Kia e-Soul test: an electric car with a good range

Thanks to its large battery, the Kia e-Soul can travel up to 452 km. In the test it had to prove how good it is. Results, data, evaluation.

• On test: E-Soul with 150 kW/204 HP and 64 kWh battery

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

• More: All information about the latest angular box update

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

The Kia e-Soul had to figure out how far it could go and what else it could do ADAC exam confirm. The test car is a more practical version compared to the e-Soul with a smaller battery, which is only available for use. In addition, the driving pleasure is even more enjoyable, because the engine power here is instead 110 kW/136 hp. 150 kW/204 PS. The manufacturer specifies the maximum torque as 395 Nm

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

This great power, almost silent is not only fun, it is also a guarantee of safe crossing 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 up to 100 km/h. A brief jolt of electrical energy when free is sufficient. Of course, more power always encourages you to drive faster – but then you quickly learn that this greatly reduces the range. And so you like to go back to calm Cruiser mode– the most efficient way to transfer an electric car to an ADAC car: smooth bridge A. Â

Range of 390 km with a battery of 64 kWh

Im ADAC measurement cycle with speeds specified specifically for urban, cross-country and highway journeys (with 200 kg of payload on board), the Kia e-Soul achieves a range of 390 kilometers, in the city there are even more than 480 km. It should be noted that the value is very low in winter, when the interior needs to be warm. Heating or air conditioning is a part of all electric vehicles that require a large amount of energy. Energy that is no longer available to the engine.

There is a solution Heat pump. It costs an additional 1,000 euros in the only remaining version of the device called Inspiration installed as standard in the Gold and Platinum versions that are still available on the used market. A battery heating system is standard on board.

However, it is definitely important to conserve energy, drive with foresight and use it well to recover. How much? Brake energy is converted into electrical energy, The driver can affect the shift using the paddles on the steering wheel and thus also “break the electric brake”. If you pull the lever on the left side of the steering wheel for a long time, you can bring the Soul to a stop without using the normal brakes. In addition, the car orients itself to the traffic ahead to automatically ensure maximum energy efficiency – or rolling as possible.

An electric car with a charging power of 100 kW

Driving the E-Soul is as easy as driving a big car at the show. Just turn the switch on the center console to “D” and accelerate. The electric car is already rolling without effort and calm there – even sports if necessary. The version with a large battery and 204 hp runs to 100 km / h in 7.9 seconds, while the weak version with 136 hp and a small battery took 9.9 seconds.

And payment options? There is a small flap in front, behind which there is a standard Type 2 port and a Quick payment port at the CCS connector level to hide The latter is common and allows the payment capacity of maximum 100 kW. Today it is moderate, but still enough to avoid stopping at a rest stop for too long.

What helps is the current rate, 3 phase On Board Charger, which provides charging power of 10.5 kW for alternating current (AC) poles, previously stood at 7.4 kW. A full charge (0 – 100 percent) will take more than nine hours.

Test consumption: 18.8 kWh/100 km

In the ADAC Ecotest circuit a average power consumption of 18.8 kWh per 100 km – including charge loss and 1-phase charging with 32 amperes. To fully charge a 64 kWh battery, 73.9 kWh is required. E-Soul is one of them The most efficient of electric vehicles, in terms of spending and charging losses. The E-Soul missed out on the fifth star in the Ecotest by just one point.

To die Safety and support equipment Stromer’s is very broad. There is a collision warning, an emergency braking system that includes pedestrian detection and a Leave the assistants and an operational warning or intervention feature.

Cruise control is standard, as is active ACC cruise control. The Spirit (now Inspiration) equipment also includes a traffic queue assistant and a head-up display. Why of all people? Traffic sign recognition through the camera is not available it remains a Kia secret; During the test in 2019, the driver was only shown the limits from the card data. Lane change assist also includes rear traffic assist, which uses rear radar sensors to monitor cross traffic and warns of hazards when backing out of a parking space.

For the sake of Model year 2023 The assistance fleet has been extended again, adding highway assist, blind spot assist with steering and braking, intelligent speed assist and exit warning as well as extended forward collision warning and cyclist detection, turn function and traffic. discover.

The app shows the charging status

A 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 schedule payments. Current payment status can be checked through a App for Android and Apple smartphones song. It is also important that you can select your destination via your mobile phone and send it directly to the car’s navigation system.

Interior with digital display

There internal spaceThe E-Soul presents itself well and, from the 2023 model year, with a vastly improved infotainment system. The on-board computer information is now displayed on a 10.25-inch navigation screen mounted in the center of the dashboard. before in the instrument cluster. OK, it has one medium color displaywhich is flanked by small, semi-circular displays, which suggest the appearance of a round vessel.

In terms of… Space is available E-Soul does not have to hide: the back is also comfortable for this car model up to a body length of 1.95 meters and a trunk volume of 310 to 1205 liters (according to the ADAC testing method) can also be. it is considered suitable for daily use should it be directed. Because the battery is at the bottom, it does not restrict the available space.

In addition, the e-Soul also brings the potential that many electric car fans have longed for: it is now standard 100 kg of stützlast designed and therefore can be used with one Anhngerkupplung have equipment, which enables, for example, the transport of e-bikes on the “hook”. Unfortunately, the trailer load is not approved.

Kia e-Soul: technical data, price

ADAC tests

ADAC test results

What we liked:Â Good driving performance. Scope of action. Detailed equipment. 7-year warranty. High security.

We didn’t like this: Some simple accessories in the interior. Trailer operation is not possible. High purchase price.

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