2017 Kia Soul EV Used Buyer's Guide: Range, Battery & Ownership Costs

2017 Kia Soul EV at a Glance: Key Specs

The 2017 model year was a turning point for the Soul EV. Kia upgraded the battery from the original 27 kWh (usable ~24 kWh) pack to a slightly revised version with improved thermal management, though the EPA-rated range stayed at 93 miles for the EV+ trim and 111 miles for the newly introduced EV+ (with a more efficient heat pump system). Here are the core numbers you need:

Specification	2017 Kia Soul EV (Base / EV+)
EPA Range	93 miles (Base) / 111 miles (EV+ with heat pump)
Battery Capacity	30 kWh gross / ~27 kWh usable (NMC chemistry)
Motor Output	109 hp / 210 lb-ft torque
0–60 mph	~11.2 seconds
DC Fast Charge (CHAdeMO)	Peak ~50 kW, 10–80% in ~33 minutes
Level 2 Charge (J1772)	6.6 kW onboard charger, ~4.5 hours (0–100%)
Level 1 Charge (120V)	~1.4 kW, ~24+ hours (0–100%)
EPA Efficiency	93 MPGe combined (Base) / 111 MPGe (EV+)
Cargo Volume	24.4 cu ft (rear seats up) / 49.5 cu ft (folded)
Original MSRP	$33,900 (Base) / $35,800 (EV+)
Used Price Range (2026)	$8,000 – $13,000
Battery Warranty (Original)	10 years / 100,000 miles (capacity above ~70%)

The battery uses NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) chemistry, which offers decent energy density for the era but is more sensitive to sustained high State of Charge (SoC) and extreme temperatures than modern LFP (lithium iron phosphate) packs. More on degradation below.

Real-World Range: What You'll Actually Get

Let's be direct: the 2017 Soul EV's range was modest when new, and after 8–9 years of battery aging, it will be reduced further. Expect roughly 10–20% capacity loss depending on how the vehicle was charged and stored. A car that spent its life in Arizona with frequent DC fast charging and regular 100% SoC parking will show more degradation than a garage-kept Pacific Northwest example charged primarily on Level 2 to 80%.

The EV+ trim's heat pump is a meaningful advantage in cold climates. Unlike the Base trim's resistive cabin heater — which can draw 3–5 kW and slash range by 30–40% — the heat pump pulls heat from the outside air and the powertrain, reducing heating energy consumption by roughly half. If you live where winters dip below freezing, the EV+ trim is strongly preferred.

Charging: Connectors, Speeds, and Daily Reality

The 2017 Soul EV uses the CHAdeMO connector for DC fast charging and the standard J1772 connector for Level 1 and Level 2 AC charging. This is important context for 2026 buyers:

The CHAdeMO situation is the 2017 Soul EV's biggest practical limitation in 2026. While you can still find CHAdeMO chargers at some EVgo stations and legacy locations, the industry has moved decisively to CCS1 and NACS. For road trips, you'll need to plan carefully using apps like PlugShare and A Better Routeplanner, filtering specifically for CHAdeMO availability.

At 50 kW peak DC charge rate, the Soul EV adds roughly 3–4 miles of range per minute of charging in the 10–80% SoC window. The charge curve tapers noticeably above 80%, so plan to charge to 80% and go rather than wait for a full charge at a public station. A full 10–80% session takes about 33 minutes under ideal conditions — longer if the battery is cold (the 2017 Soul EV lacks active battery preconditioning for fast charging).

For daily use, a home Level 2 charger (240V, 30–40 amp circuit) is the practical backbone. At 6.6 kW, you'll replenish a depleted battery in roughly 4.5 hours — easily overnight. A basic Level 2 home station (ChargePoint Home Flex, Emporia Level 2, or similar) costs $300–$600 for the unit plus $500–$1,500 for professional installation depending on your electrical panel's capacity and proximity to the parking spot, according to typical electrician pricing data.

