Soul test: electric car with good range

The Kia e-Soul should travel up to 452 kilometers thanks to its large battery. In the test he had to prove how good he really is. Results, data, evaluations.

• In the test: The e-Soul with 150 kW/204 HP and 64 kWh battery

• Technology: grade 2.1. Ecotest: Four out of five stars

• Plus: All information about the latest update of the angular box

An electric car is well received if it is not too expensive and has a decent range. Although the e-Soul, like the e-Niro, also had a smaller battery with 39.2 kWh for a range of 276 kilometers until the end of 2022, the larger battery that is now standard is simply the more attractive offer. For the liquid cooled one 64 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery The manufacturer promises a standard range of up to 452 kilometers.

The Kia e-Soul had to find out how far it can really go and what else it can do ADAC test prove. The test car is a much more practical version compared to the e-Soul, which is only available used and has a small battery. In addition, the driving pleasure is a lot more fun, because the engine power here is at least 110 kW/136 hp 150 kW/204 HP. The manufacturer specifies the maximum torque as 395 Nm.

150 kW is a lot of fun in the e-Soul

This enormous, almost silent power is not only fun, it is also a guarantee for safe overtaking on country roads. Anyone who wants to leave a truck driving in front of them at 60 km/h behind them is in just 3.6 seconds to 100 km/h. A short, energetic shock of electricity when it is free is enough. Of course, that much power always tempts you to drive fast – but then you learn just as quickly that this significantly reduces the range. And so you like to fall back into the relaxed state Cruiser mode – the most appropriate way to move an electric car. ADAC verdict on the drive: a smooth grade one.

390 km range with 64 kWh battery

In the ADAC measurement cycle With specially defined speeds for city, cross-country and highway journeys (including 200 kilograms of payload on board), the Kia e-Soul achieves a range of 390 kilometers, in the city there are even more than 480 kilometers. It should be noted that the value is significantly lower in winter, when the interior needs to be heated. The heating or air conditioning is a component in all electric cars that requires a relatively large amount of energy. Energy that is then no longer available for the engine.

There is a solution Heat pump. It costs 1,000 euros extra in the only remaining equipment version called Inspiration; it is installed as standard in the Gold and Platinum versions still available on the used market. A preheating system for the battery is on board as standard.

Nevertheless, it is of course important to conserve energy, drive with foresight and make good use of recuperation. How much Braking energy is recovered into electrical energy, The driver can influence the switch using the shift paddles on the steering wheel and thereby also “brake electrically”. If you pull the lever to the left of the steering wheel longer, you can bring the Soul to a standstill without using the conventional brakes. In addition, the vehicle orients itself to the traffic in front in order to automatically ensure maximum energy-efficient braking – or to roll as far as possible.

Electric car with 100 kW charging power

Driving the e-Soul is as easy as driving a bumper car at the fair. Simply turn the knob in the center console to “D” and accelerate. The electric car is already gliding effortlessly and quietly there – even quite sporty if necessary. The version with a large battery and 204 hp sprints to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, while the weaker 136 hp version with a small battery took 9.9 seconds.

And the charging options? There is a small flap on the front, behind which there is a conventional Type 2 port and a Fast charging port for the CCS connector standard hide. The latter is standard and allows a charging capacity of maximum 100 kW. Today it's just mediocre, but it's still enough to avoid having to stand at the rest stop for too long.

What is helpful is the now standard, 3-phase onboard charger, which provides a charging power of 10.5 kW for alternating current (AC) columns, initially stopped at 7.4 kW. A full charge (0 – 100 percent) would take over nine hours.

Test consumption: 18.8 kWh/100 km

In the electrical cycle of the ADAC Ecotest a average power consumption of 18.8 kWh per 100 kilometers was determined – including charging losses with 1-phase charging with 32 amps. To fully charge the 64 kWh battery once, 73.9 kWh are required. The e-Soul is one of them More efficient among electric cars, both in terms of consumption and charging losses. The e-Soul missed out on the fifth star in the Ecotest by just one point.

The Safety and assistance equipment of the Stromer is very extensive. There is a collision warning, an emergency braking system including pedestrian detection and a Lane keeping assistants with warning function or steering intervention.

A speed limiter is standard, as is active ACC cruise control. The Spirit (now Inspiration) equipment also includes a traffic jam assistant and a head-up display. Why of all people? Traffic sign recognition via camera not available is, remains Kia's secret; At the time of the test in 2019, the driver was only shown limits from the card data. The lane change assistant also includes the rear traffic assistant, which uses the radar sensors at the rear to monitor crossing traffic and warns of dangers when reversing out of a parking space.

For the Model year 2023 The assistance fleet has been expanded again, adding a highway assistant, an active blind spot assistant with steering and braking intervention, an intelligent speed assistant and an exit warning as well as an expanded front collision warning with cyclist detection, turning function and cross-traffic detection.

An app shows the charging status

The telematics system called Kia Connect is also used, which, among other things, provides the user with real-time information about charging stations and makes it possible to program charging. The current charging status can be checked via a App for Android and Apple smartphones track. It's also practical that you can select destinations using your cell phone and send them directly to the car's navigation system.

Interior with digital displays

The inner space The e-Soul presents itself tidily and, since the 2023 model year, with various improved details; operation is largely intuitive. The on-board computer information is now displayed on the 10.25-inch navigation screen mounted in the center of the dashboard instead of in the instrument cluster as before. The same consists of one central color displaywhich is flanked on the side by smaller, semicircular displays, which suggest a classic round instrument look.

In matters Space available The e-Soul doesn't have to hide: the back is also quite comfortable for this vehicle format up to a height of 1.95 meters and the trunk volume of 310 to 1205 liters (according to the ADAC measuring method) can also be described as suitable for everyday use. Because the battery is located in the underbody, it does not restrict the space available.

The e-Soul also has a feature that many electric car fans long for: it is now standard for 100 kilos support load designed and can therefore be used with one trailer hitch be equipped, which enables, for example, the transport of e-bikes on the “hook”. Unfortunately, a trailer load is not approved.

Kia e-Soul: technical data, price

ADAC measurements

ADAC test result

We liked this: Good driving performance. Good space at the front. Practical range. Extensive facilities. 7 year guarantee. High active safety.

We didn't like this: Some simple materials in the interior. No trailer operation possible. High purchase price.

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