Kia e-Soul (2020)

At the rear, the 'island' of bodywork in the tailgate remains. Surrounded by gloss black, this panel takes on a more rounded, modern shape for the new model, and sits atop restyled rear bumpers. It is parenthesised by bold new wraparound LED combination lamps, with sharper trailing edges contributing to improved aerodynamic performance.

The new e-Soul is available in a choice of seven single-tone paint finishes and seven two-tone combinations, mixing bright body colours with metallic shades for the roof and door mirror caps.

European customers can also specify an optional SUV Pack, which elevates the design of the e-Soul with the addition of bolder wheel arch and side sill cladding, as well as a skid plate on the base of the front bumpers.

Interior design

Since the Soul's inception, music has been an overarching theme behind its design. In its third generation, this continues to be a core attribute of the car's persona. For the new model, designers and engineers have 'turned up the volume' on the interior, drawing inspiration from the visualisation of sound.

The Kia e-Soul's interior space is finished with acoustic-inspired shapes and textures, creating a full sensory experience. The new Soul retains the signature 'tweeter' speakers which bookend the dashboard, a feature of the previous-generation Soul which exemplified the car's combination of cool design and ultimate functionality.

As vibrant inside as out, the e-Soul's cabin can be finished in a range of single- or two-tone colour schemes, with a choice of fabric and synthetic or real leather, depending on market and vehicle specification. Colour and trim schemes include single-tone black or two-tone grey cloth (light and dark grey) with pearl-style door trim. The interior is also available with black or grey cloth, cloth and synthetic leather, or real leather upholstery, with light grey contrast stitching and metallic-painted door trim. Models finished in black cloth are also available with optional Green or Gold Packs, which add gold or green contrast stitching and door trim. A Red Pack is available to accompany the black leather interior, adding sporty red stitching and door trim.

The cabin is fitted with an optional Sound Mood Lighting system, emitting soft light from panels in the doors. This also includes a unique 3D-patterned surface on the upper door panels. The Sound Mood Lighting system pulses in time the beat of music playing through the audio system, with eight customisable colours and six themes illuminating the cabin.

The car is also available with a wireless phone charger at the base of the dashboard, heated and ventilated front seats, and a premium Harman Kardon sound system. An available Head-Up Display system unobtrusively projects relevant driving information on to a small glass panel behind the steering wheel - such as turn-by-turn navigation directions and vehicle speed information.

Powertrains and energy-recuperation

The new Kia e-Soul will be sold in Europe exclusively as an electric vehicle, with a choice of two fully-electric, zero-emission powertrains to meet the needs and budgets of different customers.

Drivers have a choice of long-range (64 kWh) and standard-range (39.2 kWh) powertrains. Whichever version a buyer chooses, the Kia e-Soul remains as silent as its predecessor, the outgoing Soul EV, while offering vastly improved range. On-road performance is also enhanced, with significantly more powerful electric motors providing 395 Nm of torque - 39% more than its predecessor (285 Nm)

Furthermore, Kia's new-generation lithium-ion polymer battery packs offer greater energy capacity than those of many other electric vehicles, regardless of price. Cell energy density of 250 Wh / kg, achieved through new cell chemistry, enable the cells to store 25% more energy within a defined volume than those of the 200 Wh / kg battery pack in the outgoing Soul EV. This has enabled Kia to keep the battery pack as compact and lightweight as possible, while taking a huge leap in the car's zero-emissions driving range compared to its predecessor and other electric vehicles on the market.

The long-range 64 kWh battery pack is paired with a 150 kW (204 ps) electric motor, making it 84% more powerful than the outgoing Soul EV (up from 81.4 kW / 110 ps). The long-range 64 kWh e-Soul can travel up to 452 kilometres (280 miles) on a single charge on the WLTP combined cycle, with energy consumption of just 157 Wh / km - 24% more efficient than Europe's current best-selling electric vehicle. On the WLTP urban cycle, energy consumption for the long-range e-Soul is as low as 109 Wh / km.

With the powertrain's maximum 395 Nm torque available from a standstill, the long-range 64 kWh Kia e-Soul will accelerate from 0-to-100 kph in just 7.9 seconds.

