Kia Soul EV review: boot space, seating & practicality
The Kia Soul EV's practicality is hard to fault for a small SUV, but there are larger and more versatile alternatives available for similar money
| Length | Width | Height | Boot volume (seats up/down) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4,195mm | 1,800mm | 1,605mm | 315/1,339 litres |
The Kia Soul EV has grown a bit for this latest generation and doesn’t really feel like a small city SUV any more. It's a bit shorter than the old Kia e-Niro and a fraction longer than a Nissan Juke, so as long as you’re not expecting it to feel dinky like a city car or supermini, then the high driving position, easily judged extremities and decent visibility all make the Soul a doddle to drive around town.
There’s room for you and your top hat, too. Overall, it’s a fine car for a small family, but you can't ignore the fact that you can get a very nicely specced petrol or diesel Skoda Karoq or Nissan Qashqai for the same price as the Soul EV; both are far roomier and more versatile family SUVs.
Kia Soul EV interior space, storage & comfort
The Soul EV has masses of room inside for tall adults to get comfortable, front and back. A low central tunnel in the floor means a third occupant in the back will be okay for short journeys, although they’ll be clashing elbows with those either side.
But the fact that you can sit a six-foot-something adult behind another, with both in top hats, is impressive for a fairly compact car. There’s plenty of storage space up front, with a deep cubby under the central armrest and storage pockets on the inner wall of the footwells as well as in the doors.
There’s also a convenient dish to put your phone in, which doubles up as a wireless charging pad if your phone is compatible, and is next to a USB port anyway if it’s not. Two fixed cupholders between the driver and passenger are big enough to accommodate large takeaway cups. Those in the back get door pockets and a central armrest with a cup-holder, as well as map pockets on the back of the front seats.
Boot space
This is could be what persuades some buyers into the Kia Niro EV or Volkswagen ID.3 instead of a Soul EV, since its boot is quite a bit smaller than theirs, at 315 litres. Yet it’s big enough for a lightweight buggy or medium-sized dog to fit easily, so don’t discount it if you’ve got moderately heavy-duty carrying needs.
Drop the rear seats and 1,339 litres is freed up for garden-centre, IKEA or recycling-centre expeditions. Critically, there’s dedicated underfloor storage space for the charging cables, too, so they won’t be hanging about the boot and annoying you all the time.
