Overview

What's New for 2018

Kia makes the Soul in three different trim levels: base, + and ! Base models come with a 60/40 split folding rear seat, air conditioning, driver’s seat height adjustment, 15-inch steel wheels, cloth upholstery, trip computer, Bluetooth connectivity and a sound system with a CD player, four speakers, auxiliary audio jack, satellite radio and a USB/iPod interface. When outfitted with the automatic transmission the car also comes with rear privacy glass, keyless entry and cruise control. Standard equipment for the + trim level includes everything on the base model plus heated side mirrors, 16-inch alloy wheels, storage bins in the top of the dash and center console, faux metal interior accent pieces, leather wrapped steering wheel and two more speakers for the sound system. An optional Audio Upgrade package comes with a rearview camera, automatic headlights, Uvo infotainment system and an Infinity sound system with eight speakers, tricolor speaker lights and HD radio. An Eco package comes with low rolling resistance tires, an automatic stop/start system and an upgraded battery. A sunroof is available as well, which comes with foglights. For ! models the standard equipment list includes LED running lights, foglights, upgraded headlights, power folding side mirrors, auto dimming rearview mirrors, the Audio Upgrade package and houndstooth upholstery. An optional Premium package comes with leather upholstery, keyless entry and ignition, heated front seats, automatic climate control and a touchscreen navigation system with real time traffic. A Soul comes with a factory invoice of about $15,000 for a base model and an MSRP of about $15,500. The + trim level adds about $2,500 to the vehicle’s MSRP and the ! trim adds another $3,000. As a member you receive a no-hassle price from a Certified Dealer that guarantees savings.

The Kia Soul comes with two different engine options. The first is a 1.6-liter four cylinder engine that produces 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission with hill-start assist comes standard with front-wheel-drive. A six-speed automatic transmission comes as an option. The EPA estimates fuel mileage at 25 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway and 27 mpg in combined driving. The second engine is a 2.0-liter four cylinder that comes standard on + and ! models. Maximum output measures 164 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. The manual transmission is available only on + models, while the automatic transmission is available on + models and comes standard on ! models. The EPA estimates fuel economy to be 23 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined with the automatic transmission. With the manual transmission those estimates change to 24 mpg city, 29 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined.

The unique nature of the Kia Soul does not stop with the different styled exterior. The interior of the vehicle also features unique styling. Buyers can choose between one of three two-tone seat options such as houndstooth and black or beige and black, with black covering all but the top portion of the seats. The rest of the interior also has a two-tone either grey and black or beige and black setup. The gauge cluster is extremely modern-looking and yet it is quite easy to read, while the entire center stack is raised up from the rest of the dash. All of the controls are also easy to reach and use, making for an enjoyable driving experience. Unique styling touches such as lighting integrated into the sound system add a distinctive flair to the Soul’s interior. Surprisingly the vehicle’s interior is not just all flash. The materials used are pretty high quality for the class of vehicle. Fit and finish are also impressive, with no flimsy components. And the interior is well-insulated, meaning road noise is minimal even at freeway speeds. Interior space is also better than expected, thanks to the Soul’s boxy exterior. Headroom changes only by an inch from front to back. Legroom also goes from 42 inches in the front to an impressive 39 inches in the rear, meaning the backseat passengers do not have to squeeze in nearly as much as in most small vehicles. The cargo space behind the rear seats measures a decent 19 cubic feet, but jumps up to 53 cubic feet with the seats folded down.