2025 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul has a lot of space for something that doesn’t take up a lot of space. That’s the joy of the boxy design. The looks also make a statement, since there’s nothing else like a Soul. Kia really hit on something interesting with this car.

If we were stretching definitions, we could call the Soul a subcompact SUV. It does indeed ride a touch higher than a typical hatchback. Or perhaps it occupies a niche of its own. Anyway, the argument might be academic. Take a quick scroll through our owner reviews and you’ll find buyers who have gone from one Soul to a newer version (this third generation debuted for 2020), or bought one for themselves after getting one for their other half. They praise the Soul for its great value, fun driving manners, and laudable fuel efficiency. A good car is a good car, and the Soul is definitely good.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of subcompact SUVs, including the Kia Soul.

The Soulmate Special Edition of the top EX trim is the main Soul news for 2025. For an extra $1,000, it adds a few interior and exterior touches, plus an upgraded audio system.

Most people like the Soul for its low entry price, choosing the LX over the other trims. However, we think the next-up S is also worth considering, because it comes with blind-spot monitoring (more safety equipment is always a good idea) along with a larger infotainment touchscreen.

In the same kind of category as the Soul (if there is such a class as “Reasonably Priced yet Characterful and Practical Subcompact Sort-of SUVs”) are the Chevrolet Trax, Hyundai Venue, and the redesigned-for-2025 Nissan Kicks.

Before buying a new Soul, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. The Soul’s resale values are respectable. Remember, recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

With four people on board and various bits of luggage, we enjoyed how the Soul’s modest 147 horsepower moved us along quite nicely. Around town and then on faster roads, it did the job. Once on the freeway, we raised our voices a little and turned up the radio a bit, because noise levels increased accordingly, but we still found the drive more than tolerable. This is just one little snapshot of life with the Soul. We’ve also found that it’s extremely maneuverable, easy to park, sufficiently comfortable — in terms of seating and suspension — for commutes and longer trips alike, and that driver aids like adaptive cruise control work well.

Fuel Economy

The Soul’s meager appetite for fuel is pretty much matched by rivals like the Chevy Trax and Hyundai Venue, achieving 30 mpg in combined city/highway driving.

Thanks to a slightly raised stance, getting into and out of the Soul is especially easy. Although the Soul has a youthful appeal, those with creakier joints might also like to check it out.

The interior design doesn’t have quite the same charm as the exterior. Unsurprisingly, there are some cheap plastics here and there. At least we’ve found the cabin to be user-friendly and practical, and we appreciate the excellent outward vision. The new Soulmate Special Edition treatment brings an umber (brown) interior color scheme, simulated leather/cloth seating surfaces, and a Harman Kardon audio system.

A high roof means plenty of headroom in both rows. This isn’t a wide car, so while two adults sitting in the back will be fine, three make the proverbial crowd. Rear legroom is 38.1 inches, great for something with a subcompact footprint. Cargo space is equally impressive, ranging from 24.2 cubic feet with the 60/40 rear seats up, to a commodious 62.1 cubic feet when those seats are folded (they don’t go completely flat, though).

We like the Soul’s blend of fun and function. The cubist approach not only imparts a distinct character, it helps maximize interior space — while that straight back end makes reversing so easy. The Soul’s small footprint overall is an absolute boon in tight parking spots. This year’s Soulmate Special Edition package adds SUV-like side cladding, special-design 18-inch alloy wheels, and a contrasting roof color.

Design
It’s subjective, admittedly. And praising something that’s essentially a box on wheels seems counter-intuitive. But it’s this very approach that, in our eyes, makes the Soul so special.

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Despite being a relatively low-priced new car, the 2025 Soul still comes with phone integration as standard. We don’t like being without it these days.

Cargo space
There’s plenty of it, and the Soul’s shape makes sure it’s accessible and practical.

Infotainment system
The S model, just one trim up from the base version, comes with an upgraded infotainment system that includes a 10.25-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, navigation, and wireless charging. This would be our preference.

Harman Kardon audio system
Available as an option in the GT-Line or as part of the EX’s Soulmate Special Edition package, we think this is a great-sounding setup. And it’s accompanied by speaker lights up front that can pulsate in time to the music.

Sunroof
The GT-Line and the EX both have a sunroof with a powered shade, making the already airy cabin feel even more open.

The Soul uses a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. There are no turbochargers or anything similar. Power goes just to the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission. There’s no option for all-wheel drive.

5-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

Kia has some of the best warranties around. The new-car coverage is five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. A typical warranty here is three years or 36,000 miles. The powertrain warranty lasts 10 years or 100,000 miles, almost twice as good as some competitors.

Safety Ratings

This generation of Soul has taken top scores of Good in the main crash tests carried out by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and earned four stars out of a possible five overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety features include forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping assistance.