Cost Breakdown: Purchase, Charging, and Ownership

The financial case for a used 2017 Soul EV hinges on low purchase price and cheap home charging. Here's how the numbers stack up against a comparable used gas car:

Cost Category	2017 Kia Soul EV (Used)	2017 Kia Soul Gas (1.6L, Used)
Purchase Price	$8,000 – $13,000	$10,000 – $15,000
Fuel/Energy (12,000 mi/yr)	$360 – $540/yr (at $0.10–$0.15/kWh)	$1,320 – $1,680/yr (at $3.30–$4.20/gal, 27 MPG)
Annual Maintenance	$200 – $400 (no oil, fewer brakes)	$600 – $1,000 (oil, filters, brakes)
Insurance (avg.)	$1,100 – $1,500/yr	$1,000 – $1,400/yr
Estimated 5-Year Total Cost	$14,500 – $26,000	$20,000 – $31,000

The fuel savings are substantial: at national average electricity rates of $0.13/kWh and the Soul EV's efficiency of roughly 30 kWh/100 miles, you'll spend about $3.90 per 100 miles on electricity versus $12–$16 per 100 miles on gasoline. Over 12,000 miles annually, that's roughly $900–$1,200 in annual fuel savings.

Federal tax credit note: The §30D federal tax credit for new EVs does not apply to a 2017 model. However, the used EV tax credit (IRS §25E) may apply: up to $4,000 or 30% of the sale price (whichever is lower) for qualifying used EVs sold by a dealer for $25,000 or less, subject to buyer income caps ($75,000 single / $150,000 joint). The 2017 Soul EV qualifies on price — verify your income eligibility and the dealer's reporting on the IRS used EV credit page.

Battery Health: What to Check Before You Buy

Battery degradation is the single most important factor in a used 2017 Soul EV purchase. Here's what to evaluate:

• State of Health (SoH): Use the car's built-in battery diagnostic (accessible through the dashboard menu or via an OBD-II scanner with an app like Soul EV Spy or EVNotify). A healthy 8–9 year old pack should show 80–90% SoH. Below 75%, expect noticeably reduced range and consider negotiating price accordingly.
• Original warranty remaining: Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile battery warranty covers capacity below approximately 70% SoH. A 2017 model's warranty expires in 2027, so you may have 1–2 years of coverage left — but only if mileage is under 100,000. Confirm the in-service date and current odometer reading.
• Charging history: Ask the previous owner about charging habits. Frequent DC fast charging, regular charging to 100%, and prolonged storage at high SoC in hot climates accelerate NMC degradation.
• Replacement cost: If the battery fails out of warranty, a replacement pack for the 2017 Soul EV runs approximately $8,000–$12,000 including labor at a Kia dealership — a figure that can exceed the car's value. Third-party refurbishment options are emerging but limited for this model.

Myth	Fact
"The battery will need replacing soon."	NMC packs typically lose 1–2% capacity per year under normal use. At 8–9 years old, expect 80–90% SoH — still functional for city driving.
"93 miles of range is useless."	The average American drives ~37 miles per day (FHWA data). For a second car or city commuter, 70+ real-world miles covers most daily needs.
"CHAdeMO is completely dead."	Declining, but not gone. EVgo and some regional networks still maintain CHAdeMO connectors. Plan routes ahead and you can still road-trip — with patience.
"Used EVs are money pits."	Maintenance costs are typically lower than gas cars (no oil changes, fewer brake replacements due to regen). The risk is concentrated in battery replacement — mitigate it by checking SoH before purchase.

Decision Framework: Is the 2017 Soul EV Right for You?

How It Compares: Soul EV vs. Alternatives

In the used EV market around $10,000–$15,000, the 2017 Soul EV competes with several alternatives:

Attribute	2017 Kia Soul EV	2017 Nissan Leaf (30 kWh)	2017 VW e-Golf
EPA Range	93–111 mi	107 mi	125 mi
Battery	30 kWh (NMC)	30 kWh (NMC)	35.8 kWh (NMC)
DC Fast Connector	CHAdeMO	CHAdeMO	CCS1
Peak DC Charge	~50 kW	~50 kW	~50 kW
Cargo Space	24.4 cu ft	23.6 cu ft	22.8 cu ft
Heat Pump	EV+ trim only	No (resistive)	Yes (standard)
Used Price (2026)	$8K–$13K	$7K–$11K	$10K–$15K

The e-Golf's CCS1 connector gives it a meaningful long-term charging advantage, and its slightly larger battery yields better range. The Leaf is cheaper but shares the CHAdeMO limitation and uses passive air-cooled battery thermal management (which accelerates degradation in hot climates). The Soul EV's standout advantage is cargo practicality — that boxy shape delivers genuinely useful space that the others can't match.

Frequently Asked Questions