2020 Kia Soul GT-Line: This budget box has one setting
"The 2020 Kia Soul remains a practical, attractive and affordable CUV that everyone can love."
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Outstanding styling
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Design forward cabin
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Lots of space
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High-tech functions available
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Turbo drivetrain is a failure
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Advanced security features are optional
Last generation Kia Soul hamsters ran out of town. Why? The new soul frightened her. These cute rodents aimed to get younger drivers into the box-shaped vehicle.
Things are different now. Everyone knows the soul, but it knows the cute version. The all-new 2020 Kia Soul is here to show a new side of the machine – a sharper, more aggressive edge to prove that it's good to go against the grain.
Hatchback? SUV? CUV? You could technically argue that the soul is all of this. The classification is not important because you get the best of all worlds. Due to the size of the small car, the price of the basic LX fairing starts at an affordable $ 17,490. Switch to the GT-Line Turbo, the vehicle we tested for a week, and you'll see a starting price of $ 27,490. That is still affordable by today's standards.
It is obvious that American consumers are sticking to their crossovers. But unlike CUVs, which stick to a recipe, the Soul, especially in the GT Line equipment, breaks the mold to give buyers an idea of how fun, cheap and versatile it looks. From this point of view, it's great, but not perfect.
Interior and exterior design
The old soul was a box on wheels, and the new one too. A look at the soul can take you back to elementary school when you had to deal with these horrible square milk cartons. Just add four wheels.
While the overall silhouette has not changed, almost everything else has changed. The headlights have moved down on the front fairing, while slim daytime running lights are now connected to each other via a wafer-thin grille. On the back, the taillights have a hockey stick shape that is connected at the top.
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The 2020 Soul has a more muscular aesthetic that contrasts sharply with the enchanting look of the last generation model. You can also specify the soul with a two-tone color scheme for additional character.
Choose either the X-Line or one of the GT-Line panels, and your Subcompact CUV comes with a unique body kit. The X-Line gives the impression of an off-road CUV with special 18-inch wheels, roof rails and body panels. The two GT Line claddings are characterized by a sporty design. The GT-Line Turbo has different wheels, red emblems, black trim parts and an exhaust with a central exit.
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People may be split over the outer design of the soul, but this box brings the warmth inside. Legroom and headroom are plentiful in both rows, with even the largest passengers forgetting that they have descended to the rear. The benefits are equally impressive as the Soul can carry 24.2 cubic feet of cargo behind the rear seats and can hold a total of 62.1 cubic feet of cargo. These numbers make the Soul one of the more spacious options in this segment, beating the Hyundai Kona, Nissan Kicks and Honda HR-V.
Besides all of this utility, there is still a fun element. From the triangular ventilation slots to the room-like paneling that surrounds the door handle and loudspeakers, the Soul's cabin is chic and yet functional. Our Soul GT-Line Turbo was supplied with mood lighting that corresponds to the rhythm of the music in different colors or themes such as "Midnight City", "Café" and "Romance".
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Though spacious, the Soul is an affordable way to get around, so it has a fair proportion of hard plastics and rough materials. Still, nothing feels cheap. The Soul GT-Line Turbo feels and looks good for a car that costs less than $ 29,000. The leather and fabric seats are robust, yet comfortable. The heated seats heat your back faster than a whirlpool.
Tire and wind noise can disturb calm at highway speeds, and the seats feel quite high in their lowest position. Of course, this may not be a disadvantage for consumers who yearn for this CUV feeling.
Technical functions
With Kia you can reach far into your pocket to use the best technical functions, but this economy box offers a lot of technical standard. Most panels have a 7-inch touchscreen that includes both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, this is nothing unusual since almost every competitor can keep up with it.
Where the soul really flexes its muscles is when you start to get higher in the food chain. The EX and GT-Line Turbo models feature a massive 10.25-inch touchscreen and Kia's sophisticated UVO infotainment system. This is one of the largest screens in this segment, clearly outperforming the available 8-inch screen of the Hyundai Kona and the 7-inch touch screens of the Nissan Kicks and Honda HR-V. As an added benefit, you get wireless charging with the larger screen.
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After spending time with both systems, this is an easy decision. Get the bigger 10.25-inch screen. The standard 7-inch device is Basic – iPhone 6 Basic Level. The 10.25-inch screen with the UVO system is a gem and offers clear, crisp images in an intuitive layout. The extra wide length brings three really helpful things – navigation, audio and weather – to the foreground and to the center. If one of them doesn't sound important, there are numerous customization options that you can use to set priorities as you wish.
The soul's security features follow the same trajectory as their infotainment systems. All you get with the base panel is a rear view camera. The higher the ladder you climb, the more you get. The GT-Line Turbo is filled with almost everything under the sun, including blind spot monitoring, pedestrian detection, and lane departure warning. A retractable head-up display is also included in the security cocktail.
