The Kia Soul is a quirky rarity that’s easy to love, but what if it’s not the right car for you?
Was the Kia Soul ahead of its time? Nowadays, boxy electric cars are all the rage – but the Soul EV never drew in buyers in big numbers. The Soul isn’t a bad car at all – it’s spacious, intuitive, costs very little to run and officially manages up to 280 miles on a charge.
But perhaps you’re not keen on the Soul’s styling, or you simply can’t find one for sale near you. Whatever the case, here are the best cars like a Kia Soul to buy now.
Kia EV3
Better than the Soul for: latest-generation tech
For most of the time that the Kia Soul was on sale, it was a bit of a weirdo outlier for being electric. Fast-forward to now and Kia is charging ahead with electric cars (if you pardon the pun), with a wide choice of SUVs and hatchbacks.
The speed of electric car improvement leaves the Soul looking quite old in some ways, which is where the newer Kia EV3 impresses. The EV3 charges twice as quickly to 80% on a public charger, it goes further on a charge than the Soul, and you can even power other electrical items using the EV3’s battery pack.
Shop used Kia EV3 cars for sale or read our Kia EV3 review
Skoda Elroq
Better than the Soul for: boot space
The Skoda Elroq certainly isn’t a left-field choice like the Soul, but it is hugely talented. A well-sorted driving experience, 300 miles of real-world range, a techy but user-friendly interior and lots of passenger space all give your left brain plenty to get excited about. It might be basically an Enyaq with the rear end chopped off, but the Elroq still has a big boot with lots of useful additions. At 470 litres, it’s noticeably more capacious than the 315 litres that the Soul EV offers up.
Shop used Skoda Elroq cars for sale or read our Skoda Elroq review
Jaecoo 5
Better than the Soul for: warranty
Kia’s seven-year warranty is still one of the longest you’ll find, but the last Kia Souls were registered in 2024 so you’ll only have a few years of cover left. Jaecoo’s warranty matches Kia’s duration and mileage limits, but obviously the Jaecoo 5 is a newer car.
Underneath the ‘Range Rover on a hot wash’ aesthetic, the Jaecoo 5 offers a high-tech interior that feels more premium than you might expect for the price, and the choice of purely petrol or fully electric options.
Shop used Jaecoo 5 cars for sale or read our Jaecoo 5 review
MG ZS EV
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Better than the Soul for: rear-seat space
The MG ZS EV is only a little bigger than the Soul, but uses its dimensions well to provide a lot of rear legroom and a big boot. Plus, rear-seat passengers are treated to seatback pockets, a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, and sporty red stitching. We’ve picked the ZS EV because you can get a lot of car for not much money, although it has since been replaced by the MG S5 if you’re after a newer option.
Shop used MG ZS EV cars for sale or read our MG ZS review
Volvo EX30
Better than the Soul for: performance
For some reason, the top-spec Volvo EX30 has 428hp and a 0-62mph time of just 3.6 seconds. That’s addictively/nauseatingly fast (delete as appropriate), and the dual-motor EX30 delivers a heavy thump to your body that’s like being winded. Perfect for winning the traffic light grand prix. The EX30 also has a more stable driving experience than the Soul, with calmness and composure where the Soul can sometimes feel a little erratic.
Shop used Volvo EX30 cars for sale or read our Volvo EX30 review
Volkswagen ID. Cross
Better than the Soul for: interior quality
Volkswagen is working hard to improve the quality of its interiors, after a few years of slightly too obvious cost-cutting. The new ID. Cross has fabric all across the dashboard and door panels, plus metal-edged climate controls that make it feel much more premium than recent offerings like the ID.3. The Soul, in comparison, is quite plasticky inside. Top-spec versions of the ID. Cross offer a maximum range of 270 miles, with fast charging across the lineup.
Read more about the Volkswagen ID. Cross here
BYD Atto 2
Better than the Soul for: standard equipment
We’re not suggesting that the Soul is lacking must-have kit – it’s still really well equipped, especially in its top trim levels. But even the cheapest BYD Atto 2 comes with luxuries like a heated steering wheel, a 360-degree parking camera, a panoramic sunroof and wireless phone charging – plus more driver assistance tech than you can name. This goes some way to make up for the Atto 2’s complete lack of character, although it has the sensible stuff nailed with lots of rear-seat space, fast-ish charging, a decent range and an easygoing driving experience. The Atto 2 can be had as a fully electric car, or as a plug-in hybrid with a petrol engine for longer journeys.
Read our BYD Atto 2 review
Mini Aceman
Better than the Soul for: driving fun
The trendy Mini Aceman impresses with eye-catching style, a fantastically plush interior and its surprisingly spacious rear seats. If you can put up with the teeth-rattlingly firm ride, the Aceman is one of the most fun-to-drive cars of this type. It feels like it lives for zipping around roundabouts, and the wall of torque is eager to overwhelm the front tyres. There are even fake engine noises for a bit of extra engagement.
Shop used Mini Aceman cars for sale or read our Mini Aceman review
Suzuki e-Vitara
Better than the Soul for: four-wheel drive
Few small electric SUVs are capable of avoiding the asphalt and gripping on gravel – arguably because not many buyers demand it in this class of car. If you do need some all-terrain capability, the Suzuki e-Vitara is one of your best choices. We’ve tested the e-Vitara on a fairly challenging off-road track and found it performed well, with a dedicated trail mode and hill descent control for steep, slippery slopes.
Shop used Suzuki e-Vitara cars for sale or read our Suzuki e-Vitara review
Jeep Avenger
Better than the Soul for: engine choices
Jeep’s smallest model is offered with a fully electric option with the promise of 248 miles between charges – but also a pure petrol engine and a hybrid option. So there’s an Avenger for you if you want to plug in or not. Don’t be fooled by its American branding – the Avenger is completely European, which means it’s well set up for our roads. It shares its underpinnings with the likes of the Fiat 600e and Alfa Romeo Junior if you want even more choice.
Shop used Jeep Avenger cars for sale or read our Jeep Avenger review
