Steve Cropley: Which of Kia's affordable EVs really has soul?
Kia’s Soul EV (left) and e-Niro use the same EV tech but feel different
Back-to-back drives in Kia's electric crossover duo allows our man to elect a favourite
In this week's automotive adventures, Steve pays homage to the Kia e-Niro, reflects on what makes the motoring industry's brightest stand out, pens a love letter to the Vauxhall Mokka and more.
*Monday*
For one fascinating week, I’ve had two electric Kias on hand at my home in Gloucestershire – a gently revised e-Niro and the even newer Soul EV. They both use identical 201bhp front-drive single-speed electric powertrains, and 64kWh lithium ion battery packs, giving genuine 280- to 300-mile ranges. Fascinating how different such very similar cars can feel, though. I’d thought the Soul, smaller and sportier, might be the pick of the pair but it doesn’t ride nearly as well and its steering has a curious ‘springy’ sensation around the straight-ahead that messes with the precision. The e-Niro, now with gentle improvements to its instrumentation, simply confirms its status (my view) as the best and most sensible EV on sale in the UK.
*Tuesday*
It’s our great pleasure this week to credit the highest achievers of the motor industry in our annual Autocar Awards, and I’ve enjoyed meeting quite a few of them, albeit electronically. You can read how our stars of 2020 earned their accolades, and view our online coverage at autocar.co.uk, but two things especially strike me about our industry’s best people. One is their instinct for knowing, out of a myriad of calls on their valuable time, which will be most productive. The other is pervading, unforced optimism. Not only do they seem to know instinctively that hand-wringing won’t help, but they simply can’t be bothered with it. Great examples for life.
*Wednesday*
Deeply impressed by the design of the new Vauxhall Mokka, a car whose shape relates unmistakably to that of the superb GTX concept shown at Frankfurt two years ago. At the time, Opel-Vauxhall design chief Mark Adams told us very firmly that this was “far more than just a concept” but I confess I found it difficult to see it translating so easily into a showroom model, given its breathtaking modernity. The GTX’s single side-door and somewhat impractical interior (plus the electric forklift motor underneath) probably didn’t help my perception, but it’s now clear I should have given the company more credit. Looking at the slick emergence of the new Corsa, especially its in-demand battery version, and now this, you’ve got to say Vauxhall deserves to be doing okay in tough times.
*Thursday*
Car dealers come and go but we’ll have to make an exception for Surrey sports car dealer Bell & Colvill – the world’s oldest Lotus seller – which turns 50 this month. Makes me realise I’ve grown up with them. I remember following the exploits of the business’s two enthusiast-founders, Martin Colvill and Bobby Bell, before I ever joined the ranks of car scribblers. To celebrate the half-century, B&C have become the UK’s one and only McLaren Authorised dealership, able to sell used Maccas, handle warranty work and service all models. No slowing down, then…
*Friday*
The news that the Geneva show won’t happen next March is casting a pall over my mainly optimistic view of 2021. It makes me appreciate just how much we’ve depended on that event – its timing, accessibility, comparative simplicity and precious neutrality – to kick-start motoring’s high season. My own Geneva shows have recently been characterised by one frequently posed question: how many of these have you done?
My first Geneva was in 1979, and I don’t reckon I’ve missed one since, so the sad-looking bloke with the black armband you spot wandering aimlessly about in the first week of next March will be me. Mind you, I’m pretty sure this unhappy development will generate some new kind of demand for car launches and face-to-face meetings. I look forward to finding out what form it takes.
*And another thing...*
Okay, here’s my answer to the question one car nut asks another: the Merc SLS AMG. It’s what I’d buy first, money no object. Spotted this one at nearby Classic Motor Hub and went rather rubbery at the knees. Drove one like it to Spa years ago – one of the great weekends.
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