The Kia Soul has dominated the market since its United States debut in 2008. Quickly becoming one of the most renowned and popular cars, the Kia Soul began to appear everywhere at every Kia Soul dealer and can be seen on the road in all areas of the nation. Its trendiness, compactness, spacious interior, and advanced technology make it a hot commodity. You may be thinking, “well, this all sounds great on paper, but what about the actual driving experience?” Well, I can tell you as a 2015 Kia Soul driver that the Kia Soul is one of the best-driving, most durable cars you will experience in your lifetime. That is coming from a 2015 Kia Soul driver; wait until you hear about the new 2022 model.
You should not hesitate to get into your Kia Soul dealer for a test drive today, but just in case you need some convincing, let’s take a look at the best features of the Kia Soul. While there are several different Kia Soul models available (the LX, S, GT-Line, X-Line, EX, and Turbo), I will focus primarily on the Turbo, which offers the most dynamic and exciting driving experience. Let’s go.
Compactness
“Small” is not the right word for the Kia Soul. Its compact size allows it to be easily maneuverable, easily parkable, and never a hassle. Think not, dear reader, that the compact build of the Kia Soul makes for a small interior; quite the opposite, the Kia Soul seats five. “Five?” You ask? “Well, that surely must be a tight fit.” On the contrary, the interior is amazingly comfortable both for the driver as well as the passengers, with 102.2 cubic feet of passenger space. The interior provides plenty of legroom for passengers and provides a very comfortable experience for the driver, with newer models offering a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat. While this car may look small from the outside, its interior is quite spacious and impressive.
Storage Space
As compact as it is, the Kia Soul offers a great deal of storage space. On top of its spacious trunk, the back seats are 60/40 rear folding seats providing a total of 62.1 cubic feet of cargo space. Additionally, there is storage underneath the deck of the trunk space for more compact items. All of the extra legroom mentioned above provides ample storage space, should you need to transport a large number of items and a small number of passengers.
Fuel Economy
The Kia Soul offers very competitive gas mileage between two different engines with tire-size options. The 2.0L I-4 engine offers 29 MPG in the city, 35 MPG on the highway, and 31 MPG combined. The 1.6L turbocharged I-4 engine offers a fuel economy of 27 MPG in the city, 32 MPG on the highway, and 29 MPG combined. While the turbocharged engine offers a slightly lower fuel economy, one of the benefits of obtaining this engine is that it offers 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, whereas the 2.0L I-4 engine offers only 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. So, it is important to identify your priorities and determine which engine will be the better practical and economic fit for your purposes. No matter which engine you decide upon, the Kia Soul offers excellent fuel economy.
Eco-Friendly Options
Kia is known for being exceptionally dedicated to producing eco-friendly vehicles through initiatives such as ECO-Dynamics, which strives for zero emissions. You can rest assured that Kia is working around the clock to provide vehicles that are more friendly to our environment. In addition to the regular engine-operated Kia Soul, Kia does offer the Kia Soul EV Electric Motor, which is a totally electric, zero-emissions car and the first of its kind to be sold internationally.
Safety Features
The Kia Soul is constructed using an Iso-Structure, meaning it is constructed from very advanced steel, making it extremely durable in the case of a collision. This is not something to take lightly. I can tell you first hand that Kia’s are amazingly durable; this car is built to keep you safe.
It also has fantastic safety technology using a Traction Control System, Electronic Stability Control, and Vehicle Stability Management. These are all newer features that will greatly improve your drive. My model does not have these features, and even at that, my Kia has gotten me through some pretty intense drives, including heavy rain, snow, and sleet. With these features, though, you will be able to have a much more relaxed experience while still driving attentively, of course.
The Kia Soul has made leaps and bounds in recent years regarding its safety features. Recent safety technology additions include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, which uses a radar system to detect any possible collisions and automatically applies the brakes when necessary. Blind-Spot Collision Warning uses a similar radar system to send out auditory and visual signals when there is an object out of the drivers’ line of vision in a blind spot. Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist monitors any activity behind the car as you back up so as to avoid a crash. Finally, Smart Cruise Control automatically accelerates or decelerates the car in order to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you.
Steering
Now, as stated above, I drive a 2015 Kia Soul, and my model does not have quite the same safety technology as described above; but, even at that, of all the cars I have driven, I find the Kia Soul to have the best steering mechanics. The vehicle is easily maneuverable, and the steering wheel is quickly responsive without being overly sensitive. I quickly became acquainted with my steering wheel, and I find that if you’re in a situation that requires you to react quickly, you will feel very comfortable behind this steering wheel.
Technology
Aside from the fantastic safety technology, the Kia Soul provides a great deal of practical and entertainment technology. This is another area in which the Kia Soul has greatly advanced in recent years, having first introduced a 5-inch touchscreen in the 2019 model and increasing to a screen as large as 10.25-inch in the 2022 model. Older models do not include a touchscreen but still provide excellent technology features such as Bluetooth audio, contact syncing, and USB ports. The newer models, however, offer a great deal of advanced technology features, including wireless charging (this is a huge draw if you’re like me and you always end up either losing or ruining your charging chords), Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
Now, if you have a Kia model compatible with the Kia Access app, I will say this to you: download the app immediately! The Kia Access App provides a number of helpful features, including remote start with climate control (say goodbye to the days of waiting for the car to heat up or cool down), UVO voice assist, which allows the driver to search online for Points of Interest rather than searching offline using the vehicle’s tools, 911 Connect and Roadside Assistance which will automatically call 911 in the event that the airbags should deploy, and other features available with compatible devices.
Trendiness
If everything described above was not enough to convince you, a main selling point of the Kia Soul is simply that it is a fantastic-looking car and only getting nicer by the day. Its compact SUV build gives it a unique, strong, yet subtle appearance and its wide variety of color options (and color combinations) allow for a variety of different moods. Newer models provide mood lighting in the interior, as well as a personal favorite new feature which is reactive Speaker Lights with Multiple Ambience Themes. Yes, the speakers have lights that react to the audio being played in the vehicle; yes, it’s that cool.
Little But Mighty
The Kia Soul may look like a small, unassuming car from the outside, but if you feel that way, you’ve clearly never been inside one. If you know somebody who drives a Kia Soul, ask them to go for a ride. The different models range in price, but the Turbo model will give you the full package of all the best features, and you are going to want most of those features, especially the newest safety features (honestly, though, I think we all just want those reactive Speaker Lights). This car is compact, but it holds a lot inside of it. I find my Kia to be a very social car; it’s the kind of car that I want to invite people into to go for a drive without any specific destination because the drive is just that enjoyable.
