Used 2020 Kia Soul

Top 10 Features of the 2020 Kia Soul

#1. Interior space
Headroom for rear passengers (39.5 inches) is virtually the same as for those up front. Rear legroom is a generous 38.8 inches (a bit more than a Toyota Camry). And maximum cargo space is 62.1 cubic feet.

#2. Reasonable pricing
The 2020 Soul starts at under $19,000. The Nissan Kicks is a close rival and costs more, yet doesn’t have the same kind of flair.

#3. Stronger structure
Kia is using more high-strength steel in the 2020 Soul than ever before. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awards it a “Top Safety Pick.”

#4. Great powertrain warranty
The 2020 Soul enjoys coverage of 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever happens soonest, for its powertrain components. That’s as good as it gets.

#5. Smart design inside and out
This new-generation Soul retains its usual cool cubist approach, while making the details more interesting. The cabin also has compelling elements, especially in the GT-Line and X-Line trims.

#6. Potential to personalize
Buyers can choose 2-tone paintwork, ambient interior lighting that syncs to music, various cabin color schemes, and a 640-watt/10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

#7. Plenty of available tech
As well as Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, which is standard through the range, the 2020 Soul also offers several driver aids, wireless charging, and a head-up display.

#8. New Soul EV has a range of 243 miles
That’s seriously impressive — enough to put “range anxiety” into the same historical trash can as Y2K worries.

#9. Economically sensible
The previous-generation Soul performed well in KBB’s 5-Year Cost to Own study, and there’s every reason to think this new Soul will stick to the script.

#10. Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT)
No one usually gets excited about continuously variable transmissions (CVT). But this one, developed in-house, is more responsive than a typical CVT and makes the most of the base engine’s 147 horsepower.

Overview

Since its debut in 2009, the Kia Soul has merged sassy style, SUV-esque functionality, a modest price, and a long 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. For buyers seeking sensible transportation infused with a healthy dollop of fun, the Soul hits the mark. Over the years, competitors have come and gone but the Soul, now in its third generation, endures. All-new for 2020, the Kia Soul lineup has diversified and now includes a thrifty $18,485 LX trim, the sporty GT-Line and a rugged X-Line (sadly not offered with all-wheel drive). Although Kia originally planned to sell a 2020 Soul EV with a range of 243 miles, that fully electric model has been delayed until 2021 because of battery availability. Internationally, however, that exceptional plug-in version of the Kia Soul took the world by a storm and garnered such a fanfare that it won the 2020 World Urban Car award by a landslide.

With a longer wheelbase and a stiffer chassis, this all-new Kia Soul moves with a sophistication not found in previous versions. The interior is comparatively quiet at higher speeds, and ride quality is more than acceptable despite the use of a low-tech torsion-beam rear axle. Note: to accommodate its battery pack, the Soul EV features a more sophisticated independent-rear suspension. In classic Soul fashion, an elevated seating position and large side glass afford occupants an outstanding view outward.

On paper the base 2.0-liter engine’s 147-horsepower output should disappoint but the CVT (continuously variable automatic transmission) it’s paired with (excluding the LX trim’s 6-speed manual) does an admirable job maximizing available power. Full-throttle acceleration fills the cabin with a strained 4-cylinder wail but for normal commuting the 2.0-liter is up to the task. More spirited Soul drivers will gravitate to the Soul GT-Line, whose optional 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and sport-tuned suspension amplify the thrill quotient.

The tidy little Kia Soul hides a deceptively huge interior. Occupant space is ample in all positions, thanks to excellent head and knee clearances plus generous rear-passenger foot space under the front seats. Material quality varies, with higher trims trading rigid plastic surfaces for fashionable stitching and softer materials.

Behind the rear seats, cargo capacity peaks at 24.2 cubic feet. That’s a competitive figure for such a small car. Adding to the Soul’s functionality is an optional dual-level floorboard that can be positioned low for maximum luggage space or raised to create a flat load area that smoothly merges with the folded rear seats.

Now in its third generation, the Soul’s distinct upright profile remains. However, the nose and tail now possess a modern, technical essence that adds gravitas to the previously playful Soul’s design. The base LX trim has 16-inch steel wheels as standard, but all other models offer alloy wheels ranging from 16 to 18 inches in size.

Adding to the standard Soul’s stylistic panache is the Soul X-Line, which presents a brawny visage via plastic body cladding and 18-inch wheels. There’s also the GT-Line, whose red accents, aggressive front and rear fascias, and unique wheels paint a distinctly sporty picture.

10.25-INCH TOUCH SCREEN
Reserved for higher trims, this wide-format screen provides a sizable canvas on which to easily view navigation, audio and phone functions.

APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO
Since most Americans own a smartphone, we love that Kia has kindly included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration on all trims. These technologies allow users to access their phone’s music, podcast, navigation and other abilities safely through their vehicle’s touch screen.

In its most elemental form, the Kia Soul LX trim includes cloth seats, a 6-way-adjustable driver seat, air conditioning, six airbags, and a 7-inch touch screen featuring a USB input, and smartphone integration by Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The base trim includes most of the essentials. However, we’d recommend shelling out a few extra bucks to add a center-console armrest and cruise control.

Move up from the base trim and you can equip your Soul with niceties like LED front lights, smart key access with push-button start, a 10.25-inch touch screen with navigation, extra USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats.

For our money, it’s worth upgrading to at least the S trim whose slightly-more-than $21,000 price tag includes active driver aids like lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning and forward-collision warning. Reserved for the priciest GT-Line 1.6T are dynamic cruise control, collision warning with pedestrian detection, flashing speaker lights, and a head-up display.

Most 2020 Kia Souls will feature a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine teamed with the continuously variable transmission. Spicing things up is a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine offered in the GT-Line. It delivers raucous acceleration…along with a bit of turbo lag at low revs and noticeable tugs through the steering wheel at full throttle. The 1.6-liter engine comes paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. We like the dual-clutch’s quick shifts but departures from a stop can feel clunky.

Kia’s automatic engine start/stop system, dubbed ISG, comes standard on all trims aside from the LX where it’s optional. The system can be deactivated but fast, smooth restarts make us inclined to just leave it on.

2.0-liter inline-4
147 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
132 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/31 mpg (manual), 27/33 mpg (CVT), 29/35 mpg (CVT, EX trim)

1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4
201 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
195 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/32 mpg

64-kWh liquid-cooled battery with DC fast-charging capability
201 horsepower
291 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 127/101 MPGe
Range on a full charge: 243 miles