Photo by Connor McManus via Pexels
Let’s be real – the Soul shouldn’t work. It looks like a toaster crossed with a sneaker. But in a world of lookalike crossovers, this funky box-on-wheels still nails the basics while making you smile. Here’s why it’s more than just a meme car:
Looks Only a Millennial Could Love (And That’s Okay)
Still a rolling rectangle? Absolutely. And thank god. That upright shape means you can actually see out of it (unlike half the coupe-SUVs out there).
2024 Tweaks: Sharper LED “eyebrow” lights, optional two-tone paint (yes, including that bright yellow), and 18-inch wheels that almost fill those oversized wheel wells.
Inside Vibe: Feels like an IKEA showroom – clean, colorful accents, and surprisingly decent materials for the price. No luxury, but zero rental-car depression either.
Driving It: Expect Commuter, Not Cannonball
The Engine: Same 2.0L 4-cylinder (147 hp). Translation: Merges fine, won’t pin you to your seat.
The CVT: Smooth-ish, avoids the “rubber band” feel of really bad CVTs.
The Win: 31 MPG combined. In today’s gas-price madness? That’s the real headline.
Handling: Turns like a go-kart. Parking? A breeze. Perfect for squeezing into downtown gaps SUVs fear.
Where It Secretly Dominates: SPACE
Back Seat: Adults won’t whine. Headroom? Massive.
Cargo Magic: Fold the seats, and it swallows 20 carry-ons (tested!). Even seats-up, you’ll fit a Costco haul + stroller.
Little Touches: Wireless charging, heated seats (yes, even in cheaper trims), and an optional head-up display. Kia gets practicality.
Tech That Doesn’t Suck
Standard: 8-inch screen w/ Apple CarPlay & Android Auto (so your phone runs the show).
Upgrade: Giant 10.25-inch screen + digital dash + Harman Kardon sound (worth it for music lovers).
Cool Security Trick: Key fob “sleep mode” stops signal thieves. Clever.
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Safety: They Didn’t Cheapest Out
Comes Standard: Auto emergency braking, lane-keeping, driver drowsiness alerts.
Upgrade Gets You: Blind-spot monitoring + rear cross-traffic alerts. Get this if you parallel park daily.
Trims: Pick Your Personality (and Budget)
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LX ($19,990): Bare-bones but not depressing. Gets Apple/Android, safety tech.
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S: Adds sporty cladding, better wheels, extra USB ports.
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GT-Line: Fake leather, red accents, aggressive bumpers. For the “I want my toaster to look angry” crowd.
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EX ($25k-ish): All the gadgets – big screen, premium audio, heated seats, sunroof. The grown-up choice.
Why Bother? (The Real Talk)
You Want to Stand Out: It’s not another blob SUV. People remember the Soul.
You’re Budget-Conscious: Starts under $20k with modern tech/safety. Try finding that elsewhere.
You Haul Stuff (or People): Seriously, the space punches way above its class.
You Hate the Gas Pump: 31 MPG laughs at bigger SUVs.
The Catch?
It’s still a cheap Kia. Road noise happens. Interior plastics get hard in places. But it’s built solidly, comes with Kia’s monster 10-year warranty, and won’t vanish in a parking lot.
The Soul is the anti-SUV SUV. It embraces its weirdness, gives you shockingly good value, and proves practical doesn’t have to be boring. If “character” matters more than status badges? Test drive one. You might just fall for the box.
