Used 2018 Kia Soul EV

Since its debut, we’ve loved everything about the Kia Soul except its lack of power. Well, that all changed last year with the introduction of a new turbocharged engine. With more power onboard, the 2018 Kia Soul wagon delivers in every area that matters. Its styling remains fresh and funky, and the interior provides room for five, or two people and a ton of cargo. Kia knows its intending audience is a young one, so Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are along for the ride, too. While the 2018 Kia Soul doesn’t offer the all-wheel-drive capability of the Fiat 500X, Mazda CX-3 or Mini Cooper Countryman, it competes well against the Chevrolet Cruze and Honda Civic hatchbacks, and its 10-year/100,000-mile warranty smokes them all. The all-electric Soul EV touts gas-free driving, and its range has increased to 111 miles.

The Soul’s driving experience is on par with similar cars like the Nissan Juke, Chevy Trax and Hyundai Elantra GT, but it’s the turbocharged engine in the 2018 Kia Soul Exclaim that really wakes this car up. The Exclaim’s on-road performance is further enhanced by firmer shock and spring settings along with a big 18-inch wheel/tire package. While we give Kia credit for improving the Soul’s steering feedback, it’s still not up to the standard set by the Honda Civic and Mazda3. Cornering capabilities are better than one would expect from such a tall vehicle, but some of the fun is sapped from the experience by the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. We found it slow to shift, and random surges of power sometimes made us question if the transmission was fully engaged, even when using the Sport setting. And why are there no steering-wheel paddle shifters? Oh well, maybe next year. The battery-powered Kia Soul EV has the quiet operation desirable of electric vehicles (EVs), but not the quickness. It takes over 11 seconds for the Soul EV to reach 60 mph. The Chevy Bolt are both significantly quicker and offer longer ranges.

The 2018 Kia Soul wagon offers 5-passenger seating, although four will be more comfortable. Upholstery and trim get notably better as you climb the model ladder, with the Soul Exclaim getting contrast stitching on its cloth and leather seats, plus a sporty D-shaped steering wheel. Available dual USB ports allow you to recharge one phone while the other is used for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The Soul’s boxy shape provides very good headroom for all passengers, and offers good cargo space, especially when you fold the rear seatbacks down. The pulsating speaker lights are pure whimsy.

You’ll still immediately recognize Kia’s Soul for 2018 for what it is, but there are minor tweaks to the exterior that distinguish from the first generation. Front and rear bumpers have changed a bit, with the Soul Plus getting body-color inserts, and the Soul Exclaim getting black. The Exclaim also distinguishes itself from its non-turbo mates with 18-inch alloy wheels, dual exhaust tips, HID headlights and LED fog lights – updating an exterior already known for a quirky blend of function and fashion. The upright styling offers good cargo and passenger space, and the distinctive vertical taillights are practically the car’s signature. The Soul EV has a front charge port tucked neatly away behind a solid grille in front.

TURBO POWER
Who doesn’t love horsepower? With the 2018 Kia Soul 5-door wagon, you’ll get all the power you need without sacrificing fuel economy. In fact, the turbocharged engine in the Soul Exclaim gets the best fuel economy of the Soul’s three engines. The only penalty is the extra cost, but it’s worth it.

APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO
With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, your infotainment system will always be as up to date as the latest smartphone. Both systems allow you to access everything on your phone, such as the iPhone’s Apple Music or Android’s Google Maps.

The 2018 Kia Soul comes in three models: Base, Plus (+) and Exclaim (!). Base models include 16-inch alloy wheels, a new drive-mode function, and an updated audio system. They combine with preexisting features: air conditioning, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, 6-way-manual-adjust driver’s seat, power windows and door locks and Bluetooth wireless technology. The standard engine is a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder connected to a 6-speed manual transmission, making the base model the only Soul available with a stick. Higher-level models come standard with more, like bigger engines, better interior materials, and larger wheels, including 18-inch alloys on the Exclaim. The Soul EV comes in two trims: The EV and the better-equipped EV+. Both come with heated front seats and steering wheel, environmentally-friendly interior materials, a DC Fast Charge port, and the ability to start the climate system while the vehicle is still charging.

Options vary by model level, with base models with an automatic transmission offering a Convenience Package that adds the UVO3 infotainment system with a rearview camera, and automatic headlights. Soul Plus offers the Primo Lit package that combines a panoramic sunroof, leather seats with power adjustments and heating and cooling in front, blind-spot detection, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a bunch of other features. Then there’s the Exclaim which, along with the turbo engine, offers a panoramic sunroof and a Technology package that adds most of what’s in the Primo Lit package, along with a harman/kardon audio system. The top-line Soul EV+ comes with leather seating and heated rear seats, and offers an optional panoramic sunroof.

The Soul Base model gets a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder with a meager 130 horsepower, connected to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic; to say it’s sluggish is an understatement. The Soul Plus comes with a more satisfactory 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 161 horsepower connected only to a 6-speed automatic. Last, there’s the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, with its 201 horsepower and 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. All Soul models are front-wheel drive and while all are fairly fuel-efficient, the thriftiest is actually the turbo, and not the base model. The electric Kia Soul EV makes 109 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. Charge times take from 33 hours on a 120-volt outlet to a more reasonable 5-plus on a 240-volt outlet. DC Fast Charging can be done in about 30 minutes.

1.6-liter inline-4
130 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
118 lb-ft of torque @ 4,850 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/30 mpg (manual), 25/30 mpg (automatic)

2.0-liter inline-4
161 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
150 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/30 mpg

1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4
201 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
195 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/31 mpg

A/C Synchronous Permanent Magnet motor (Soul EV)
109 horsepower
210 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 124/93 MPGe
EPA range on a full charge: 111 miles

Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.

We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.

Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.

Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)

We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.