What Range and Efficiency Should I Expect? Considering a Used Kia Soul EV

[Sully_Oh92]

I'm considering a secondhand Kia Soul EV for my first electric vehicle purchase, and i'm kinda hoping to get some solid advice from experienced owners. Bluntly the Kia Soul EV caught my attention due to its reasonable pricing in the used market. But I've run into some challenges. I have been trying to gauge the health of the battery (State of Health, or SOH) on the cars I'm looking at.

I know there are apps like Soul Spy that can give detailed battery data, but I've read that the app can be finicky, especially with OBD2 readers. So, I've been using a more old-school method—simply asking sellers how many miles the car can go on a full charge. For a 27kWh battery, is 75-80 miles a decent range, or should I be concerned about battery degradation?

I'm also curious about using the car's history menu to check the miles per kWh as a guide. What would you consider acceptable or a red flag? My current understanding is that 2.8 to 3.1 miles per kWh might be on the lower end, and I’ve heard that 4 miles per kWh or higher is ideal. This specific car I'm looking at is a 2016 model, and I understand that battery degradation and weather play big roles, especially in winter.

For those who've owned a Soul EV, what kind of miles per kWh do you typically see? what should I expect in terms of range and efficiency? I'm trying to avoid making an expensive mistake here!

 

[JejuSoul]

... should I be concerned about battery degradation? Yes.
The 27kWh cars have a battery that does not last well.
In 2018 the Soul EVs were updated with a new battery pack that lasts much better.

I recommend paying more to get the better car.

 

[MarkCapeCod]

If you can afford it, I'd recommend a 2018-2019 30kwh Soul. The battery is much more reliable than the earlier models. Keep in mind that with Chademo fast charging it is really a neighborhood car.

My 2018 reads about 105 miles on a full charge in a New England winter and about 135 miles in summer. The car has about 39K miles and that's mostly around town driving at about 4.5 miles per kwh.
Hope that helps.

 

[JejuSoul]

Good point to mention the Chademo factor. These fast chargers are disappearing .
I'm lucky to live on a small island.

 

[Mesasand]

If you can afford it, I'd recommend a 2018-2019 30kwh Soul. The battery is much more reliable than the earlier models. Keep in mind that with Chademo fast charging it is really a neighborhood car.

My 2018 reads about 105 miles on a full charge in a New England winter and about 135 miles in summer. The car has about 39K miles and that's mostly around town driving at about 4.5 miles per kwh.
Hope that helps.

I also drive a 2018 Soul EV, can confirm. Battery is great, and getting between 4-4.5 miles per kWh.

 

[buddhaauthor]

I'm considering a secondhand Kia Soul EV for my first electric vehicle purchase, and i'm kinda hoping to get some solid advice from experienced owners. Bluntly the Kia Soul EV caught my attention due to its reasonable pricing in the used market. But I've run into some challenges. I have been trying to gauge the health of the battery (State of Health, or SOH) on the cars I'm looking at.

I know there are apps like Soul Spy that can give detailed battery data, but I've read that the app can be finicky, especially with OBD2 readers. So, I've been using a more old-school method—simply asking sellers how many miles the car can go on a full charge. For a 27kWh battery, is 75-80 miles a decent range, or should I be concerned about battery degradation?

I'm also curious about using the car's history menu to check the miles per kWh as a guide. What would you consider acceptable or a red flag? My current understanding is that 2.8 to 3.1 miles per kWh might be on the lower end, and I’ve heard that 4 miles per kWh or higher is ideal. This specific car I'm looking at is a 2016 model, and I understand that battery degradation and weather play big roles, especially in winter.

For those who've owned a Soul EV, what kind of miles per kWh do you typically see? what should I expect in terms of range and efficiency? I'm trying to avoid making an expensive mistake here!

As others, including JejuSoul, our fearless leader, have said, the 2018 battery is better in raw power and seemingly also in longevity. I have had three 2016s, the latest of which has a 2021 battery and can go 150 miles on a charge given ideal driving conditions (warm temperatures, moderate freeways speeds, one-pedal driving approximation, no AC) when I can get over 5miles/kWh.

A key factor that you should attempt to determine is whether the particular 2016 you're considering has had its battery replaced. In the US any owner can get a replacement battery for 10 years or 100K miles. It's a hassle, but it can be done. If the 2016 you are interested in has some leeway under those figures, or if the battery has been replaced, it seems like a good gamble. Check the manufacturing date, though: I believe the 10 year warranty starts from that day, not the model year.

I love all aspects of the car aside from the limited range, the OEM tires, and the poor front tweeters. But the tires have probably already been replaced and the tweeters can be easily replaced for roughly $100. My wife (who drives a Tesla) had to borrow my Soul for a few days last week and grudgingly admitted that she came to love its sightlines and feeling of openness. If this car could go 300 miles, I would never want to replace it.

 

[Markinson]

In the EU, the Council looks so keen to urge the reduction of CO2 emission, but only as long as it boosts its economy (automotive industry).

Meanwhile, we users of old EVs which are still in perfecct condition, would need only the option to upgrade our HV-battery pack to the available new technology versions.


As far as I know, the size of the Kia eNiro 64kWh HV-battery is roughly the same as in the Soul EVs. Only the air-cooled old version should be reconstructed by the available newest cell types and fluid-cooled system.


For most of us, that would be more than enough, instead of buying a totally new car & push the old ones to car wreckers.

 

[nileriver]

I believe the warranty period starts on the actual date of first being placed into service. This date is recorded, and is available to see.

 

[jcaz2019SoulEV]

Nileriver is correct on the start of warranty, first purchase. Our 2019 Kia is limited to the EV components and not the other car components because 5 years for non-original purchaser. Highly recommend an extended warranty that covers other components. We were having some suspension issues and informed the car was no longer under warranty and had luckily bought an extended through our credit union. It also saved us with a free tow of about 5 miles when "someone" (aka not me) had 7 miles remaining and 10 miles to the next charger and decided to hop on the freeway instead of surface streets.

Soul Spy hasn't been working for SOH since the latest KIA software update on my 2019.

Chademo is no joke, We've lost 2 stations this year leaving 1 on the west side and 1 sort of close, but at a dealership and vastly slower than EVgo or the others (but it is free). We do have a reasonably close 4 station location but it has been crowded and having issues in our heat.
There is an adapter for CCS-> Chademo and I've just been waiting for them to have more market testing before spending $1000. We generally don't need it as overnight at home charging takes care of the daily work needs. It's when we drive across town on weekend outings, the far east side has very few Chademo fast chargers and if you get stuck, you're stuck.

During the summer we were seeing mid to upper 90s mileage repotted on full charge. We've finally cooled off a bit this week and in the 90* (F) we were back up to 117 miles reported in the morning. Ohio is probably gonna be those more favorable distances (on a 2018/19).

Note while the body style is soul, components differ from its gasser version. Rear shocks, instead of $50 a pop after market were a dealer only item at $150 each for instance.

 

[JejuSoul]

My 2015 got a new battery today. Here's the screen when I picked it up. SOC is 78%