Overview & Reviews

The Kia Soul receives a few improvements for 2011, with new rear shock absorbers and standard rear disc brakes (replacing last year's rear drums) being the most notable. Other minor changes include new door handles, push-button start, a trip computer and heated outside mirrors.

• Long warranty.
• Ample passenger space
• Surprisingly fun to drive
• Highly customizable
• User-friendly controls
• Loads of available features
• Low price

• Noisy and busy highway ride
• Limited cargo room versus competitors
• Unrefined manual transmission.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 64.00

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  I have to admit, I like this car - 2011 Kia Soul
  By kaz411 - July 22 - 11:14 am

  This is my first Kia, kind of bought it on a whim and had some buyers remorse initially but it has worn off. Miles were very low, and the car still runs and looks new. I drive for UBER on the weekends and live in AZ, so this car has had some wear and tear on it and has done very well so far. My passengers like the car, they say a lot its roomier than it looks and it is a fairly comfortable ride, even at higher freeway speeds. I do agree the shocks and struts should be a little stronger but most passengers say its a smooth ride. Ice cold a/c, large console area and glove box to keep my goodies in, pockets behind seats hold water, etc.

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  Good Value - 2011 Kia Soul
  By Soul_Owner - July 8 - 10:00 am

  Ive had a 2011 Soul+ 5sp for a couple months and a few thousand miles now. It is a good value overall. Mechanically, it is a basic 4 cylinder economy car. The body design, roomy SUV-like seating position, and a generous feature list are what make the car attractive. Two consistent complaints with the 2010 model - rough ride/poor suspension and door panels that scratch up easily - have been addressed with the 2011 model. One shortcoming that remains is the final gear isnt tall enough so that you have high RPM at highway speeds (3,000 rpm @ 70 mph). MPG is good. I consistently get 26-28 mpg in mixed driving and got over 31 mpg on a purely highway trip.

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  Love our little gas sipper - 2011 Kia Soul
  By tysmeme - May 23 - 7:53 pm

  We have had our Kia Soul since Jan 12 and it is a 2012 model. So far we are more than pleased with this car. The fuel economy is good , there is ample leg room, the ride is not bad. Do wish it had an arm rest but this is a small thing. I love the idea of all the air bags it has. It gets lots of attention !

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  Good car for the price - 2011 Kia Soul
  By jimr91 - May 31 - 7:11 am

  I had this car for almost 3 years and i loved every minute in it. I was extremely comfortable. The seats fit me perfectly and and a lot of head and leg room. It also had great gas mileage. $40 would fill it up and i could go almost 400 miles before i would fill it again. It did have small problems though. I didnt like the steering that much. It felt stiff and Im not a fan of stiff steering. Also the accelerator wasnt very smooth. These tine problems aside I never had any other issues with this car. It was a great car for the money. I put a total of 83000 miles on mine and only did regular maintenance on it. I would recommend getting this car to anybody.

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  Automatic door locks - 2011 Kia Soul
  By tinakaycasteel - May 27 - 12:22 pm

  I am very disapointed that the Soul does not have automatic door locks. If I would have known that up front.....I would not have bought the car. The automatic door locks have been on my cars for the last 18 yrs and with children and a four door car I feal that; that is a must have. I also think that the insides scuff up real easy and its hard to come clean. The 2 cup holders in the middle are useless when you can only use one of them. If you put a 2nd drnik in the cup holder it gets caught on the console and spills all over the place. So your passenger has to hold there drink "fountain drink that is" The middle console is very small and sits to far back. I cant use it for an armrest.

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  nice car, but wish it got better mpg - 2011 Kia Soul
  By seiri - April 25 - 3:50 pm

  Ive had the + for almost a year now and have around 12,000 miles on it. In the CITY I average 23.5mpg and near 27mpg HWY...it is a small tank and usually only costs around $30 to fill up and it lasts around a week and a half. HOWEVER, the cup holders are the worst design ever. There are bottle holders on each door, but for something with a lid and straw there is only one usable spot. The inside is nice, but scuffs up easily and the seats stain easily. There is a HUGE blind spot when backing out of a parking spot. I would not buy again over some of the new choices out there and would strongly consider spending 3-4k more on a slightly better designed car.

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  Safety Latch for Hood Failed - 2011 Kia Soul
  By Gabby - April 10 - 11:20 pm

  I just turned 16 and got a car, red Kia soul, for my birthday. One week later, when driving on a highway at 57mph my hood flew up. My safety latch failed to do anything. My warranty is only a couple miles over. Thankfully my windshield did not crack by I am left with huge and costly dents in roof and hood. Thankfully when this occurred my dad happened to be driving. Being the new driver that I am, I probably would have swerved from the loud and shocking impact and killed myself and others. The damage cost $4,910 and Kia will not help. I had read numerous accounts of this same situation happening to others on other sites and I myself have reported a recall request for the safety latch. Kia needs to do something!! Also, another defect (not as important or major) is that the cigarette lighter and USB port doesnt work. My guess is that it has something to do with the fuse box. Be warned and check your safety latch for rust or any other malfunctions and lubricate properly.

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  Everyone Needs a Titanium Soul (Now & Then) - 2011 Kia Soul
  By cooksley007 - February 6 - 12:59 pm

  I purposefully ordered a 2010 “plus” model with a myriad of options because the criticism of the “exclaim” model for highway noise and rattly ride (due to the larger diameter rims) was proved out in my test drives. I Love this car! I smile every time I see it parked or in my driveway (and not because of the hamster commercials). Although I view it as my mid-life, commuter, anti-sports car, it handles surprisingly well and has plenty of zip when merging onto some of our (Philadelphia area) white-knuckle highways. Interior has plenty of room for a teen, a tween, and a hockey bag !lenty of room for a teen and a tween and a hockey bag.

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  Great little compact utility, paint sucks - 2011 Kia Soul
  By dewdrinker87 - January 24 - 2:34 pm

  This is exactly what I was looking for. I got tired of sitting on the floor in little cars but didnt want to drop a fortune on an SUV. I get decent gas mileage (see suggested improvements). The engine is surprising zippy for what it is especially having a four speed. The interior is quite comfy, the seats are firm which I like. The only small issue I have had is the drivers side door plastic has begun to rattle but Im going to get that fixed next oil change under warranty. Compared to my old vehicle (2006 Chevy Cobalt) its so much better as far as quality goes. I use to look at the uneven door gaps on the Cobalt and just grimace. Huge negative is the paint. Poor durability... Rock Chips!

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  Not an all weather vehicle - 2011 Kia Soul
  By jermany1104 - December 21 - 9:01 am

  Ive had my Kia Soul + for almost one year. Being 6 ft tall, there is plenty of head & leg room. The car has great pick up & passing & merging are never a problem. I love how the back seats go down for extra storage. However it hadnt snowed since I got the car & Im not happy with how it attempts to drive in the snow. The car would not drive up my hill, wound up sideways & had to be backed down the hill. Driving on the flat surface wasnt any better. I was told that the tires may be sport tires & may need to be changed, but I hate to change tires on a new car already. Im pretty disappointed with this, since I live in an area where it snows in the winter.