The 2020 Kia Soul hatchback scopes in its goal viewers by aiming at the fringes.
Outre type, gentle-up speakers, and a minimal selling price talk to periphery customers who do not intellect buying and selling type for compound. The Soul’s mystery? Its hatchback practicality, gasoline-economical powertrains, and peaceful experience are proper down Broadway for numerous prospective buyers.
This year, the Soul is new but retains the traits that made it a surprise strike in the U.S.
Critique carries on underneath
We charge the new version at six.3 out of 10. (Read a lot more about how we charge automobiles.)
The new Soul is offered in LX, X-Line, S, EX, and GT Line trim levels. Kia hasn’t nevertheless explained how a great deal each and every will charge, but foundation automobiles will start out all over $18,five hundred and major trims will tempt $29,000. The Soul’s sweet location will be close to $21,000, however.
This year’s Soul is subtly distinctive than the car or truck it changed. It is larger by inches, but the same boxy profile has returned. We like the new experience, which is a lot more unified than the outgoing version’s split grille. Various trim levels don distinctive accents.
Inside, the interior lights are bigger and the speaker handles are different—but it is continue to functional and relaxed for grown ups.
The foundation powertrain is the most effective: a two.-liter that will make 147 horsepower mated to an automated transmission. The Soul is barely quickly, but it is agile all over city and its gearing will make it a fantastic city runabout at slower speeds.
The optional motor is a 1.six-liter turbo-4 that’s peaky and teamed with a finicky automated transmission. We do not advise it.
The Soul is also offered with an electric powertrain that we include separately.
The Soul’s satisfaction is in its packaging: it is relaxed for 4 grown ups, with a good deal of leg space for six-footers or taller. The hatchback has an effortless entry (which appealed to older prospective buyers who snapped up the past era in droves) and roomy cargo region that opens up to a lot more than sixty cubic ft with the rear seats folded.
It is peaceful down the road and a lot more relaxed than its minimal selling price would counsel.
Most Souls will be secure (we couldn’t assistance ourselves). Energetic protection capabilities are involved on S trims and bigger and include automated crisis braking and lane-departure warnings. Leading GT Traces get the whole house: blind-location screens, adaptive cruise control, and a head-up display screen.
Foundation automobiles skip energetic protection and a handful of creature comforts but offer you 16-inch wheels, fabric upholstery, a 7.-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Automobile compatibility, a single USB port, and a minimal selling price.
A big, vivid 10.3-inch touchscreen is offered on major trims together with a lot more USB ports, a wireless phone charger and interior ambient lights.
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