Overview & Reviews

With its funky styling and spunky four-cylinder power, the compact Kia Soul is aimed at mainstream economy-car shoppers who want something different. Indeed, the boxy Kia hatchback is avant garde in its approach, boasting a swept-back exterior design with sporty angles and a neat cabin filled with distinctive shapes and vibrant colors. It gives Kia an injection of, well, soul to complement its well-earned reputation for competence and value.

Current Kia Soul
Introduced for 2014, the second-generation Kia Soul comes in three trim levels: base, + and !.

The base Soul gets a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 130 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission is standard (including a hill-start assist function), and a six-speed automatic is optional.

Soul+ and ! models have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 164 hp and it comes only with the six-speed automatic. EPA combined fuel economy estimates range from 26-27 mpg, the latter with the optional Eco package.

The base Soul's standard features include 16-inch steel wheels, full power accessories, air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth phone connectivity and an audio system with a CD player, satellite radio and an iPod/USB interface. The Soul+ adds 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control and front and rear center armrests. The Soul! features 18-inch wheels, body-colored bumpers, LED daytime running lights, power-folding side mirrors, a power driver seat and the Uvo eServices package (infotainment interface with voice control, Bluetooth audio connectivity, streaming Internet radio capability, a rearview camera and automatic headlights). Option highlights include a panoramic sunroof, automatic climate control, a navigation system, an upgraded audio system, keyless ignition and entry, leather upholstery and heated front and rear seats.

In reviews, we've been impressed with the Soul's interior materials' quality, user-friendly high-tech features and generous passenger and cargo space. Underway, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is satisfyingly quick whether bopping around town or merging onto a highway. The automatic transmission is on point with its well-timed and swift gearchanges. We haven't sampled the smaller engine but assume most buyers would be happier with the equally fuel-efficient but gutsier 2.0-liter mill. The Soul handles curvy roads well, thanks to its well-weighted, precise steering and composed attitude. Unfortunately, the Soul's boxy shape results in excessive wind noise at highway speeds, and the Soul! model has a somewhat rough ride due to its larger wheels and tires.

Used Kia Soul Models
The first-generation Kia Soul was produced from 2010-'13. Trim levels consisted of base, +, ! and Sport.

The base Soul had a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 122 hp; it was available only with a five-speed manual. The upper trims got a 2.0-liter four with 142 hp. It also came with the five-speed manual as standard, but a four-speed automatic was optional.

Standard features on the base Soul included air-conditioning, full power accessories, cruise control, Bluetooth and a four-speaker sound system with satellite radio and an iPod/USB jack. Moving up through the trims brought alloy wheels, premium audio, power-folding sideview mirrors, a sunroof, automatic climate control and a two-tone interior.

For 2012 a number of important improvements took place, notably more engine output, new six-speed transmissions and revised steering. The base Soul's 1.6-liter four made 138 hp and could be paired to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The other Souls' 2.0-liter four cranked out 164 hp. The Soul + had the same transmission choices as the base model, while the Soul ! was automatic only. That year the Soul's styling was slightly updated inside and out and a number of new technology options, such as a navigation system, debuted as well.

In reviews, we noted that the Soul's cabin offered a nice balance between form and function, while the available two-tone houndstooth upholstery gave the Soul more flair than its rivals. Gauges and controls are well-placed and easy to use, even when fitted with high-tech options like the voice-controlled Uvo infotainment system that allows you to control your cell phone, iPod and more with voice commands. A major benefit of the Soul's boxy design is the abundant head- and legroom, even in the backseat.

As with the following generation, the 2.0-liter engine is the one to get, especially since fuel economy is on par with the smaller engine. In terms of handling, the Soul doesn't offer the sort of zippy nature provided by some other small cars, but it isn't a soft snooze-mobile either. The ride quality is pretty agreeable, though models fitted with the admittedly sharp-looking 18-inch alloy wheels can feel harsh over bad pavement.

User Reviews:

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  DO NOT BUY A KIA - 2012 Kia Soul
  By Dont Buy A Kia - September 24 - 3:14 pm

  Dont waste your money on a Kia. The engine BLEW on my 4 year old car that I took wonderful care of - Connecting Rods failed. I had my car in my local shop for over 2 months and they couldnt identify the error. A month later, I receive a note direct from Kia that theyre extending the warranty of my car to 120,000 miles DUE TO THE EXACT REASON MY ENGINE BLEW (connecting rod failure). I had since sold the car to a junk yard for $500 (because no one wanted it) and I lost over $8,000 compared to the KBB value of my car. Now Kia wants nothing to do with it because I didnt choose to repair my engine for $8K (what the car was worth at the time...) BOTTOM LINE - Kia does NOT care about their customers - they do not care about brand loyalty or repeat customers. Theyd rather sell you a piece of junk car, wait for it to fail and then wish you luck with your next purchase. BUYERS BEWARE - DO NOT BUY A KIA.

