Kia Soul EV Battery Health & Range: Used Buyer’s Guide

A silver Kia Soul driving through a city intersection, front three-quarter view — Photo by Trac Vu on Unsplash

Quick answer

A used Kia Soul EV (2014-2024) typically has usable ~27 kwh or ~30 kwh (first gen); ~39.2 kwh or ~64 kwh (second gen), a WLTP range of around 171-280 miles for the second gen (the first gen predates wltp) when new, and a battery warranty of 7 years / 100,000 miles to 70% capacity, transferable. The value of any individual car comes down to its battery health, check the real-world range now versus when new before you buy.

Kia Soul EV at a glance

Body type	Compact SUV / crossover
Years	2014-2024
Battery (usable)	Usable ~27 kWh or ~30 kWh (first gen); ~39.2 kWh or ~64 kWh (second gen)
WLTP range (new)	Around 171-280 miles for the second gen (the first gen predates WLTP)
Real-world range	Roughly 95-120 miles (first gen) or 140-250 miles (second gen) in real use
Battery warranty	7 years / 100,000 miles to 70% capacity, transferable
Battery cooling	Air cooling (first gen, 2014-2019); liquid cooling (second gen, 2020 on)

Figures are typical across the model's life and vary by year and trim, treat them as a guide, not a guarantee for a specific car.

How the Soul EV's battery ages

Battery cooling is a big part of the story: this car uses air cooling (first gen, 2014-2019); liquid cooling (second gen, 2020 on). Cars that have spent their life on rapid chargers, been left sitting at 100%, or lived somewhere hot tend to lose capacity faster, which is why two identical Soul EVs on the same mileage can be worth different amounts. Read more in our guide to what's normal for EV battery degradation.

What to watch out for on a used Kia Soul EV

First-gen (2014-2019) cars are air-cooled and can be well down on capacity, always check the battery health before buying
A first-gen battery-management recall can end in a full pack replacement if a cell warning triggers, check it was done
First-gen cars rapid-charge on CHAdeMO, not CCS, check your local network has it
Second-gen badges hide different batteries (39.2 kWh Urban vs 64 kWh Explore), confirm which you’re viewing

What the Used EV Check shows for a Kia Soul EV

Enter the registration and the Used EV Check returns, for that specific Soul EV: its expected real-world range now versus when new, an estimated degradation figure, a battery-health grade where a manufacturer test record exists, and the battery warranty remaining in miles and months. It also pulls the full MOT and mileage history so you can spot clocking or a car that has covered far more motorway miles than the advert suggests.

It's the fastest way to tell a good Kia Soul EV from a tired one before you drive out to view it. For the wider process, see our complete used-EV buyer's guide and how to check an EV's battery health.

Range and battery-health figures are estimates modelled from real-world data and are shown for the specific vehicle in the Used EV Check. Range data is powered by ClearWatt. A battery-health grade is shown where a manufacturer test record exists, it is a comparative grade, not a measured state-of-health percentage.

Range data powered by ClearWatt

Check a used Kia Soul EV before you buy

Enter a registration to see this Soul EV's battery health, real-world range now vs when new and remaining battery warranty, an instant report.

See the Used EV Check (£9.99) →Try the free EV check

Used Kia Soul EV FAQ

How do I check a used Kia Soul EV's battery health?+

You can't see battery state of health on the V5C, the MOT or the advert, and DVLA doesn't publish it. Enter the registration into the Used EV Check and it returns this Kia Soul EV's estimated real-world range now versus when new, its degradation estimate, a battery-health grade where a manufacturer test record exists, and the remaining battery warranty. Range data is powered by ClearWatt.

How much battery degradation is normal on a used Kia Soul EV?+

Two very different cars. The first-generation Soul EV is air-cooled and has a real degradation reputation: a documented test of a high-mileage 27 kWh car found it down to around 65% capacity, so a battery-health reading is essential on any 2014-2019 example. The second-generation car shares the liquid-cooled e-Niro platform and is a far stronger used battery. As a rule of thumb, most EV batteries lose the first few percent early on and then settle to a slow decline, so a used Soul EV that still returns close to its original range for its age and mileage is a good sign. The Used EV Check estimates this specific car's degradation for you.

What battery warranty does the Kia Soul EV have?+

Kia Soul EV battery warranty is typically 7 years / 100,000 miles to 70% capacity, transferable. It covers the battery falling below a set capacity within that time or mileage, and it usually transfers to you as the next owner. The Used EV Check shows how much of the warranty is left in miles and months.

What is the real-world range of a used Kia Soul EV?+

Around 171-280 miles for the second gen (the first gen predates WLTP) is the WLTP figure when new. In real use expect roughly 95-120 miles (first gen) or 140-250 miles (second gen) in real use, and less again in cold weather or at motorway speeds. What matters on a used car is the expected range now, which the Used EV Check estimates for the specific vehicle rather than quoting the brochure.

Is the first-generation Kia Soul EV battery reliable?+

It needs checking. The 2014-2019 Soul EV uses an air-cooled battery with energy-dense cells, and it has a genuine reputation for faster capacity loss than liquid-cooled rivals: one documented test of a roughly 62,000-mile 27 kWh car measured about 65% of the original capacity remaining. Some packs have been replaced under warranty. None of that makes it a bad car, but it does mean a state-of-health reading matters more on a first-gen Soul EV than on almost anything else of its age.