2020 Kia Soul

The 2020 Kia Soul combines clever design and a well-laid-out cabin to make it one of those compact cars or wagons that don't try to mimic a crossover. It sticks to a boxy design and stands out for it. The cabin is spacious and of acceptable quality, the feature list is more than generous for a below twenty grand car, and rounding up with two engine choices. This makes it a complete and near-perfect package. That being said, for this review, we have pitted the Kia Soul with its most searched rivals like the Honda Fit, Hyundai Kona, and Jeep Renegade. 

The 2020 Kia Soul model comes in six trim options namely LX, S, X-Line, EX, GT-Line, and GT-Line Turbo. Except for the GT-Line Turbo trim, all the trims are offered with a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine while the GT-Line Turbo gets a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine. Only the base trim can be had with a 6-speed manual while all the trim except for the GT-Line Turbo comes with a CVT gearbox. Whereas the GT-Line Turbo gets a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. For the standard features refer to the table below and as for the optional package, only the GT-Line trim gets one, which is the GT-Line Sunroof package that adds a sunroof, blind-spot monitor, keyless entry and ignition, and wireless charging pad.

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Most buyers will be satisfied with the performance of the 2.0-liter engine. The Soul EX trim with a generous list of features and driver aids will make your overall ownership experience a hassle-free affair.

"At our test track, a Soul X-Line with the CVT needed 8.0 seconds to reach 60 mph, but it doesn't feel underpowered in normal driving. In fact, the base engine feels peppy around town, and the CVT willingly selects lower gear ratios for extra passing power." -Car and Driver

The 2020 Kia Soul standard engine is a 2.0-liter inline-4 unit that generates 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to either a 6-speed manual or a CVT gearbox that sends power solely to the front wheels. The base engine is good enough to take care of most of your driving requirements and it wouldn't disappoint you. The other engine option seen only on the GT-Line Tubro is a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This powertrain puts out nearly 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque on paper. While in the real world this engine although quick is let down by the otherwise clunky dual-clutch transmission.

When it comes to performance the base engine motivates the 2020 Soul from 0-60 mph in 8 seconds flat while the turbo-four powered 2020 Soul went from 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds. These figures are sure to make it clear that the Soul isn't a shoebox on wheels and instead is a zesty wagon. When it comes to ride and handling like other subcompacts, Kia prioritizes comfort over sportiness, but that doesn't mean you can't drive it hard. Around the corners, this Kia can surprise you with its agility. And when we talk about maneuverability in tight spots, Soul's dimensions are perfectly suited to tight parking spots.

The vehicles in this segment offer naturally aspirated inline-4 engines with different displacements as standard. Honda Fit in its base configuration is currently the most affordable car in this segment. Jeep Renegade is the most expensive, starting at a base price of over $22,000. Compared to the competition, the Kia Soul isn't the most powerful on papers but when it comes to performance it is the quickest in the 0-60 mph sprint. While the Fit and the Kona are quicker in covering the quarter-mile and beat the Soul by one-tenth of a second margin.

The 2020 Kia Soul has an EPA estimated gas mileage of 25 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway when equipped with the base engine which in turn is mated to the stick shifter. While the same engine when had with the CVT gearbox sees a bump of 2 mpg across all the driving conditions. While the turbo-four powered 2020 Soul has an EPA estimated gas mileage of 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. This is almost close to what you get in the base engine with CVT and it is not at all bad considering the performance on offer from the turbo-four engine.

When it comes to gas mileage the Honda Fit with the smallest displacement inline-4 engine is the most fuel-efficient of the lot. It beats the Soul's mileage figures by 4 mpg in the city and 5 mpg on the highway. Although the Soul had one trick up its sleeve in the form of a bigger gas tank which helps it to beat the range of more fuel-efficient rivals from a tankful of gas. 

"The Soul's upright body provides a spacious interior with plenty of room for people and cargo." - Car and Driver

The cabin design of the 2020 Kia Soul with its modern yet funky design makes it clear that its target audience is the younger generation. Its boxy design liberates a lot of headroom and the doors which open wide make it fairly easy to get in and out. The driving position is also unique, it isn't as sporty as a sedan but due to the higher seating position, you have a commanding view of the front. The front seats offer basic adjustments but good support and you would be comfortable even after long journeys.

As for the infotainment, you get a 7.0-inch touchscreen unit as standard while a 10.3-inch touchscreen is standard on the EX trim and above. Kia's UVO infotainment interface is found on both the screen which makes it fairly easy and responsive to use. The standard setup plays audio via a 6-speaker sound system while the GT-Line Tubro trim takes the party on the road with a 10-speaker Harman & Kardon premium sound system.

The biggest advantage of purchasing a wagon is the magnificent trunk space that comes along with it. The 2020 Kia Soul offers 24.2 cubic feet of cargo space which can simply gobble most of your luggage with ease. The rear seats can fold in a 60/40 split for accommodating large size luggage. Apart from that, you can also fold the seats upwards to use the under-seat area as well. Simple details like this add practicality point to the score.

When it comes to cabin space the front row seats of all the cars here offer more or less similar space except for the fact that the Jeep Renegade due to its tallboy design has the maximum front headroom. Move to the rear and things get interesting here. The Fit offers the best rear legroom but it's the Renegade that has the best rear head and shoulder room closely followed by the Kia Soul. As far as cargo space is concerned there is no match to the amount of space on offer in the Soul, the closet rival i.e. the Kona offers 5 cubic feet less space compared to the Soul.

