The new Kia Soul EV debuts at the Los Angeles Auto Show with a more powerful 204 hp engine

The Soul EV, once Kia’s first electric car, has made a grand entrance at the Los Angeles Auto Show, adding an electrifying note to the event with major updates for what will be its second generation. These updates affect its exterior and interior styling, as well as its electric powertrain, with state-of-the-art upgrades that improve its power and optimise its range.

Completely redesigned and very attractive styling

The exterior styling has improved substantially over the previous generation, now with a much more modern and attractive look that will undoubtedly help attract more potential buyers. At the front, the change is complete thanks to a newly designed bumper that also houses the new fog lights with exclusive design and the charging port cover, while higher up, the face of the Kia Soul EV changes thanks to the new LED headlights that stretch across its full width.

Moving to the side, the design of the wheels changes, with a new five-spoke design in 17-inch size. The waistline, which rises towards the rear to meet the roof, changes shape and is now more rounded, which in turn changes the design of the small side window. At the rear, also much more modern and attractive, there is a new bumper which, although it keeps a rounded design, has smoother lines. Finally, there is a new LED rear light cluster, also with a new design, which wraps around the rear window almost entirely.

Inside, the changes are more than obvious at first glance. The Kia Soul EV has taken a major leap in quality, with a design that moves far away from the austerity of the previous generation and is now much more modern, youthful and attractive. Buyers can choose between two trim levels, Soul EV “Standard and Soul EV Designer Collection. The latter includes standard features such as two-tone exterior paint, heated door mirrors, a Harman-Kardon 10-speaker system with external amplifier, a wireless smartphone charger and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Furthermore, the dashboard is completely new, with no element left unchanged. It is controlled by a new 10.25-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, followed below by the new climate control buttons. The centre console still has a small space for holding small items and, if selected, charging smartphones, while the conventional gear lever has been replaced by a new rotary dial labelled “shift-by-wire“.

In terms of technology and safety equipment, the new Kia Soul EV’s specification may vary depending on the market, although this does not mean any reduction in safety. For example, it can be fitted with up to seven airbags as standard, anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic stability control, hill start assist and tyre pressure monitoring. All of this is complemented by the active safety systems now found almost as standard on virtually any vehicle, such as forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane change warning, lane keeping assist, driver drowsiness detection, adaptive cruise control with Stop&Go, blind spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert.

Much more powerful and efficient powertrain

Mechanically, it has little in common with the Soul EV that we tested four years ago. With the new powertrain, its power has doubled to 204 hp and 395 Nm of torque (compared with 110 hp and 285 Nm of the previous generation). Kia promises that the Soul EV’s range has also improved, although it is still undergoing certification and the figure has not yet been revealed. To achieve this, new 64 kWh lithium-ion polymer batteries have been used, which can be charged via the combined charging system (CCS) with DC fast charging fitted as standard.

It will feature four driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Eco+. These modes adjust various parameters such as the power output to the traction motor and the air conditioning and heating systems, allow speed limits to be set for efficiency depending on the driving style, and control the level of regenerative braking. The latter can be adjusted using paddles behind the steering wheel, allowing the car to slow down and recover more kinetic energy for greater range, all thanks to four levels of regenerative braking.

However, these are not the only benefits of the regenerative braking system, as it also features a Brake Hold system, which, using the gear selector paddles, allows the car to be brought to a complete stop while capturing kinetic energy. Finally, it can automatically adjust the level of braking if it detects another vehicle in front, making driving smoother. In addition, when paired with a Smart Eco Pedal Guide display, it keeps you constantly informed of how you are using the battery in real time, based on accelerator pedal input.

The new Kia Soul EV will go on sale in the United States and certain European markets in mid-2019, with a price yet to be determined, which will be announced as its launch date approaches.