2020–2025 Kia Soul: What You Need to Know Before Buying
Drivers looking for a compact hatchback with good cargo space or a subcompact utility vehicle who don’t need all-wheel drive unfortunately no longer have the option of buying a new Kia Soul, as the company discontinued it at the end of the 2025 model year.
If you’re shopping for a used car, however, it remains a very good choice,in fact, it has been named the best buy in its class (urban crossovers) several times by the Car Guide team. The Soul also won a comparison test against the Chevrolet Trax, Nissan Kicks, and Hyundai Venue in the 2024 edition of our annual guide. Here’s the lowdown on what you need to know about it…
Gasoline or electric
In terms of design, the third-generation Kia Soul has certainly made a strong impression, retaining its practical, boxy silhouette, which offers plenty of space and visibility, but in a modern, dynamic package. Inside, it’s easy to find an excellent driving position, the seats are comfortable, and the trunk can carry 663 to 1,758 liters of cargo depending on the position of the rear seatbacks, which is fantastic. Fun but a bit distracting, don’t miss the ambient lighting feature that syncs with the music (select trims only).
The only engine available under the hood is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, achieving an average fuel consumption of less than 8 L/100 km, making the Soul a car that’s just lively and fuel-efficient enough. Its continuously variable transmission helps with the latter, at the expense of driving enjoyment. That said, the well-calibrated steering and the Soul’s compact size make it agile on the road. You’ll have to put up with a rather firm ride caused by the torsion beam rear suspension. In winter, an additional two-wheel drive would have been appreciated.
Those who prefer plugging into a charging station rather than filling up at the pump can, of course, turn to the Soul EV, which was discontinued in 2023 and was comparable to the Nissan LEAF of its day. It was available in Premium and Limited trims; the former didn’t impress anyone given its 134 horsepower (despite 291 lb-ft of torque) and its 39.2-kWh battery with a range of 248 km. More powerful and with greater range, the latter boasted 201 horsepower and could travel 383 km on its 64-kWh battery.
Kia introduced minor updates and a new logo for 2022, in addition to enhancing the Soul’s features. For example, the standard touchscreen was upgraded from seven to eight inches. A year later, the headlights and bumpers were redesigned. New 17- and 18-inch wheels were introduced (the standard ones were 16 inches), and more safety features were added to the lineup.
Issues and Recalls
The 2020–2025 Kia Soul has proven to be relatively reliable overall, more so than the previous generation and some of its rivals. However, it’s still important to exercise caution and not skip a pre-purchase inspection. Some models have experienced engine and transmission issues, in the most severe cases requiring replacement, especially early in the model run.
In fact, a major recall has been issued for certain Kia models, including the 2020–2022 Soul, because the engine’s oil scraper rings may be defective and cause abnormal wear, not to mention increased oil consumption and unusual engine noises. A breakdown could occur if the issue isn’t addressed in time.
The other recalls, all involving the 2023 model year, concern the printed circuit board in the electric transmission oil pump assembly, which could short-circuit and overheat; the side curtain airbags, which could deploy without a collision; and the instrument cluster display, which could remain blank when the vehicle is started. Please be advised.