Most of the driver assistance functions work as desired – with the exception of Lane Keeping Assist. This fool will pull the wheel out of your hands to keep you from drifting on another trail. Some nitpickers may think that the head-up screen looks cheap too. That may be true, but it works and it's a feature you won't find on Honda HR-V and Nissan Kicks.
Experience behind the wheel
Two drive trains are available for the soul. Five of the six fairings are equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 147 hp and 132 pound-feet of torque. The engine is coupled to a continuously variable transmission, which Kia calls "intelligent variable transmission" or IVT.
Only the GT-Line Turbo has a different grinder. This equipment is equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 201 hp and 195 lb.-ft. accomplishes. of the torque. The engine also has a unique transmission in the form of a seven-speed double clutch.
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With 54 additional horses and a dual clutch transmission, you can expect the GT-Line Turbo to bring performance to the fore. And you would be right. However, the drivetrain has some serious shortcomings that make it clear how unathletic the small car CUV really is.
The peppy engine doesn't lack grunts, but the way it breaks down power in one massive pull instead of a gentle swallow is staggering. The problem is exacerbated by the dual clutch transmission, which shifts slowly and is chunky. Low speeds and fast, unexpected performance gains. Pushing the throttle from a standstill does not result in immediate power supply, which makes parking a difficult situation.
The expensive GT-Line turbo fairing is a simple pass.
In addition to the engine, the GT-Line Turbo has a firmer suspension. The ride is stiff, but the soul doesn't feel smooth in corners because the box-shaped design limits its true performance potential. Around the corner, the Soul shows a body roll that fits a small car CUV, and the Goodyear Eagle Touring tires of the GT-Line Turbo do not inspire confidence.
Ironically, the front-wheel drive layout of the Soul is not a deal breaker. Other small cars like the Nissan Kicks and the Toyota C-HR are also only equipped with front-wheel drive. They still have 6.7 inches of ground clearance, which is a decent amount to deal with snow. However, if you want real off-road skills, you have to look at the Jeep Renegade.
With the problems of the powertrain and the particularly bumpy ride, which does not offer any real sporting potential, the expensive GT-Line turbo fairing is an easy pass.
Fuel consumption and security
The Environmental Protection Agency rates the 2020 Kia Soul up to 31 mpg (29 mpg city, 35 mpg highway) when it is equipped with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and the CVT. If you choose the sportier GT-Line turbo fairing with the turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder and seven-speed dual clutch transmission, you will see 29 MPG combined (27 MPG City, 32 MPG Highway).
These are not bad numbers for the small car segment, but they bring the soul behind the Nissan Kicks, which are rated at 33 mpg, and the new Hyundai Venue, which is rated at 32 mpg. But the Soul is a bit more efficient than the Honda HR-V and Hyundai Kona, both of which have a fuel consumption of 30 mpg.
Since the Soul is completely new for the 2020 model year, it is difficult to say how reliable the vehicle will be on the road. The CUV compact car has one of the longest warranties on the market: a 10-year powertrain warranty of 100,000 miles and a five-year warranty of 60,000 miles. This is better than Nissan or Honda cars.
As a new vehicle, the Soul has not yet undergone a crash test by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In the tests carried out by the Insurance Institute for Road Safety (IIHS), the soul did well enough to be recognized as a top safety trick.
How DT would configure this car
Due to the problems with the drivetrain and driving behavior, we recommend skipping the GT-Line turbo fairing. Nevertheless, we like the EX trim best. It has the same 10.25-inch touchscreen, the same UVO infotainment system, and the same wireless charger as the top model, but has a more efficient powertrain.
The 2020 Soul has a more muscular aesthetic that stands out from the enchanting look of the last generation model.
If you want a two-tone color scheme, it's part of the $ 1,500 EX Designer Collection package.
Our opinion
Despite testing the probably worst option in the lineup, the 2020 Kia Soul is a great CUV. Its appearance isn't for everyone, but it stands out in a segment that's filled with boring options. It's also practical with one of the largest holds, lots of technical features, and an efficient powertrain. All of this is packaged in one of the fanciest designs and comes with one of the longest guarantees.
If you are looking for a suitable off-road suitability, you have to choose the Jeep Renegade. For those looking for a vehicle with a design that doesn't stand out, check out the Nissan Kicks, Hyundai Kona, or Honda HR-V.
The kicks don't have all-wheel drive as an option, but the other two. Neither the Kicks nor the HR-V are equipped with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto as standard, but both have safety suites in the middle of their respective lineups instead of random functions that are sporadically distributed. As usual, Kia has offered the Soul at a competitive price, and between these rivals, it's the cheapest option.
With so many options in the subcompact segment, there is bound to be an option that does something better than the soul. As a complete package, however, it is a rounded CUV that does a lot of good at a low price and makes it one of the better options on the market.
Should you get one?
Yes. The soul is a great value with a funky, functional design. Just stay away from the GT Line.
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