2013 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul starts off at a price point of $16,200 and goes all the way up to $19,400.This car is offered in three different oddly named trims like the base model is christened “Soul” the next trim goes with “Soul+” and then the fully loaded trim is named just an “!”.The price point this car is offered in is very competitive and at this price point, the car goes up against the likes of Honda Fit and Chevrolet Sonic.

The Kia starts off at a base price of $16,200 and is named the Soul and pretty well equipped but choose to go one step higher and at $17,400 we get the Soul+ which becomes a bit mor3e comfortable car than the trim under and finally at $19,400 we have the “!” that comes with a special edition package. 

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The Kia Soul is offered in three trims and thanks to the very close pricing the top end “!” trim is an easy pick and that is evidently seen. The trims do not have too many differences but the factor that was vital in helping us choose the trim we did was the offer of the special edition pack in that car.

The 2013 Kia Soul Wagon is offered in a 1.6L Inline-4 engine which churns out 138hp and has a torque of 123lb-ft. The ride quality of the car is quite smooth despite having a relatively weak engine but the engine makes up with its comfortable ride. The good engine is also mated to a 6-speed e automatic transmission. The acceleration is a bit dull and not too quick while the handling also is not a force to reckon with.

All the engines offered in the car and its rivals are pretty good in terms of power. The Kia and the Chevy both make similar power and torque figures however, the Honda is the least powerful and slowest while the Chevy turns out to be the fastest. The least powerful Honda manages to equal the Kia in terms of the 0-60 acceleration and that is a good thing as the less powerful Honda engine is more fuel-efficient than the one on the Kia and can accelerate as good as a car more powerful.

This is the Kia Soul’s weakness, the Kia has a small engine that was expected to be efficient with fuel but it turned out to be a disappointment. The Kia Soul Wagon returns a mileage of 25MPG within city ranges, 30MPG on the highways, and a combined mileage of 27MPG, and has a fuel capacity of 12.7 gallons. 

It can be clearly seen that even with the largest fuel tank the Soul is unable to keep up with the rival’s mileage figures. The Honda Fit returns the maximum individual mileage but it has the minimum fuel capacity leading to its low range in mileage. The Kia Soul, on the other hand, offers the maximum range. 

The insides of the Soul are very attractive, delicate, and a bit interesting as they have an almost perfect balance between form and function. The materials used in the cabin are very refined and are selected and put together to give it a modern look. The Base model has cloth upholstery that looks quite good too. The cabin does have a lot of features that help in making the ride very comfortable. The Soul has seating for 5 people and a cargo space of 23.7cu.ft.

The Kia offers the most space in comparison with its rivals. It also offers the most cargo space and has an amazing and rich interior. The Honda follows Kia’s lead and then comes the Sonic with the least space and the cargo space. The Chevrolet that is on the lead in terms of the power and speed figures is not so dominant here as the space offered by it even in the front seating row is way too less than the other two cars we have. The Important interior features of the car are:

• Cruise Control
• Keyless Ignition
• Leather Steering Wheel
• Front And Rear Cupholders
• Electric Power Steering
• Dual Illuminating Vanity Mirrors

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The 2013 Kia Soul Wagon comes equipped with a 4.0-inch Uvo touchscreen display which holds a lot of its infotainment features. The infotainment unit is handy and easy to use. The graphics in it are quite crisp and advanced as well. The touchscreen is small, but it does not take much time to respond. The infotainment system comes paired to a 6-speaker Infinity audio system which gives an enthusiastic feel to the unit but occasionally the audio input might not feel too great. The important infotainment features are:

• Satellite Radio
• Bluetooth Connectivity
• Navigation
• USB Ports
• Wireless Charging
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

The car is more of a boxy-shaped design and sets right in the modern urban surrounding. The Soul is a bit fashionable while being space efficient thanks to the design language. This design helps it stand out in the crowd too. The design does not have a front end that is sharp and the taillights dominate the rear end. The headlights have a bug-eyed design. The size of the 2013 Kia Soul is rather small and compact which makes it easier to maneuver in the hustle-bustle of the city. 

The Honda Fit is the lightest model here and the smallest one too. The Sonic is on the opposite of the Honda in both weight and dimensions. The Kia however finds a sweet spot for itself and is moderately weighted and compact in dimensions. The Kia has a ground clearance of 6.5” we cannot compare it with the other two cars since we do not know their figures but what we do know is that this measurement is a pretty good one in the segment. The main exterior features are:

• Cross Bars
• Puddle Lights
• Rear Spoiler
• Mud Guards
• Hood Film
• Wheel Locks

The Kia Soul Wagon is well equipped in terms of its safety features. It comes equipped with a lot of features like airbags, LATCH system of use, pretensioners, and post-collision safety system along with others. Based on how the car looks it might not appear very safe but it might be the most deceptive one you can find, it has a really good score on the crash test ratings by the authorities with a 4-star rating from the IIHS and a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and that is a very reassuring result. The main safety features include:

• Stability Control
• Emergency Braking Assist
• Tire Pressure Monitoring
• Traction Control
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Lane Keep Assist

The Kia Soul might not be the most beautiful looking, most aesthetically pleasing, and the most performance-packed wagon you can find in the market, but it clearly is a car that is good enough to haul your family around in comfort and be a great daily driver. It also has a really good interior and safe build. This car if your next buy is a really good deal.