2020 Kia Soul: Urban Practicality Doesn't Have to Be Boring

2020 Kia Soul

© PHOTO BY SCOTT TILLEY

With six different trim levels, the Kia Soul proves there is a perfect Soul mate for everyone.

The Kia Soul has had a loyal worldwide following ever since its introduction in 2008 at the Paris Motor Show. The mastermind behind the Soul concept is design engineer Mike Torpey who was hired away from General Motors to develop a series of Kia models that would have Kia recognized as a style leader. With over 1.5 million Kia Soul units sold the past 10 years in the U.S. alone, the Soul is now recognized as the top-selling subcompact car; so it would appear the mission was accomplished in a style conscience demographic with the Soul.

New for 2020

Kia has released an all-new third generation Soul that will have, among its number of refinements, a stronger and even safer chassis platform. The new platform will use advanced high strength steel (AHSS) as well as hot stamped components and structural adhesive. This extra strength will help the Soul to receive high safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA). Not only will the third generation be a safer subcompact crossover, the new advanced steel platform allows for more artistic license by the engineers inside and out. The Soul will offer six different trim levels to choose from, so it can truly be customize to meet just about anyone's specific personality style. When you think about the six trims, it means there is now two cars for each one of the vacationing hamsters.

Exterior Design Highlights

The new platform also allows for a larger front grille that has a unique two-tone treatment and a new high-tech front headlight configuration with connecting trim piece that allows for better night driving visibility. These cutting-edge details not only provide a fresh new style, but they are also receiving high accolades and awards from the vehicle safety community.

Interior Design Changes

Because of the hip demographic Kia was looking to entice with the Soul, the design engineers understood the importance of having music quality as a cornerstone piece for the Soul. To continue in that futuristic tradition, the engineers have not only improved upon the rolling DJ booth concept, but now have turned the Soul into a rolling discotheque. The 2020 model will offer a new mood lighting system located throughout the vehicle that can be set to six selectable moods allowing the correct ambiance for any selected playlist. All one needs now for a great weekend is a portable foam machine pushing piles of white foamy bubbles out from the rear hatch area.

Soul X-Line Trim

My press loan for the week was the rugged-looking X-Line trim. Initially, I thought this vehicle was strictly geared toward a hip younger crowd, so there was no way this was going to be a pleasant experience for me. I could not have been more wrong. The X-Line Soul comes with a naturally aspirated 2.0 liter inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 147 horse power and 132 lb-ft of torque.

The Soul felt light and nimble zipping around the Dallas cement jungle with ease, and I had no issues flowing with traffic or having to get up to speed quickly for any of the on-ramp uses. The overall ride and the comfortable seats didn't leave me feeling like I was lumbering around town in a mail truck either. It was very evident the engineers worked hard to minimize the road noise you typically hear with subcompacts. That is especially important for the Soul since it was designed for people who want to experience their music while driving. The X-Line off-road trim has been designed for owners who are more apt to be outgoing and adventurous, so the body kit has numerous off-road inspired accents like body cladding, overfenders for a chunkier explorer look, 18-inch alloy wheels unique to the X-line, and special X-Line badging.

I like how the accents give the X-Line trim a unique and fun look. It definitely hits the adventurous outdoor theme the engineers were looking to achieve, but I probably wouldn't venture too deep off the grid even with the new steel chassis. For that type of adventure, you will need extra ground clearance and beefier suspension with all wheel drive capability, none of which are currently offered with this trim package. But because of the tracking footprint, overall balance, and low center of gravity, I think the Soul would make a pretty great rally car.

Safety Awards

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced the all new 2020 Kia Soul subcompact crossover earned its highest rating of Top Safety Pick+ following its latest crash test results. This safety rating beats the previous generation's Top Safety Pick score.

Safety features available for the Soul include:

Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA) / FCA Pedestrian type
Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
Lane Changing Assist (LCA)
Driver Attention Warning (DAW)9
Blind-spot Collision Warning (BCW)
Rear Cross Collision Warning (RCCW)
Smart Cruise Control (SCC)
High Beam Assist (HBA)

If you are looking for a vehicle that can be a practical urban grocery getter and a fun, hip music machine, you might consider test driving all six of the different Souls that Kia offers to see which one is your Soul mate.