Kia e-Soul: The Soul of Silent Power on the Slopes of Ebersnacken

The Ebersnacken tower pierces the forest canopy like a forgotten watchtower of a fairytale realm. The narrow roads that coil through the dense Weserbergland are flanked by copper beeches and gnarled oaks, painted in late autumn hues. It’s here, on this undulating stretch of German upland, that we brought a rather unconventional companion for a drive, the Kia e-Soul.

At first glance, this electric box on wheels doesn’t stir the heart like a Porsche or even a curvy EV6. But slide into the e-Soul’s cabin, twist the rotary gear selector to “D,” and tap the accelerator, and things change fast, surprisingly fast.

150 kW is a Lot of Fun in the e-Soul

There’s a distinct sense of mischief in unleashing 150 kW (204 hp) on a twisty forest road, especially in something that looks like a refrigerator on alloy wheels. With 395 Nm of torque arriving instantly, the e-Soul surges forward with surprising aggression.

Climbing the hairpins around Ebersnacken, the car darted forward with clean, silent bursts of torque. The front wheels clawed for grip on damp tarmac, and while this isn’t a performance car, the power delivery makes it feel sprightly. The sprint to 100 km/h takes just 7.9 seconds. On paper, that’s brisk. In reality, it feels quicker, maybe because it’s so unexpected.

What really makes it fun isn’t just the speed, it’s how usable that power is. At 60 km/h, you have instant overtaking confidence. Coming up behind a camper van groaning up the slope? No sweat. Plant your foot, and the e-Soul surges past without drama, barely making a whisper.

Still, this much torque at low speeds can catch you off guard. I found myself occasionally feathering the throttle more than I expected, especially on wet leaves. But after a while, the car and I fell into sync, and I began to appreciate the Soul’s two personalities: cheeky urban sprinter and relaxed electric cruiser.

390 km Range with 64 kWh Battery

This isn’t just a city slicker. The 64 kWh liquid-cooled battery gives the e-Soul a real-world reach that puts many modern EVs to shame. According to ADAC testing, the car managed 390 km on a full charge with a mixed driving profile, and in the city alone, over 480 km is possible. Those are serious numbers, especially for a vehicle this compact.

On our route through the Ebersnacken, I began the day with 92% state of charge and returned to base with 31%, having covered just over 150 kilometers of steep climbs, braking descents, and a bit of spirited driving. Regenerative braking helped. Using the steering wheel paddles, I could toggle through multiple regen levels, or even bring the car to a full stop using the “i-Pedal” setting.

When you pull and hold the left paddle, the e-Soul activates maximum regen and gently eases itself to a standstill. It’s intuitive and surprisingly satisfying, especially on hilly terrain where energy recovery becomes a game of its own.

Winter will reduce the range, of course. Heating soaks up energy like a sponge, but a heat pump, optional in the base trim, standard in higher variants, helps. Thankfully, our test car was equipped with one.

Electric Car with 100 kW Charging Capacity

Let’s talk practicality. This isn’t a fast-charging monster, but with 100 kW DC charging via CCS, it still holds its own. I plugged the e-Soul into a 150 kW charger at a rest stop just before ascending into the highlands. Within 35 minutes, it went from 20% to 80%. Not lightning-fast, but acceptable, enough time for a coffee and a walk.

More impressive is the standard three-phase AC onboard charger, which supports up to 10.5 kW. Plug it into a suitable wallbox at home, and you’ll fill the battery overnight. It’s this combination, decent DC charging and fast AC charging, that makes the e-Soul suitable for real-world ownership.

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Test Consumption: 18.8 kWh/100 km

The ADAC’s measured consumption figure of 18.8 kWh/100 km includes charging losses. That might not sound spectacular in a world of super-efficient Teslas, but it’s actually quite competitive for a non-aerodynamic box with a big battery and strong motor. On my own test route through the Ebersnacken, the trip computer showed 19.2 kWh/100 km.

That was with some enthusiastic throttle use. On a more relaxed second stint, cruising at 80-90 km/h, taking in the fog drifting over the Weser hills, I saw the figure dip to 16.3 kWh/100 km.

Driving style clearly plays a massive role, but even when pushed, the e-Soul never felt wasteful.

An App Shows the Charge Level

Remote monitoring via the Kia Connect app is more than a gimmick, it’s something I genuinely used. Waiting for the sun to rise over the Ebersnacken viewing tower, I checked the car’s charge level on my phone, saw it was down to 68%, and pre-heated the cabin. It was 4°C outside, but the e-Soul was toasty warm inside when I got back.

The app also lets you schedule charging, locate public chargers in real time, and even send destinations directly to the nav system. If you’re new to EVs, these are little conveniences that make a big difference.

Interior with Digital Displays

Inside, the e-Soul is practical and quirky. There’s a 10.25-inch central touchscreen now standard, and the digital instrument cluster is a mix of color display and pseudo-analog dials. It’s not Tesla-slick, but it’s easy to use and thoughtfully laid out.

I especially liked the mobile phone cubby with a wireless charging pad and the physical climate controls, thankfully still present in the age of touchscreen overload.

Space is surprisingly generous. I’m 1.87 meters tall, and I fit comfortably in both front and rear. The boot, with up to 1339 liters when the rear seats are folded, swallowed my hiking gear, camera bag, and tripod without a fuss. And thanks to the flat floor, the interior feels airy and easy to move around in.

Oh, and yes, there’s a tow hook. Not for towing a caravan, sadly, but it can carry a bike rack with up to 100 kg vertical load. That’s rare in the EV world.

Technical Specification

To keep things accurate, we use only the official Kia’s website for technical details.

Conclusion

The Kia e-Soul may not be the EV you dream of, but it’s absolutely the EV you learn to trust. It’s honest, efficient, and delightfully fun in a way that doesn’t rely on brute force or gimmicks. On the slopes of the Ebersnacken, it felt right at home, quiet, confident, and capable.

Even as it bows out of production in favor of newer models like the EV3, the e-Soul remains a standout used buy. With generous range, practical features, and surprisingly strong performance, it offers everything you need to step confidently into the electric future, without losing your soul.