Kia recently showed off the newly redesigned third-generation Soul, and one of the most interesting changes had to do with the fully electric version. Using a 64-kWh lithium-ion battery borrowed from the Hyundai Kona EV, the Soul EV promised to pair boxy practicality with electric efficiency. But until today, we still didn’t know what kind of range the Soul EV would offer.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the 2020 Kia Soul EV has a total range of 243 miles. That works out to a fuel economy rating of 127/101/114 MPGe (city/highway/combined), as well as an estimated $3,250 in savings over the course of five years, by the EPA’s estimates.
But most likely due to the Soul’s less aerodynamic styling, its corporate cousin the Hyundai Kona EV actually manages to squeeze a longer range out of the same battery pack. The Kona EV earned a 258-mile range rating from the EPA back in August. But as we found in our 2019 SUV of the Year test, the Kona EV’s longer range comes at the expense of cargo capacity and rear passenger comfort.
And even though the 2020 Soul EV’s range comes up a bit short compared to the Kona EV, it’s still a huge improvement over the outgoing version. When Kia last updated the previous-generation Soul EV, its 30-kWh battery only provided a 111-mile range. Its motor was also only good for 109 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. The 2020 Soul EV, on the other hand, gives you 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque, likely making it quite a bit quicker.
Source: EPA
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