The Tesla may be the electric car that gets all the press, but other automakers are now starting to vie for the headlines. The latest entry into the market is the 2015 Kia Soul EV, which is scheduled to hit limited U.S. markets within a few weeks, and comes with a driving range and price point that may well blow all the competitors out of the water. The good folks at the Orange County Register got to test drive the new Soul electric car, and this is what they thought. Pricing for the car comes in at $33,700, which drops to $23,700 after applying the $7,500 federal tax credit and $2,500 clean vehicle rebate from the California Air Resources Board. Better Mileage On Full Charge Than Nissan Leaf Kia claims that the car can get 93 miles on a full charge, and the gentleman who drove the car for a week verified that to be the case. He has been leasing a Nissan Leaf for the past 3 years, and says the he took trips in the Soul EV he would have never dared attempt in his Leaf. At the heart of all that is a 27-kilowatt-hour battery pack that also deploys a new, more energy-dense battery chemistry. Kia have backed up this electric car set-up by offering the same 10-year, 100,000 mile powertrain warranty that it does on all its vehicles. The first test of the car was a trip from Northeast LA to Angeles Crest Highway, a 37-mile uphill ride that would hurt the range. There were 65 miles left when the driver hot the base of the 27-mile climb. He employed a couple of built-in features (eco Boost and B Drive Mode) to boost the range before starting the round trip, not entirely confident of finishing it. The car managed the twists and turn of the climb well and reached the top with 24 miles of range left for the 37 mile trip home. The downhill ride helped recover some of the lost range, and got the driver home with 14 miles to spare. He experienced equally impressive trips on a round trip to Pomona. Soul EV Compared To Nissan Leaf EV Again What was surprising was how well the Soul EV performed when compared to other electric cars that the driver had tested, including his own Nissan Leaf. He was also impressed by the use of eco-friendly materials used within the vehicle. He tested the top of the line Soul+ version and was impressed by the space and comfort level found in the car. The pricing for that model is $2,000 more than the base. It can be leased for $279 per month as opposed to the $249 per month for the base. There isn’t much in the way of design differences between the electric and fuel model Souls, save for a few little tweaks to the grille and tires. The EV comes with all kinds of efficiency improving technologies that make the value for money even better than it already appears. The vehicle can be charged in a regular 120-volt wall outlet, but can also be fully charged in just 33 minutes using a Chademo outlet, of which there are currently 198 in California. Soul EV owners will be given an EX Charge Card that allows them to use these charging points. 2015 Soul EV Should Be At The Top Of The Buyers Lists The driver who tested the Soul EV will see his Nissan Leaf lease expire in March. He was considering a number of different electric options, but now claims that the Soul EV is at the top of his list.
Originally posted here - http://www.kia-world.net/2015-soul-ev-review/#sthash.qgtU70p2.dpuf
There is an all-new sub-compact crossover vehicle coming from Kia sometime in 2016, and some members of the media were invited to the Kia design center in Namyang to get a look at a full-scale model! The new vehicle is as yet unnamed, but it will be a hybrid model (a plug-in version will come a little later) that will be set to steal away some of the sales currently enjoyed by the Toyota Prius. No-one in attendance were allowed to take any pictures at the event, but word has it that the new car carries some elements seen in the Kia Niro concept crossover, albeit with a style that is a little more subdued. The profile is reminiscent of an SUV, although its low ride height gives it a crossover personality. Plastic cladding appears around the wheel arches and bumpers, with the finished car set to appeal to a global audience. A new design theme will be featured in the interior, which consumers will get to see when it appears in the new Kia Optima redesign in 2015. The 4,350mm long crossover vehicle is a litter longer than the current Kia Soul, but shorter than the Sportage SUV. Head of overseas marketing for Kia, Spencer Cho, says that the size was chosen to meet the needs of the consumer. He says that Kia listened to the complaints made by Prius owners, using that feedback to correct elements that hybrid owners felt weren’t quite right with their Prius. Hybrid-Electric Powertrain Powertrain details for the new car were not made available, but Cho did reveal that the platform will feature a combines 1.6L GDI petrol engine and an electric motor that will help improve fuel economy. Cho said that the current Prius gets 57mpg US, and that the next model should hit 60mpg US. He noted that Kia is shooting for over 50 mpg US for their model. Stay tuned as we bring more news and information on the upcoming Kia crossover vehicle!
Originall posted -http://www.kia-world.net/kia-small-crossover-hybrid-vehicle/#sthash.s7P79Tf5.dpuf
