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Up close with Kia's 2020 Niro and Soul EVs
Kia was not messing around at its LA Auto Show press conference on Wednesday, rolling out vehicle updates and new models left and right.
Kia brings Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to older cars
For many, the biggest problem with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay is getting it in the first place. Unless you buy a very recent car, you're likely stuck buying an aftermarket head unit to drag your vehicle into the smartphone era. Kia thinks it can do better, though. It's promising free updates to both Android Auto and CarPlay for a slew of vehicles that have either the UVO3 infotainment system or a compatible navigation system.
The best electric vehicle
By Rik Paul This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here. After doing three months of research, interviewing leading experts, and driving all 11 electric vehicles that are available in the US, we're convinced that the Kia Soul EV is the best car for most people who want to drive gas-free. Costing about $34,000 (or $26,500 after a federal tax credit), the Soul EV is a comfortable, versatile everyday car that's easy to live with and drives better than most other EVs. Its 93-mile driving range is one of the longest you'll find, which reduces range anxiety. It's stocked with nifty high-tech features that make driving an EV easier. And it has a superlong warranty. Overall, the Soul EV is a great car that will cut both your driving costs and your carbon footprint.
Kia plans to deliver semi-autonomous driving features by 2020
Autonomous driving is all the rage these days, but luxury automakers have generated most of the buzz so far. At CES 2016, though, Kia is showing off an update on what it has in store future of driving, and it's doing so with its Soul EV. The company has already outfitted one of the compact SUVs with its next-gen ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) tech, a vehicle that has already been approved for on-road testing by the state of Nevada just last month. Kia is calling this effort Drive Wise, and it's serious about bringing the fully-autonomous systems to market.
Kia's electric Soul will cost you a semi-reasonable $33,700
Kia's reputation for low-cost cars is extending into the electric realm... well, sort of. The company has announced that the Soul EV will start at $33,700 when it reaches the US this fall. That's more expensive than the Nissan Leaf ($28,980) and well outside of budget car territory, so it's not exactly a trivial purchase at first glance. However, that doesn't include the $7,500 federal tax break -- the $26,200 you'll ultimately pay is pretty reasonable for a people-hauler with decent space, a smartphone-savvy infotainment system and (most importantly) very low running costs. The catch is availability. You'll have to wait until the fall to drive a Soul EV off the lot, and it will only be available in a handful of California cities at first; it's going to be a while before you can wander into any old dealership and pick one up.
Kia plans to enter US EV market with battery-powered Soul in 2014
The electric vehicle space is one that Kia isn't new to exploring. Here in the US, however, the South Korean auto manufacturer has yet to get its foot in the door. But if all goes according to plan, Kia will soon debut its first EV for the US market in the form of an all-electric model of its Soul line that's scheduled to launch in 2014. As of now, there are no details about what kind of speeds and mile range we can expect out of this urban passenger ride, but Kia's quick to point out we'll be finding out all about that here in the weeks to come. In the meantime, you can take a gander at some leaked images of the purported Soul EV at the Autoblog link below.
