2016 Kia Soul Research & Reviews

Overview & Reviews

Average Score

4.63/5 Average
24 Total Reviews

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 24.00
  • 2015 Kia Soul Exclaim w/ Umber2 pkg. - 2016 Kia Soul
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    This car has it all. I bought it used from a dealership in Dallas Texas. One previous owner. Clear carfax report. Came w/ all service info she had done. Only one smart key, and no spare tire. Ive ordered these 2 items online. Comfortable for 4 adults. Lots of room. Im 64" tall. Almost a stretch for me w/ drivers seat all the way back & and still lots of room in the back seat. Has a killer stereo, subscribed to SIRIUS XM radio. A fun car to drive.

  • 4 or 5 depending on expectations - 2016 Kia Soul
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    Was looking for something that could hold a family of three, one still rocking a car seat, and be enjoyable when I rode alone to and from work (plus I love the aesthetics). Got a topped out version of the plus model after considering the Exclaim. The features I wanted while shaving off about $1500/$2000 off the price, though I think if I wanted the additional features the Exclaim is certainly worth looking at. Driving Impression: Engine - meh. Just okay with the 2.0 liter. But, I am fine with that. If they come out with the much discussed turbo model, I think that will sell briskly and make it the alternative to the VW GTI. Doesnt struggle to keep up in traffic or pass. Just doesnt blow your hair back. Braking seems solid. Wind noise is less than I expected considering the shape. Ride feels composed on the highway. Visibility is spectacular. Body roll around corners is average. Interior - Got the leather with ventilated/heated seats, a huge touch screen display with navigation (no service to buy to use it either.....bonus!) Back seat easily fit my kids carseat. Would probably be tight if he was still in an infant seat. Lots of soft touch materials. Odometer display is a bit lackluster. Back seats are comfy for an adult of average height. Nice bonus that the outboard seats are also heated. USB port and 2 120v adapters up front too. Storage - Plenty of cup holders, a nice little cubby space for change and a glasses holder. Armrest storage feels a little insubstantial and doesnt come with any useful trays or anything. Wish you could adjust it a bit. glove box is cavernous. The rear storage cover is great and can be adjusted or removed if needed. Storage being the rear seats is adequate and honestly larger than anticipated considering the size of the vehicle. Storage under the floor cover are a wonderful surprise. Overall: I would probably give it a 4.5 star review if possible. I think, dollar for dollar, it checks all the boxes and then some with room for only minor improvements. I am thrilled with it and actually am looking a lot more forward to my commute.

  • Delighted with zippy yellow mini box! - 2016 Kia Soul
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    This is a replacement for my under powered original 2006 Scion xB. Dont get me wrong, loved the xB but the Soul+ has the power the xB lacked and is just plain fun to drive! $19K price was delivered, i.e. included tags, tax, and title costs....everything!

  • my alien soul - 2016 Kia Soul
    By -

    I really like my Kia Soul its small but that is what we were looking for we already have a full size truck it get really good gas mileage more then what they said we would get has a lot of storage room and good leg room in the back seats

  • Letting my Soul Shine - 2016 Kia Soul
    By -

    I have been driving my Soul for almost 2 weeks. My husband & I both love it! It handles well & has been easy to maneuver on our busy highways North of Boston. I have had no problem with speed while pulling out & merging with traffic. The drivers side seat electronic seat adjustments have helped me with my visibility as I am on the shorter side. Also, the space under the drivers seat is perfect to stash my bag while driving. The heated/ventilated seats in the front are fabulous & recently sat in the heated comfortable backseat. I have not experienced driving in snow as of yet, but have driven in rain & at night. The ride has been smooth on all occasions. The ECO button gave me a nice 29mpg for my highway driving.

  • Great vehicle for the price - 2016 Kia Soul
    By -

    The 2016 Kia Soul performs better than expected . Interior space is better than expected for a vehicle of this size. Despite the reviews in regards to performance, the 2.0 power plant does a very good job for the normal everyday driver. I have managed to get 29 miles per gallon in town with light foot driving practices. The steering is very responsive and the four wheel disc brakes are much better than average. The ride comfort is a bit stiff on rough roads but acceptable. I would recommend the base+ if you dont need every bell and whistle available. The cost for additional packages is a bit costly in my view. The plus has the back up camera feature and touch screen on the dash. It also has fog lights and automatic headlight feature. I will comment on two areas for change in my view. The fact that the Soul does not have a spare tire is very important to me. The spare tire kit will cost you an additional $200.00. It is possible you could be setting for some time if you depend on roadside assistance. The spare tire will get you on the road in less time by far. The additional area I would comment on is the rear wheel well. The material that is used in the rear wheel well area is almost carpet like. It holds the mud and salt in our area and is hard to clean even with high pressure spray. I am concerned about this materials ability to hold up under mud, snow and gravel situations. It should be a heavy duty plastic like the front wheel well area. Overall it is a great vehicle for the money invested. The 2016 Kia Soul should be considered for the budget minded consumer or anyone that would like to have fun in a new vehicle.

