![]() It's suitable for around-town duty, but it feels flustered making highway passes, or carrying a lot of cargo.Ī 2.0-liter inline-4 is offered in the Plus models (Kia uses the punctuation "+" rather than the word, but we're opting for the word) that makes 161 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque. If that sounds slow, that's because it is. The base Soul is powered by a 1.6-liter inline-4 that makes 130 horsepower an 118 pound-feet of torque, which can be mated to a 6-speed manual or automatic. The Soul is offered in three models, each with different powertrain options. It earns a 6 out of 10 on our performance scale. ![]() The turbo keeps us from dinging the Soul a point on its poky engines, and we've added another point for a range of transmission choices that we like. It's a meaningful addition, and one that we'd like to see applied to the rest of the range. Plus models may hit the sweet spot for many buyers, although its starting price of more than $20,000 seems like a far cry from the $16,840 entry price for base models.Ī heavy hand on the options list can inflate the Soul's prictag beyond $25,000, but at least buyers will have the bragging rights of ordering a car from the factory with a so-called "Primo Package," which is nice. We'd stop short of calling that excellent base equipment because some features such as cruise control and a center console armrest were left off the list.Ī long list of options bundles can add everything from leather to ventilated seats or an 8.0-inch touchscreen. The rearview camera is bundled in a $500 optional package that requires an automatic transmission (a $1,560 option for base cars).īeyond our gripes with the rearview camera, the Soul is fairly well equipped with air conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, cloth seats, and a 60/40-split folding rear seat. One of them? If you want to add a rearview camera to base models, you'll have to shell out more than $2,000 to do it. It stops short of earning higher marks for a couple reasons. Our favorite part: rear-seat passengers get more than 39 inches of leg room, which is more than many SUVs.įederal testers give the Soul a five-star overall rating, and the IIHS has given it top "Good" scores. Most body types will find enough room around the Soul's tiny footprint. Drop the 60/40-split rear seats down and more than 60 cubes can fit into the Soul. With the seats up, more than 24 cubic gear can be stuffed behind the rear seats. The Soul excels in interior packaging with enough room for four adults and plenty of gear. In all cases, the Soul is composed on the road, although its ride is a little harsh and its tall center of gravity doesn't help much on twisty roads. It's paired exclusively with a smooth shifting 7-speed dual-clutch automatic that we like very much, but the turbo models still howl like the others when pushed past 4,000 rpm. The new top-of-the-line Exclaim models get a 201-hp turbo-4 borrowed from the Elantra Sport that makes the Soul more confident-not necessarily sporty. These models are better on the highway, but we've found that a searching 6-speed manages to spoil the fun a little. Plus models get a 161-hp 2.0-liter inline-4 with a 6-speed automatic that picks up the pace a little. It's fine for around-town duty, but we'll tell it like it is: base cars are slow. The Soul is offered in base, Plus, and Exclaim trims (Kia uses the punctuation "+" and "!" marks, which we'll avoid for clarity) each with a different engine and transmission combo.īase models get a poky, 130-horsepower 1.6-liter inline-4 that can be mated to a 6-speed manual or automatic. There's an acre of black plastic in the dash, but there are hints and touches of chrome and glossy trim that break up those boring places. Inside, the Soul is a little more subdued with attention paid in places. Perhaps that's because the roofline and proportions are just right chunky body panels and dramatic angles just complement those elements without taking over themselves. It's a shape that's been around with us for a few years but doesn't manage to get old. The Kia Soul is heavy on style thanks to its compact and boxy stance and flair. The Soul is teeming with style and capability, its only letdowns are overall performance from base models and not-so-great fuel economy figures. The 2017 Soul earns a 6.5 on our overall scale. The compact hatchback is among our favorites for style and versatility-and that's before we've talked about the starting price. ![]() The 2017 Kia Soul gets a much-needed engine upgrade this year to complement its good looks and great packaging. ![]()
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