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  Bought it out of the lease - 2014 Kia Soul
  By Douglas Ramey - September 17 - 9:30 pm

  Nice little car, roomy for a big guy in front seat. Decent cargo space

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  Best Kept Secret! - 2011 Kia Soul
  By smack1963 - August 28 - 9:42 am

  I bought a Kia Soul + to replace my Jeep Wrangler gas hawg. I didnt want to part with my Jeep, I loved it. Im glad I did. The Soul has so many standard features for thousands less than the competition. It has more power that other little puddle jumpers I tried. Its not a race car, but enough to pass 2 pokey cars at once. Im 6, 230#, it is super easy to get in and out of and plenty of head & leg room both front and back. Had to convert my .m4p files to .mp3 files to play in the usb port, but it works flawlessly. A friend has a Chevy Malibu with a usb port that doesnt work. Gas MPG is between 28 - 31 mixed driving. I added the euro-style racing stripe a few days later, LOVE IT!

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  What a fun car - 2010 Kia Soul
  By Shannon - August 23 - 10:00 am

  I got my Ghost the end of May and I love it! I have never owned an import before but was impressed by the 100/10 year. I travel for work so I rack up the miles. It is not the smoothest or quietest ride (what do you expect for the price and low profile tires) but still wouldnt trade it for the world. The options are great and the car just screams FUN.

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  Pretty good for a first new car! - 2012 Kia Soul
  By letzgostate - August 19 - 12:16 am

  Got my 2012 base manual soul the first day they had them on the lot. I chose the manual base and love the 6-speed. The car is amazingly peppy. Since getting mine I have had to have a new rear axle put on the car (I had the swaying road problem too), a new gauge cluster installed, I have had a flat that was not fixable with the fix-a-flat system in the car, and I had a pebble nick the windshield, create a small pit, and quickly had a crack over a foot spread across the windshield, and I have had the battery die for no apparent reason. Aside from those problems, the car has been awesome! Take advantage of roadside assistance, I have 3x already and always quick and free! Oh, and 38 mpg mixed!

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  Just got it today - 2010 Kia Soul
  By impressed - August 13 - 5:46 pm

  After seeing it at the autoshow this car is awesome! I got the only one in the city gad milage is GREAT SO FAR.

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  so far so good. - 2011 Kia Soul
  By tegen - July 24 - 9:36 pm

  I have had my Soul for a week and so far I like it. It handles well, Takes wind pretty good, taking a little adjusting since I had a Kia Rio5 before. Its taller then my last car. but has more space for the kids. though it wasnt my first choose. we looked at everything else on the lot. had a hard time getting past how ugly it was. looked at the books for the soul in the dealer ship. dicided it didnt look so bad when it wasnt Green. So we test drove one and now its sitting in my drive way still a little ugly but not so bad since its the Java color.

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  2014 Kia Soul, my third Soul! - 2014 Kia Soul
  By fhgardner - July 21 - 6:23 pm

  This is my third Soul, having purchased 2011 and 2013 Exclaim models (I still own the 2013 Exclaim model), and they keep getting better and better! Budgetary limitations forced me to purchase the Base A/T model this time. Have had it for 10 days and 400 miles and it is a dream! The redesign of the chassis/frame and the suspension system has resulted in a much quieter soother riding car with a stiffness that is screaming "quality!". Time will tell if my impressions will last, but if the 2013 and 2011 models are any guide, Im in for another pleasurable ownership period!!!

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  Noisy - 2013 Kia Soul
  By drspacs - July 21 - 5:06 am

  If you havent bought one of these yet when on your test drive make sure you take it out on the interstate then roll the back windows down about halfway. The noise and vibration you will have is un bearable. You cant even talk to anyone not even the passenger. In addition roll down the drivers window about two inches while the back windows are down. It will shake so violently you will think it will shatter. I have spoken to many KIA dealers and they say this is a definite design flaw on several of their vehicles and cannot be resolved. They have contacted KIA engineering and they suggest keeping the windows rolled up at high speeds. Yeah right. Had I know this I would have NEVER bought one

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  LOVE THIS CAR! - 2014 Kia Soul
  By Em Cer - July 8 - 8:34 am

  best first car to buy ever! im so happy with my decision.