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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  Feels good - 2016 Kia Soul
  By Jing He - February 2 - 3:09 pm

  Just feel good.

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  Good value for the money - 2014 Kia Soul
  By CMR - January 23 - 12:11 pm

  I,was coming out of a toyota rav4 lease in March and due to a back problem I still needed a car that was easy to get into and out of. My friend suggested a KIA SOUL he was right. I visited my local dealer and drove a 2014 soul. Much to my surprise the seat was more comfortable then may RAV 4. Also the soul has a better fell. On the down side it needs better pick up for merging with traffic. Great second car for the money. So far no complaints.

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  My Kia Dragon - 2010 Kia Soul
  By mykiki - January 19 - 10:33 pm

  I love my Soul but hate the highway mileage. The city miles are better than average, but mileage goes down on the highway. Not a vacation vehicle but the most fun I ever had driving.

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  Love my SOUL - 2010 Kia Soul
  By Liberdee - January 7 - 4:50 pm

  I am very thrilled and excited about my new SOUL. I got the base model and it has all the features that I need and they all come STANDARD. I priced a Nissan and NOTHING came standard, even the ABS and the warranty had to be purchased extra. My Base SOUL came with 6 mos. free satellite radio (love it) excellent stereo, no flashy lights - no problem with me! Auto locks and windows. It even detects if a person is sitting in the passengers seat by weight to determine if the passenger air bag should be on or off. WOW. I am sooo pleases. Fun to drive and excellent value for the price. Base starts at 13,300. and goes up from there. I used the cash for clunkers program and now have my dream!

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  Great little car for the money - 2010 Kia Soul
  By ldkred - December 26 - 9:06 pm

  Just purchased a Soul+. Cute, fun car. Seats are very comfortable and love the design of the car. Has more room than thought at first glance. Like the clearance from the ground. I love this car. It suits my needs, greats great gas mileage and super fun!

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  Poor fuel Consumption - 2010 Kia Soul
  By Mike - December 24 - 1:56 pm

  Overall I like the car but Im very disappointed with the poor fuel consumption. After doing lots of research I was under the impression that I should get about 30 mpg on the hwy, which is were I do most of my driving, even the dealer told me 30+ mpg. Im lucky if I get 25 mpg, I would have never bought this car knowing this because I was looking for something with good fuel economy. Kia needs to step up and do something about the poor fuel economy on this car..

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  Loving IT! - 2014 Kia Soul
  By Derek - December 17 - 1:37 am

  What a great little car. I got the base model with the 6 speed manual transmission. The shifting is easy and the clutch engages nicely. I love the "hill holder" feature - car doesnt roll on a hill while you get going from a dead stop. There have been a couple of minor recalls on my car which the dealer has taken care of. Other than those, NOTHING has gone wrong with this car in 43,000 miles. The good is the gas mileage, I average about 35 miles per gallon. About half of my driving is under nearly ideal conditions for mileage, but the other half is stop and go. The bad is I have the 1.6 liter engine, just enough to keep up with traffic, but not much power to spare. The other weak point is when backing up, the rear visibility is not that good. The cabin is quiet at all speeds, the seats and ride are firm, but comfortable and the cornering and braking are great. Overall I would buy this car again. The low price, the long warranty (which I have not needed at all) and the quality make this car a winner.

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  My First Kia - 2011 Kia Soul
  By jttheawesome - December 9 - 7:12 am

  I have owned several Hyundai products previously, and I know that Kia is a "kissing cousin" to Hyundai. Therefore, I expected high quality when I got into my 2011 Kia soul, and was not disappointed. I bought it "lightly used" with only 8,500 miles on it, so its essentially a new car. Its much roomier than it appears, and has almost as much interior space as my 2005 Tuscon. Fuel mileage is excellent, getting no less than 30 MPG around town and around 37 on the road. It handles quite nicely, and rides better than my previous car, a 2008 Nissan Sentra. And most importantly, it makes me feel young! (Maybe it makes me look younger, too.....)

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  Not all seashells and balloons - 2010 Kia Soul
  By MU9294 - December 3 - 3:50 pm

  My wife purchased this vehicle to replace her aging Mazda6 sedan. The Soul definitely stands out in the crowd and its appeal hinges on the emotional buying factors. The vehicle rides ok but can be rough on bumpy roads, especially with the 18" wheels and low-profile tires. There is a significant amount of highway wind noise. The stereo system is great and we use that to drown out the wind noise. Interior design is really nice but the quality of the materials is dubious. There are many nicks and scratches - even from light use. The biggest drawback is handling in snow. This vehicle gets stuck easily in less than 6" of snow and skids quite a bit. On dry roads it handles great.

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  Just Awesome - 2010 Kia Soul
  By 613Soul - November 30 - 8:46 pm

  This car is just amazing. If you are looking online for reviews and reading articles, STOP NOW, go and buy one. Very solid build, the motor is plenty powerful to haul the weight of the car and 5 passengers. People stop dead in their tracks and stare at this car with a huge smile - it demands attention. Sound system is insane. I have a 4 gig USB drive full of MP3s/ If i get sick of that, i switch to Sirius Satellite Radio, if i get sick of that, it switch to my ipod, i get sick of that i switch to FM radio, i get sick of that i switch to CDs. Ridiculous options. * I should not that my model is actually the 4U Retro in Canada.