The standard-range 39.2 kWh battery pack powers an efficient 100 kW (136 ps) electric motor. With peak torque of 395 Nm, and 23% more power than the outgoing Soul EV, the significantly improved efficiency of the battery enables the standard-range e-Soul to travel up to 276 kilometres (172 miles) on a single charge. Energy efficiency is rated at 156 Wh / km (WLTP combined), 25% more efficient than the best-selling electric car in Europe - making it one of the most energy-efficient electric vehicles in the world.

A Combined Charging System (CCS) DC fast charger is fitted as standard to both models, enabling shorter stops for charging. Both battery packs can be recharged from 20% up to 80% capacity in just 42 minutes from a 100 kW DC fast-charger.

The e-Soul is fitted with a range of energy-recuperation technologies to maximise driving range. This includes Kia's energy efficient heat pump system, which scavenges waste heat from the car's coolant system. It also features Kia's innovative individual ventilation and air conditioning system, which shuts off cabin ventilation at the source to all seats except the driver's - unlike other systems, which merely divert air to open passenger cabin vents.

The e-Soul is also equipped as standard with Kia's innovative smart regenerative braking system, operated by paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. The system provides drivers with the ability to slow the car and recuperate kinetic energy to maximise its driving range and efficiency. Drivers can choose from five regenerative braking levels (none, 1 to 3, or 'single pedal' mode), depending on the level of energy recuperation they desire from the brakes. The system's 'single pedal' driving mode also allows the car to harvest the maximum amount of energy from its brakes, and even enables the driver to bring the car to a gentle halt without necessarily needing to push the brake pedal. The smart regenerative braking system can also automatically adjust the braking level if it detects the car in front slowing down, creating smoother coast-down driving - especially on a steep downhill road. A Smart Eco Pedal Guide display on the driver's instrument cluster also keeps the driver aware of real-time battery usage based on accelerator pedal input.

Technology

A suite of advanced features enhance safety, improve the driving experience and provide ease of operation and ownership. Furthermore, the new model is the first Kia in Europe to offer the brand's innovative UVO CONNECT telematics system.

UVO CONNECT is designed to bring driving into the digital era, connecting drivers to the world around to provide them with invaluable information - via the in-car touchscreen, and on their smartphone.

The new technology has been developed to comply with the latest European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ensuring the highest levels of data privacy and protection

UVO features the Kia Live system, housed within the 10.25-inch TFT LCD widescreen in the centre of the Kia e-Soul's dashboard. The system uses its own SIM card to retrieve and update live data during a drive, such as live traffic information, weather forecasts, points of interest, and details of potential on- and off-street parking - including price, location and parking availability. Crucially, the UVO system also shows drivers charging station locations, charger availability, and connection compatibility.

The second element of the UVO system is the UVO App, designed for compatibility on Android and Apple smartphones. The app offers users peace of mind with a range of features to provide diagnostic data about their car and the trips they take. The app also enables owners to activate a range of remote functions and features remotely. Depending on country, users can remotely activate the climate control system (pre-heating or pre-cooling the car, depending on the weather), and send route directions to their car before a journey.

The app enables users to check battery charging status remotely, and stop or resume charging at a tap of a screen - allowing them to take advantage of cheaper overnight electricity tariffs if charging at home. The app also lets users check the location of their vehicle, and access vehicle reports and diagnostic notifications.

Following its introduction on the e-Soul, Kia's UVO CONNECT technology will be introduced to other European models in the near future.

The 10.25-inch touchscreen navigation system features Bluetooth multi-connection as standard, enabling occupants to connect two mobile devices at once, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Its advanced split-screen functionality lets users control or monitor different vehicle features at the same time, customising the screen with a series of different widgets. This enables the driver to have a single display (such as navigation or battery information), or combine numerous elements on-screen at the same time. This means the driver can follow navigation directions or keep track of battery energy efficiency, while passengers can choose their favourite songs or check the weather forecast. The infotainment system also controls vehicle recharging preferences and Sound Mood Lighting settings.

