With its bulldog nose, edgy roofline, and boxy, appliance-like tail, the Kia
Soul brought a new attitude to small cars--as well as more practicality and
small-car spirit to small utility vehicles. Just one look inside and out is all
it takes to see and understand why the Kia Soul has been a very popular small
vehicle, far outselling other boxes like the Nissan Cube and Scion xB.
Understandably, the Soul has seen very few changes to its design or package.
Last year the Soul became a little quicker and a little more fuel-efficient,
thanks to revised powertrains, but it's stuck to its formula in hitting the
sweet spot for U.S. commuters looking for a second (or first) car with style,
flexibility, and frugality. There's still nothing else quite like it.
The base 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine now has 135 horsepower, while the
upgraded 2.0-liter has 164 hp. With six-speed manual and automatic
transmissions, and a new Eco package (including an engine stop-start system),
the Soul's fuel economy should hit a new peak of 29/36 mpg. And with an eager,
frisky feel in terms of handling and low-speed responsiveness, the Soul works
very well as an urban runabout.
