Kia Soul Pros and Cons: What To Know When Weighing Your Decision
You can’t miss the Kia Soul with its unique boxy shape and flashy colors. It’s fuel-efficient, boxy, and one of the most versatile selections on the market. If you’re considering purchasing one for yourself, it’s best not to dive in without any prior knowledge. After all, there are some incredible features on the Kia Soul - but there are some drawbacks.
Keep reading to learn more about some significant Kia Soul pros and cons. What items make it one of the most popular selections on the road? What things make it less desirable than other competitors? Let’s look at everything you should know before putting down any money.
What We Love: Kia Soul Pros
From an excellent starting price to ample standard features, there’s much to love about the Kia Soul. You’ll find plenty of good in the Kia Soul pros and cons.
Solid Starting Price
The first thing to love about the Kia Soul is its starting price. According to kia.com, you can get the base model of the Kia Soul for a mere $19,990, making it one of the few options on the market to remain below the $20,000 mark if you don’t add any upgraded features to the system. Price alone might make it well worth it for many drivers.
The price range also isn’t too different when comparing the base trim with the finest available trim. The base LX model starts at $19,990, while the highest EX trim starts at $24,290. It isn’t unreasonable for a driver to access upgraded features for only a little more in any of the five available Kia Soul trim options.
Ample Cabin and Cargo Room
Another high point of the Kia Soul is the ample cargo and cabin room. There’s space for everyone to stretch out and bring their luggage without too much struggle.
Cabin room ensures passengers aren’t left behind, as they tend to be in many modern vehicle layouts. Passengers in the rear get 39 inches of headroom and 38 inches of legroom, which isn’t far off what the front-seat drivers get. It can comfortably fit passengers and provide an excellent driving experience simultaneously.
The cargo room is also a highlight for the Kia Soul. You’ll find 24.2 cubic feet of cargo space with all the seats up and 120.9 cubic feet when the rear row is folded down. Though it’s no moving truck, it provides decent space for its size.
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Plenty of Standard Features
Finally, we love how many features come standard in the Kia Soul system. From driver assistance technology to infotainment, Kia went all-out to ensure investors in the Soul get an excellent driving experience.
Standard infotainment features include an 8-inch touchscreen display, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a six-speaker stereo, and more. It exists to provide excellent entertainment and information for drivers. Other features include Kia Drive Wise Driver Assistance Technology, 60⁄40 rear-splitting seats, a rear-view monitor, and more.
There are also plenty of add-on features if you’re willing to spend a little money, such as a 10.25-inch touchscreen. However, most will feel satisfied with what already comes with the Soul’s design.
What We Dislike: Kia Soul Cons
Like the flip of a coin, you can’t have one side without the other. Let’s go over some of the less desirable aspects of the Kia Soul pros and cons.
Absence of All-Wheel Drive
Unfortunately, you won’t find any all-wheel drive in the Kia Soul. It’s not even that it’s an upgradable option for the Soul - there is no chance you will get an all-wheel drive if you invest in this car. While some are fine with front-wheel drive, others might see a problem with this limitation.
Front-wheel drive delivers all the power to the front wheels, making it best for fuel economy and maintaining better traction in snowy conditions. However, it tends to have worse control than all-wheel drive.
All-wheel drive provides power to all the wheels. Thus, it tends to retain much better control over slippery surfaces. Unfortunately, the Kia Soul doesn’t have access to this power distribution.
One Available Engine
Many cars have multiple powertrains available, allowing the driver to select one based on what they want from the car. You’ll only find one powertrain with the Kia Soul - a 147-hp four-cylinder engine. It comes with a front-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission system.
Although you’ll still get a solid ride out of the Soul thanks to its refinement and comfort, the lack of engine options means you don’t get as much control over your car as you would if there were multiple powertrains available. The powertrain also limits the power available to you on the go.
HOW LONG DO KIA SOULS LAST?
If you’re interested in this boxy Korean fun machine, you’re probably wondering: how long do Kia Souls last? Today, we’ll tackle the longevity of the Kia Soul, a little about its reliability, and whether it’s a good long-term investment for used car buyers.
Wind and Road Noise at High Speeds
Our final gripe with the Kia Soul is the wind and road noise that picks up once you reach highway speeds. These sounds can disrupt any conversation and will be an annoyance, especially if you’re on a road trip where the highway makes up the majority of your drive. The Kia Soul doesn’t do a great job of keeping these sounds out.
The excessive noise on the road at highway speeds can also make the Kia Soul seem cheap and like a far-less quality car than it is. However, if you aren’t going super-fast and aren’t on the highway, the sound shouldn’t be a bother.
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Final Thoughts
There are many significant Kia Soul pros and cons, each with its weight and influence on car ownership. You’ll find an excellent starting price, ample cabin and cargo room, and plenty of standard features in the Soul. However, you’ll also find an absence of all-wheel-drive, one available engine, and wind and road noise at high speeds.
We hope this information was helpful! The Kia Soul is a unique-looking car with plenty of features, but that doesn’t mean it’s without its flaws. Ultimately, it’s up to you to determine which features matter most - one dealbreaker could be something someone else doesn’t care about in their vehicle.
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