Get over it, EV-haters: EVs have a soul, just like petrol and diesel cars | Opinion

If ICE cars have a soul, then so do electric vehicles like the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

All-electric vehicles (EVs) are the future, but not everyone likes them. Of course, there are good reasons not to do this, but there are also bad ones, such as the lack of "soul" of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars.

Yes, this argument is often made by some so-called enthusiasts who believe that electric vehicles are no match for ICE vehicles, which they claim have a "soul".

But the problem is that ICE cars don’t have a “soul” either. The truth is, no form of transportation has had a soul since the heyday of the horse and cart—you know, because horses do have souls.

I know this is a very literal counter-argument, but it speaks to the absurdity of some people's negative attitude towards electric vehicles.

After all, electric cars and ICE cars are virtually incomparable. Simply put, they are not the same, so a direct comparison between them is shortsighted.

I certainly understand that when ICE enthusiasts talk about "soul" they usually mean engine or exhaust noises that EVs naturally don't have.

Or maybe they're even referring to the mechanical feel of an ICE car's transmission as they enjoy changing gears while driving, but they're also pretty much among the vast majority who stopped buying manual transmissions some time ago, so understand.

In any case, it's clear that the goalposts have moved - and they will continue to do so - so electric cars shouldn't be judged by the standards of ICE cars.

And having been lucky enough to drive many electric and ICE vehicles over the years, I can honestly say that I look forward to getting behind the wheel of the first one again.

The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 is an enthusiast's dream.

Let's take this week for example. I spent the weekend driving a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, which is arguably one of the best ICE cars made in the last two years.

GT4 is an enthusiast's dream. It's so raw and clean and amazingly telepathic to operate. Needless to say, I absolutely love it.

But I was still more than happy to return the keys to the Porsche and get into my next test car, the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

In my estimation, the stunning Ioniq 5 is the most advanced mainstream electric vehicle we've ever seen, thanks to Hyundai's custom platform that lacks compromise.

Many will scoff at my mentioning the GT4 and Ioniq 5 in the same proverbial breath, but they are enjoyable in their own way.

In my estimation, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is the most advanced mainstream electric vehicle we've ever seen.

The Ioniq 5 may have a modest 225kW power output, but its twin-motor powertrain delivers powerful acceleration that was usually reserved for Tesla models.

And the GT4, with its 309-litre naturally aspirated 4.0kW flat-six petrol engine, is also magical, screaming all the way to an outrageous redline that's so easy to fall in love with.

I'm going to resist the temptation to give you a mini-review of each model, but I hope you understand where I'm coming from: each one brings something different - and interesting - to the table.

I can't think of too many who would double down on the "no soul" argument after actually driving an electric car because it's so easy to criticize something you don't understand - until you do.

The Porsche Taycan is one of the most memorable cars I have ever driven.

And for those who still think electric cars are soft, I encourage you to find someone with the keys to the Porsche Taycan.

Ironically, the Taycan's main slogan is "Soul, electrified" (Porsche clearly knows its clientele), but it's one of the most memorable cars I've ever driven.

It's hard to put into words how unrealistic the Taycan is to drive, but if you combine the ludicrous acceleration of some Tesla models with physics-defying handling, you get the idea.

After you've put the trunk in a few times and driven a corner or two in the Taycan, come back and tell me again that EVs don't have a "soul". I suspect you won't.

And shouldn't enthusiasts find beauty in any vehicle? Again, what we drive and how we drive has changed a lot over the years...