The widescreen in the centre of the dashboard is complemented by a 7.0-inch TFT-LCD Supervision instrument cluster, displaying essential driving information to the driver.

Ride, handling and NVH

The new e-Soul is the first generation of the Soul to feature fully-independent multi-link rear suspension. This replaces the torsion beam rear axle on first- and second-generation models, making the car more engaging, responsive and comfortable to drive. The suspension is tuned to deliver high stability and engaging handling responses, and filter out small vibrations at higher speeds when travelling over poor surfaces.

The car's electric powertrain packaging means it benefits from a lower center of gravity than many combustion-engine vehicles. The flat battery pack is located beneath the cabin, giving the Kia e-Soul a center of gravity more akin to that of a sedan or a hatchback. Combined with a slightly wider stance than its predecessor, the e-Soul provides maximum stability and driving enjoyment on winding roads, with minimal body-roll under cornering. The battery pack's location means the majority of the powertrain's weight is located between the axles, enabling a relatively equal distribution of weight. This helps to prevent understeer and enables linear and predictable handling.

In addition, the e-Soul's Drive Mode Select system lets drivers adapt the car to their preferred style or the road conditions. Drivers can choose from 'Normal', 'Eco', Eco+' and 'Sport' mode. The two Eco modes are tuned to maximise vehicle range with certain power-saving measures, while Sport mode increases responses from the steering and electric motor to maximise the dynamic driving feel of the car. Normal mode provides a careful balance between each.

The new Kia e-Soul features a marginally quicker steering rack ratio than its predecessor (now 60 mm-per-revolution of the steering wheel, compared to 55 mm/rev on the previous model) These changes greatly improve the car's agility and enable a more engaging handling character.

The Kia e-Soul's brakes - 305 mm in diameter at the front, 300 mm at the rear - provide a consistent, linear deceleration and braking feel. Furthermore, its regenerative braking system provides intuitive decelerative assistance, simultaneously harvesting kinetic energy to recharge the battery pack on the move. The new e-Soul features larger 17-inch alloy wheels, compared to 16-inch wheels on its predecessor, and is fitted with low-rolling-resistance 215/55 R17 tyres. A tyre mobility kit is provided in case of a puncture.

The Kia e-Soul is refined and quiet at low speeds thanks to its all-electric powertrain. Wind noise reduction is aided further by flattening the underside of the car, with the battery's new aluminium housing reducing drag and wind 'roar' beneath the body. Compared to its predecessor, more sound deadening material has been applied beneath the cabin floor, in the rear pillars and around the wheel arches. Road noise is reduced by increasing steering knuckle stiffness, and applying of anti-vibration pads on the floor panel and lining the wheel arches with new sound-deadening Thinsulate material.

Safety

A range of passive and active safety systems ensure that occupants remain as well protected as possible on every journey. Kia's Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) help to reduce many of the inherent hazards and stresses of driving.

Available technologies include Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (FCA), Blind-spot Collision Warning (BCW) and Blind-spot Collision-avoid Assist-Rear (BCA-R), Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop & Go, and Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW) and High Beam Assist (HBA). Kia's 'level two autonomy' technology, Lane Follow Assist (LFA), controls acceleration, braking and steering depending on the vehicles in front. Between speeds of 0 and 160 kph, LFA uses camera and radar sensors to maintain a safe distance from the car in front, while monitoring road markings to keep the e-Soul in the centre of the lane. In addition, the e-Soul features a Rear View Monitor (RVM) with Parking Assist guidance and Rear Cross-traffic Collision-avoidance Assist (RCCA).

As for passive safety features, the e-Soul is fitted with up to six airbags (dual front airbags, dual front seat-mounted side airbags, and side curtain airbags with rollover sensor), as well as a suite of electronic vehicle safety systems. These include Kia's Vehicle Stability Management system as standard, incorporating traction control and electronic stability control.

The Kia e-Soul's body is made up of a blend of steel and aluminium, maximising torsional rigidity while keeping body weight low. With a higher proportion of Advanced High-Strength Steel and hot-stamped steel components than its predecessor, as well as new aluminium side-sill reinforcements, the more rigid bodyshell reduces road vibrations and enhances occupant safety in the event of a collision.