Deciding on an electric vehicle can be difficult now with so much choice on the market. One manufacturer who has been quick to produce some brilliant EVs is Kia. The Korean brand certainly hasn’t been slow in their uptake of electric vehicles.
As of 2022, Kia has seven different plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and three pure electric vehicles. While plug-in vehicles are better for the environment than petrol or diesel vehicles, pure electric vehicles have no tailpipe emissions.
Today we’re going to compare all three of Kia’s electric vehicles to see whether you should hire a Kia e-Niro, EV6 or Soul EV! Let’s get straight into it with the Soul EV.
Kia’s first EV!
Launched in 2014, the Kia Soul EV was the brand’s first step into the all-electric world. While Kia already had some plug-in hybrid models available, the Soul EV was their first all-electric vehicle. While the first edition Soul EV wasn’t brilliant, it did rack up some good sales. By 2016, over 10,000 units had been sold, most of which were in South Korea itself.
In 2020, it was confirmed that Kia were designing a new Soul EV with a larger range and modern interior. And, boy, have they achieved that. The second generation Soul EV has a range of 280 miles, which is 100 miles more than the first generation model.
That’s with a 64kWh battery, which is standard within the Soul EV. You probably won’t be winning any races in the Soul EV as it takes you from 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds. But that is equal to the Nissan Leaf and much quicker than the Renault Zoe.
The Kia Soul EV is a great example of how electric vehicles can be as practical as they are eco-friendly. While manufacturers such as Tesla get taught up in technology, Kia focuses their time on making cars that work for their customers.
Inside, there’s a mix of buttons and controls which all seem to be fairly logical. There is a 7-inch digital instrument screen alongside a 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Both of these have great graphics and are easy to use.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the boxy-shaped exterior, which has featured on Soul models since we can remember. The Soul EV starts from around £35,000, but you can check out all of our rental deals on the Kia Soul EV here.
Kia e-Niro
The Kia e-Niro has certainly gained some status since it was first launched. Why? Well, at the time it was arguably Kia’s more important vehicle of the last decade. The e-Niro shook up the whole EV market by offering a Tesla-styled extended range within a well known family car, and for a much lower price.
While Kia already had the Soul EV in production, the e-Niro was the manufacturers first attempt at a long range EV. Plus, it also had the huge job of marking out Kia’s future all-electric plans.
Launched in 2019, the 64kWh battery e-Niro has a real world range of 230 miles, which is more than some brand new electric cars have today. It also has a 201bhp electric motor which does 0-62mph in roughly 6.5 seconds. That isn’t Tesla quick, but it’s not bad at all for a family-sized EV.
Inside the e-Niro is pretty standard to what you would expect in a family car from Kia. While the inside isn’t overly plush, it’s practical. There are a couple of fancy upgrades, including a rotary dial to change gears and some chrome paddles behind the steering wheel to control the regenerative braking.
As well as these great stats, the Kia e-Niro was actually the first electric vehicle to win the WhatCar? Car of the Year award! Since then, Kia has continued to rack up the awards with their next electric vehicles…
It’s always been pretty reasonably priced, but today an e-Niro will cost you around £35,000. If you’re looking to hire a Kia e-Niro, you can do so at EVision Electric Vehicles starting from £19.57 per day.
Kia EV6
Last but not least is the Kia EV6! The EV6 is an electric car that claims to charge faster than a Tesla, go further than the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and, if you choose the right model, can even out-accelerate the Porsche Taycan 4S. (Yes, we are still talking about a Kia!)
For those who don’t know, Hyundai purchased a subsidiary of Kia many years ago which means some of the vehicles are very similar. In the case of the EV6, you might notice that it looks and performs similarly to the Ioniq 5. That’s because of the Hyundai-Kia alliance.
There are a couple of different models available, and even more to be released later in 2022. In its most affordable form, the RWD model has a range of 328 miles and can do 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds. Meanwhile, the AWD model has a range of 313 miles with acceleration from 0-62mpg in just 5 seconds.
A 577bhp GT model will also be joining Kia’s lineup this year and it has some crazy statistics. Kia claims this model can reach 62mph in just 3.5 seconds. That’s faster than the Porsche Taycan 4S and the same as Tesla’s Model Y.
The technology in the EV6 could easily be compared to Teslas, with a 12.3-inch curved touchscreen dominating the centre. You’ll also be able to make use of the heads up display which will show the driver vital information on the windscreen.
Another great feature of the Kia EV6 is vehicle to load, meaning the car itself can become a mobile electrical source. You can use this to power outdoor electrical equipment or another EV.
The EV6 is Kia’s most expensive electric vehicle, wth pricing starting from £41,000. But if you were to hire the EV6 from EVision prices would start from £37.36 per day!
Kia EV9 – Coming soon!
And Kia isn’t stopping there! We know there are plenty of all-electric vehicles in Kia’s pipeline, one of which is the Kia EV9. As just a concept vehicle at the moment, Kia has just confirmed that the EV9 will be produced for European markets starting in 2023!
From a first glance, the EV9 seems to be taking some design inspiration from the Soul EV, rather than the e-Niro or EV6. We don’t know an awful lot about the EV9 at this time, but Kia has claimed it should have a maximum range of 328 miles and could do 0-60mph in around 5 seconds.
Scrapping the front grille, Kia has added its ‘Digital Tiger Face’ which has a distinctive LED light structure alongside a chrome trim. There’s a squared-off bonnet which features Kia’s new and improved logo. Meanwhile, at the rear the LED lighting shape continues.
Inside, Kia describes the interior space as ‘transformative’ with a focus on creating a positive space. The cabin is dominated by a huge 27-inch widescreen display which combines driver information and infotainment. Physical buttons seem to be limited, while extensive ambient lighting features, and an unusual pop-up steering pad replaced the steering wheel.
We can’t wait to learn more details of the EV9 and hopefully see it after production!
Hire a Kia e-Niro, EV6 or Soul EV today!
Now you’ve heard all about Kia’s electric range, which one will you choose? The practical e-Niro, the sporty EV6 or the conventional Soul EV? You can hire one of these three EVs, or check out our other electric vehicles here!
For any more information, please contact our team of EV experts on 01634 914 063.
* All information correct as of 02/04/2022. Prices based on a 3 year hire.
