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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  Driving my Soul! - 2010 Kia Soul
  By Dean - October 16 - 4:56 am

  I am enjoying driving my new Soul. It handles well and has a lot more room and features than most people can imagine. I originally had a Prius and no one thought I would ever switch to a Kia Soul. At this point I have no complaints.

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  Soul Man - 2010 Kia Soul
  By MSCLCAR - October 14 - 11:13 am

  Ill just say this. We have a 1969 Mustang that we take to car shows around Phoenix. This car is no slouch (high 10s in the quarter mile). We also have a Denim Soul. It just happened that both cars wound up at the same show. Parked next to each other. We received more comments and questions about the Soul then we ever received on the Mustang! We also own an Optima and Spectra 5. Kia,Thats it!

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  Bless My SOUL! - 2013 Kia Soul
  By Di Matus - October 1 - 6:16 pm

  I LOVE driving my peppy little SOUL+...around town. But heaven forbid I have to get out on the open road/highway; then I feel like Im riding in a very lightweight, inexpensive vehicle (which it is). BUT...I like the styling, its fun to drive with great acceleration and the price was right. Nevertheless, Im upgrading after 3 years.

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  Continual Electronic Failures - 2012 Kia Soul
  By ohmysoul - April 15 - 9:31 am

  I purchased my 2012 Kia Soul with all the extras, my first brand new car in 25 years. The added features only work part of the time which is majorly disappointing. I have complained several times and the dealer admitted there were problems and replaced the system, TWICE! All my music was wiped out. Ive had the music go haywire while driving going between one song and another almost causing a wreck. The sun roof sometimes wont open and the backup camera sometimes wont come on. I was in a car accident that wasnt my fault and my blue tooth would NOT call 911! After all repairs the system completely locked up and I could not make or receive calls.

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  Awesome!!!! - 2016 Kia Soul
  By Rose - March 11 - 4:16 pm

  Purchased a 2016 Kia SOUL two weeks ago. Had a great salesperson named Theo Noor (highly recommend him). Went in their thinking I was going to purchase the Kia Sportage but ended up buying the Kia SOUL. This vehicle was in the price range I was looking to spend. LOVE, LOVE the vehicle so far.

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  Good buy - 2013 Kia Soul
  By dviljoen - March 10 - 11:27 pm

  We had an 01 Maxima that needed too many repairs. I didnt want a payment, but the wife wanted something new. I essentially went into the dealer and said "I want a Soul, manual transmission, white, and no options." The "no options" thing is just to give you maximum leverage, because nobody makes a vehicle with "no" options. I was almost wrong. Kia had a white Soul, manual trans, and floor mats (option). All said, it has been awesome. Only $245/mo payment, 37mpg, and plenty of room.

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  My first Kia - 2017 Kia Soul
  By Joe - January 15 - 11:16 am

  I have a three year lease on a 2017 Soul. I have owned the vehicle for just a few weeks now. In that time I have made the following observations. It is important to keep in mind that this is a base vehicle. I see it filling a niche was owned by the VW Bug, with technology and comfort. My 1.6 130 hp with an automatic transmission is plenty of motor for this car. The mileage is amazing and I love all the technology that tells me about my consumption and range. I find that I drive a bit slower in this vehicle for some reason. Getting in and out are important to me and this is done with ease. I wish the front seat had a few more adjustments but it is fairly comfortable. The Soul is easy to drive and the ergonomics are good. The technology is easy to understand and use for an older driver like me, love the Bluetooth.. This vehicle is easy to park and navigate well in tighter areas. The one real knock on the Soul is that its smaller windows create very dangerous blind spots. If you dont have a warning system and I dont, the passenger side has a huge drivers blind spot. The drivers side is also bad but not as bad. Overall I am delighted with my KIA Soul.

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  Gas mileage terrible - 2013 Kia Soul
  By ronn714 - January 1 - 9:53 am

  The reason I rated this a "1" is because of the gas mileage. I have the 2011 Soul 2.0. I wanted more bells and whistles so I had to accept the larger engine. Terrible terrible terrible gas mileage. On a full tank, I only get a range of 259 miles at best. It sucks up the gas like as if youre driving a big ol Buick back in the day. I may consider another Soul when I trade this but deffinitely not the larger engine. Its just terrible

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  steering problem - 2012 Kia Soul
  By signman945 - December 29 - 7:50 pm

  i just leased one and found it seems to wander from one side to other ,constantly having to move steering wheel back and forth (a small amount but after awhile this gets annoying)never had a vehicle do this, it is like being behind a tractor trailer or in high winds even in local traffic if you let go of wheel it goes slightly right then after correcting it for this it goes to left ,then you correct and then stars all over again, going to take back to dealer only have it for one day. test drive was on back roads not on straight open level roads

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  Feels good! - 2012 Kia Soul
  By goodstuff35 - November 20 - 2:03 am

  I purchased mine new from Lee Johnson Kia in Kirkland Wa. The experience there was excellent. I have almost 700 Miles on the Soul now. The Good: Lots of well laid out Bells and whistles. The Factory Sat radio/CD/USB/bluetooth works nicely and the sound is great for stock. The interior feels much more roomy than you would think. The 2.0L engine is very peppy and the 6 speed auto shifts smoothly. My Soul hasnt been broken in entirely yet but Im getting 22 in stop and go traffic to work and 31 on the freeway. I like the MPG display on the dash. Speaking of the dash the white and red lighting is clear in the sun and easy on the eyes at night. Big improvements in the road noise for the 2012!