Kia goes all-electric with the very funky e-Soul writes Geraldine Herbert What is it? The funky styling of the Kia Soul is quirky enough to stand apart from rivals but now it is also available as a fully electric car with a very impressive range. Who is it aimed at? With average commutes in Ireland around 318 km per week, the 452km range of the new e-Soul makes it suitable for just about anyone. Styling? The boxy shape won’t appeal to everyone but its fun and retro styling make it a very funky SUV. What about inside? Inside the funky body doesn’t compromise interior space and while not quite as radical as the exterior styling might suggest overall everything is well made and there are some really nice touches and details throughout. It has good room for its size but despite being billed as a five-seater family car you will struggle to fit three tall passengers in the rear comfortably. Under the bonnet? You will be spending no time or importantly money at the fuel pumps as the e-Soul can go 400+ km on a single charge from a 64kw battery. But remember if you fancy yourself a contender at Mondello then the range will disappear accordingly. On the Road? It cruises effortlessly and thanks to that instant surge of power you get from an electric car you can zip from a 0-100kmh in a hot hatch like 7.9 seconds. You can choose from ‘Normal’, ‘Eco’, Eco+’ and ‘Sport’ mode. Stick the e-Soul in Eco and it will maximise the range while Sport mode increases responses from the steering and electric motor to maximise the dynamic driving feel of the car. Will it break the bank? The e-Soul comes in two flavours – (K2 and K3) and prices start at €35,995 and the K3 at €37,495 and those prices include VRT relief and government grants. Reassuringly like all Kia models, the e-Soul comes with a 7-Year, 150,000-kilometre warranty, which also covers the car’s electric motor and battery pack. How easy is it to charge? The charging socket is nicely hidden behind a small panel at the front of the car and a Combined Charging System (CCS) DC fast charger is fitted as standard so the e-Soul can be recharged from 20% up to 80% capacity in just 42 minutes...