  • Versatility, practicality and value - 2016 Kia Soul
    By -

    I purchased a 2016 KIA Soul Base automatic. I paid $14.5k before taxes and registration. At this price point the Soul represents an excellent value and I would recommend it. Strong points: Versatility, practicality and excellent warranty. The wagon/hatchback layout is much more versatile than a traditional sedan, at a significantly lower price than a comparably-sized SUV/crossover. KIA’s 5y/60k miles bumper-to-bumper and 10y/100k miles powertrain warranty offers excellent protection for budget-minded buyers. Weak points: Lackluster performance and comfort. Performance from the stock 1.6L engine is adequate but the Soul is definitely not a fast vehicle. Very smooth transmission with relatively low gearing helps to maintain car dynamics, but at the expense of fuel economy and engine noise. Comfort is good for short drives, but long road trips are tiresome. And don’t mistake the Soul for a “real” SUV/crossover – if you want higher ground clearance, AWD or even minimal towing capability, look elsewhere. Performance: The Base 1.6L engine delivers adequate power for city driving and reasonable highway performance, but the Soul isn’t fast. The transmission gearing keeps the engine relatively revved-up (compared to other modern cars), helping to improve driving dynamics, but at the expense of fuel economy and increased cabin noise. Even with 4 adults the Soul does not feel underpowered at normal highway speeds and typical interstate inclines, but acceleration is only adequate, at best. Fuel economy isn’t what one would expect from a vehicle of this size. The 6-speed automatic transmission is very smooth and usually picks the right gears for the driving conditions, helping to make the most of the little engine. But it also keeps the rpm’s relatively high (close to 3,000 at interstate speeds), resulting in more engine noise. Comfort: The Soul offers a lot of space for the money and there is enough room for 4 fully grown adults to ride in relative comfort. Sitting position is very good with generous leg, head and elbow room, both in the front and the rear. However, the seats are not all that comfortable for long rides. Front seats offer good lateral support, but lumbar support is nonexistent, and there are a few “hard spots” in the seatbacks making prolonged rides somewhat tiring. Rear seats are very flat bench-like, and the seatback angle does not help to adopt a relaxed position for a long ride. Access is excellent thanks to the low floor, tall roof and large doors. The ride is stiff but adequate for the size and class of vehicle, and not overwhelmingly harsh. Cabin sound level is good during city driving and adequate at highway speeds. Both engine and road noise are kept down to reasonable levels. Quality and fit-and-finish: Interior materials are good for vehicle class and price. All panels fit nicely and everything seems solid and well made. There are no squeaks or rattles when driving over uneven road surfaces, and in general the vehicle feels very solid. Cargo space and versatility: The wagon/hatchback layout offers a lot of versatility. The cargo space is adequate and the trunk layout is very clever. There is a cargo organizer tray under the trunk floor, allowing to keep valuable out-of-sight and organized, at the expense of some cargo space above. This tray can be removed, and the trunk floor can be lowered increasing the cargo space by about 30% to accommodate large suitcases. And of course the back seats can be folded, providing plenty of space for large objects. Equipment: As all KIAs, the Soul comes well equipped even in the most basic trim, with a good audio system that includes satellite radio, Bluetooth and voice commands. Pairing-up a phone is quick and easy, and voice commands work generally well. The basic A/C-heater performance is adequate and it is not as noisy as in other economy vehicles. Privacy glass is a nice detail that helps to keep your stuff out-of-sight and the interior cool. Soul comes without a spare tire, but you can buy a tire-jack kit for under $200. Safety: Passive safety is very good with a 5-star rating from NHTSA and Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. The Base model lacks some of the modern active safety features such as lane departure, blind spot monitoring or front collision warning/avoidance, but for the price it is a very safe choice. Visibility is very good all-around. Controls are simple, intuitive and very ergonomic. Handling and steering are adequate considering that the Soul is pretty high. Braking is adequate with good pedal feel. Headlights are average with good low-beams. High beams have good reach but provide little illumination to the road surface. Final verdict: For less than $15k the Soul is a strong value and an excellent choice for anybody who wants a versatile, practical vehicle on a budget. KIA’s excellent warranty provides extra protection that otherwise is only available through a pricey extended warranty.

  • Feels good - 2016 Kia Soul
    By -

    Just feel good.

  • Dont know yet - 2016 Kia Soul
    By -

    too early to give a good evaluation, but quite happy so far.

  • Awesome!!!! - 2016 Kia Soul
    By -

    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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