Kia Soul EV: It's the end!
June 02 2023, World Cars Kia
As an automotive journalist and especially as a fan of vehicles that stand out and defy the rules of the game, I couldn't help but shed a tear upon learning the announcement of the possible withdrawal of the Kia Soul EV from the market.
The Kia Soul made its debut in 2008 during an economic crisis and at a time when boxy designs were in fashion. Needless to say, things have changed since then, but the small SUV from the Korean manufacturer continued to progress, leading Kia to launch an electric version of the Soul towards the end of 2014 as a 2015 model.
The model immediately captivated the public, and for good reason. At the time, the Kia Soul EV could travel over 190 kilometers on a single charge, which was above average. It quickly established a solid reputation in the niche of small electric vehicles.
The 2023 Soul EV
With a starting price of $45,909, the 2023 Kia Soul EV remains one of the most affordable electric vehicles currently available on the market. In addition, it is charming and packed with advanced technologies.
Today, the small SUV from the Korean manufacturer has an average range of 383 kilometers on a full charge in its Limited version, thanks to a 64 kWh battery. This power is delivered by a 201-horsepower electric motor, so you can imagine that the model's acceleration is quite surprising.
There is also a Premium version, which features a 134-horsepower motor and a 39.2 kWh battery. The range is limited to 248 kilometers in this case.
A trend
The Kia Soul EV is not the first small electric vehicle whose discontinuation has been announced recently. Chevrolet has also decided to retire the Bolt EV and EUV. Unfortunately, it is not a coincidence that the majority of small electric vehicles are being removed from the market.
Firstly, there is the question of material availability. Currently, manufacturers can only produce a certain quantity of batteries. Therefore, automakers must make choices and eliminate electric models to introduce newer and more modern ones.
There is also an economic aspect to consider. It is quite conceivable that a vehicle like the Soul EV is much less profitable than a larger and more expensive model. In short, it is a combination of reasons that has led Kia to have to remove the Soul EV from its lineup.
Fortunately, the gasoline-powered Soul will continue to be part of the Korean manufacturer's lineup until further notice. Moreover, Kia's range of electric vehicles continues to expand with the EV6 and soon the EV9.