Interior Features

• Height-adjustable driver's seat
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• USB Audio Interface
• Available HD and satellite radio
• Available navigation
• Available power-adjustable driver's seat
• Available Smart Key w/ Push-Button Start and Immobilizer
• Available Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Available LED Interior Lighting

"Despite numerous styling upgrades over the years, the 2020 Kia Soul still shares a common shape with the first-generation car." -KelleyBlueBook

The 2020 Kia Soul has undergone a major redesign this year and that has made this quirky wagon a looker, especially with a white paint job it is hard to ignore the uncanny resemblance to a Stormtrooper vehicle. The front design has grown more mature with the upper grille being reduced to a strip while the rear grille covers the maximum real estate. The headlights have gone sleeker and chicly which helps it blend well with the overall front looks. The rest of the body style be it from the side or the rear has more or less been untouched.

Also new for this year is the visual differentiation that each trim carries. The base and above trims are more subdued in terms of styling while the X-Line trim with the roof rails and thick body cladding announce its rugged and off-road-ready inclination. The GT Turbo trim on the other hand are the most swanky with LED lights, a bigger and different alloy design, a center-mounted chrome tip dual exhaust, and a subtle red highlight lower down the body to make sure you know this is not the regular Soul.

On the exterior front, the Kia Soul wheels in at 165.2-inches. The wheelbase is just above 102-inches, which when combined with the high roof and the boxy design, translates to a generous space inside. At 2,802 pounds, the Kia Soul is not the heaviest but it isn't the lightest too in the segment.

The Jeep Renegade has the most length, width, and height, giving it a very commanding stance. On the other side of the segment is the Kia Soul which is only 165.2-inches long and even though being smaller in length has a longer wheelbase compared to the Renegade. Renegade's bigger dimensions help it offer more head and shoulder room but overall as a package the Soul is the more spacious on the inside.

Exterior Features:

• 16-inch steel wheel
• Available 16-, 17-, or 18-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic headlights
• Available all-LED exterior lights
• Available foglights

Even though the advanced safety features and driver aids are not standard on the 2020 Soul yet it managed to grab the 'Top Safety Pick' from IIHS with the highest rating of ' Good' in all six parameters. Although the NHTSA gave the 2020 Soul a rating of 4 out of 5 stars for overall safety while the side crash test was rated 5 out of 5 stars, the front and rollover mitigation test got 4 out of 5 stars.

Safety Features:

• Rearview camera
• Hill Start Assist
• Available Forward collision warning w/ automatic emergency braking
• Available Blind-spot monitor w/ cross-traffic alert
• Available Lane keep assist
• Available Driver attention monitor

2020 Kia Soul vs 2020 Jeep Renegade

Some might say Soul which is a wagon and Renegade which is a compact SUV makes for an apple and orange comparison. Well in the real world neither can be a true off-roader and only offers the better practicality and space usually found in SUVs thus are very much comparable. The Jeep gets a bigger and more powerful engine but due to its heavy curb weight is neither quick nor fuel-efficient.

Step inside and you would find a very tall and spacious cabin in both the cars but it is the Soul that has a better distribution of space between the two rows. While if you see the cargo space then Jeep is the loser her. On the safety part, both the cars are equally matched. So if you can't bear the funky-looking Soul then the Renegade could be a substitute but then you will have to live with poor performance and low gas mileage.

2020 Kia Soul vs 2020 Hyundai Kona

The 2020 Hyundai Kona and the Kia Soul on paper are more or less similar but where they differ is in the overall design and body style. The latter part helps the Soul offer more cabin space and better overall practicality.

Although when it comes to performance and gas mileage the Kona is even though slightly slower yet more fuel-efficient than the base Soul. So even though they are almost similar they differ a lot in the real world.

Kia Soul scores big on style and street presence. Even after a decade of its introduction, it has maintained steady sales for Kia and helped to fill the void between hatchbacks and crossover SUVs in the market. The 2020 Soul is an all-rounder, it offers great value with its exuberant list of standard features. If you are car-shopping on a limited budget then Kia Soul offers a roomy, well-built cabin at an affordable price. For someone who wants a car that can do respectable 0-60 mph runs then Kia has also got you covered with its 201-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter engine.

More from Kia:

• Find out more on the upcoming Kia Soul
• Kia has announced its global sales figures and they look promising with sustained growth momentum

FAQs on the 2020 Kia Soul:

How reliable is the 2020 Kia Soul?

With a reliability score of 84 out of 100 from J.D. Power, the 2020 Kia Soul comes in the top three consumer-rated wagons. Thus it has an above-average relaibility.

Is the 2020 Kia Soul FWD?

Yes, the 2020 Kia Soul is only available as FWD.

Is the 2020 Kia Soul available as an EV?

The 2020 Soul EV has been skipped for this year and is expected to come next year.

Does the 2020 Kia Soul offer a panoramic sunroof?

A sunroof can be had on the 2020 Soul GT-Line trim when you add the $1,900 GT-Line Sunroof package. While the GT-Line Turbo trim offers a sunroof as standard. 

What price to pay for the 2020 Kia Soul?

The 2020 Kia Soul has an MSRP range of $17,490 to $27,490.

Where is the 2020 Kia Soul manufactured?

The 2020 Kia Soul is manufactured in South Korea.