Kia Soul review

Overview

The 2022 Soul EV MAXX is a compact electric car with a deliberately upright body, a 64 kWh battery and generous equipment. It belongs to the SK3 generation, not the earlier short-range Soul EV or a petrol Soul from another market. We keep the frozen model join as Soul while making the electric derivative explicit. The later Urban's smaller battery must not be used to explain this car's range or specification. This is original desk-based research rather than a claimed RoadMatch test drive. Its appeal is an accessible cabin and useful electric capability without the size of a larger SUV. Decide first whether charging fits your routine, then whether its modest boot and distinctive shape suit the people and objects you actually carry.

Exterior and interior

The square roofline gives the Soul a recognisable shape and relatively upright seating, while the selected MAXX has a 10.25-inch central navigation display and a separate instrument screen. Heated front seats and steering wheel, partly artificial leather upholstery and branded audio are supported by the exact UK specification. This is not a premium badge, and the unusual styling will divide opinion, but useful controls matter more than fashion during daily use. Try entry, seat support and visibility rather than assuming every high-looking car suits limited mobility. Inspect trim, charging-port surroundings and door seals, then test the air conditioning and demisting. A clean cabin helps the ownership case, but an electric drivetrain still requires careful service, accident and diagnostic checks underneath the attractive equipment list.

Practicality

The August 2022 UK sheet records 315 litres with the rear seats raised and 1,339 when folded. The first figure is the ordinary luggage configuration stored here. Upright bodywork does not automatically provide a larger boot than a conventional family hatchback, so bring a pushchair, shopping boxes or mobility equipment to the viewing. Check the opening, floor height and position of charging cables rather than judging the litres alone. Try the back seat behind the driver's actual position and inspect child-seat anchors and belt operation. The cabin may work well for a couple or small family without becoming a load-carrying substitute for a bigger estate. Folding a seat to solve every luggage journey is inconvenient if that place is regularly occupied.

Driving experience

Auto Express's original SK3 electric assessment and Carwow's family coverage point toward easy everyday progress and comfort rather than sporty feedback. Their observations span different dates and equipment, so we do not transplant an entire verdict or score into MAXX. Our interpretation is that the electric response can make ordinary urban driving pleasantly simple, while the tall body and steering still reward a composed approach. Try uneven roads and a motorway with your normal passengers, listening for tyre, suspension or drivetrain noise. Regenerative braking settings should be demonstrated, followed by proper friction-brake checks. An EV that feels smooth in a short forecourt demonstration may still have tyre wear, brake corrosion or a noise that only appears at steady road speed.

Performance

The exact UK MAXX sheet gives 201 bhp, 150 kW and 395 Nm through a single-speed transmission, with 7.9 seconds from zero to 62 mph. Its separate zero-to-60 figure is not the measure stored here. Electric response is useful when joining traffic, but available power can change with battery temperature, charge and operating conditions. Check warm acceleration and listen at low and steady speeds rather than using the headline sprint as proof of mechanical health. Smooth launch behaviour should not conceal warnings or drivetrain vibration. The instant response also calls for sensible tyres and driver restraint on wet roads. This is a practical small electric crossover, not evidence that a tall body and brisk acceleration make it a performance-car replacement.

Fuel economy

Kia quotes 280 miles WLTP combined for the selected 64 kWh MAXX, distinct from its higher city-cycle figure. That official claim is not a guarantee for a four-year-old battery on a cold motorway. Our running-cost calculation instead assumes 3.5 miles per kWh at the battery and adds charging losses. Heating, sustained speed, weather and load can all change range. Plan a buffer and confirm live charging availability for the actual journey rather than treating a brochure radius as a reliable itinerary. Home charging can simplify use, but installation and tariff need individual assessment. Public rapid charging can cost materially more than the illustrative home rate used below. An efficient EV is not automatically inexpensive if its charging arrangement is inconvenient or consistently costly.

Reliability

Battery condition and a documented maintenance record are central to an informed purchase. Ask Kia or an appropriate EV specialist for useful diagnostic evidence, clarify any warranty eligibility and inspect the protected battery underside for damage. A dashboard range estimate alone is not a battery-health certificate because it responds to recent use. Demonstrate charging, heating, cooling and low-voltage electrical functions, then listen for unusual motor or reduction-gear sounds on the road. These are inspection priorities, not unsupported claims that every SK3 develops a particular failure. Our moderate-confidence score is original editorial judgment. The remaining conditional factory cover can be valuable, but service omissions, accident damage or an unexplained warning need resolution before purchase rather than reassurance based only on the seven-year warranty slogan.

Safety

No exact Euro NCAP assessment was verified for the selected SK3 Soul EV generation. The available 2014 Soul EV record belongs to the previous generation and is deliberately excluded; results from related electric cars are not substitutes. This is an explicit evidence gap rather than a claim that the car has no safety equipment. Kia's August 2022 UK sheet documents forward collision assistance, lane functions, smart cruise and grade-specific blind-spot assistance for MAXX. Confirm the actual build, warning lamps, sensor alignment, belts and child-seat fit, especially after repairs. We reproduce no NCAP rating or media. Follow GOV.UK's recall procedure and obtain VIN-specific Kia completion evidence. Assistance supports an attentive driver and does not turn the car into autonomous transport or remove the need for good tyres and safe speed.

Technology and features

MAXX's primary specification confirms Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, rear camera, rear parking sensors and smart cruise, together with heated comfort equipment. The existence of a large screen does not guarantee every original connected service is still supported, so check account transfer and software guidance for the actual unit. Bring your own phone, test calls and projection, and demonstrate the camera and warnings in normal use. Kia's period sheet lists AC charging and DC times for chargers of specified ratings; those ratings are not a promise that the car continuously draws that power. This generation uses CCS for DC charging rather than the earlier Soul EV's arrangement. Complete a real AC and suitable DC charging demonstration, because compatible connectors alone do not establish that the offered car charges correctly.

Running costs

The October 2026 own acquisition allowance is £12,500–£18,000, not a live market valuation. At 8,000 miles and an assumed 3.5 miles per kWh, battery energy is about 2,286 kWh. Adding an illustrative ten percent charging allowance gives roughly 2,514 billed kWh, costing £629 at 25 pence per kWh. Add a provisional £200 tax allowance and £350–£800 for ordinary servicing, tyres and wear to produce a rounded £1,200–£1,650 yearly scenario. Confirm actual tax and personal insurance separately; finance, depreciation, charge-point installation and major repairs are excluded. Predominantly rapid charging needs a higher electricity allowance. Keep funds for inspection findings and assess battery condition, because a low purchase price cannot compensate for unsuitable charging access or an unresolved high-voltage fault.

Advantages and disadvantages