Kia’s funky Soul small crossover returns for 2022, starts at $19,190

There are conscionable a fewer insignificant changes for 2022. The manual transmission option, antecedently offered connected the basal LX model, has been discontinued, and a caller eight-inch caput portion surface replaces the seven-inch surface from past twelvemonth connected the LX.

S, X-Line and GT-Line models present travel modular with a 10.25-inch show surface with navigation, dual automatic clime control, pushbutton commencement with motor immobilizer, wireless smartphone charger and dual USB chargers.

All models person caller Kia badging connected the hood, liftgate, steering instrumentality and instrumentality halfway caps. A caller Steel Gray exterior colour Steel Gray replaces Sparkling Silver connected LX, S and EX models.

A caller LX Technology Package ($900) features 16-inch alloy wheels, Blind Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision

Avoidance Assist, Lane Change Assist, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Driver Attention Warning.

S, X-Line and GT exemplary snowfall person a modular 10.25-inch show surface with navigation, dual automatic clime control, pushbutton commencement with motor immobilizer, wireless smartphone charger, and dual USB chargers.

Last year, the Soul GT-Line Turbo was simplified to Soul Turbo, with revised badging connected the grille, steering instrumentality and rear assistance gate. 

Remote start, antecedently lone disposable arsenic portion of the UVO telematics system, is present besides integrated connected the cardinal fob for EX and Turbo models. Rear Occupant Alert (door-logic type) is modular crossed each variants. 

Soul exterior plan features see high-tech headlights, daytime moving lights and crook awesome indicators; a larger grille and caller beforehand fenders; three-dimensional wraparound boomerang-shaped taillights; and a vertical rear model and “island” that enactment existent to the Soul plan heritage.

Two engines are available. The basal 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, included connected each but the Soul Turbo, produces 147 horsepower and 132 foot-pounds of torque. This motor is paired with a continuously adaptable automatic transmission.

The Turbo exemplary gets the 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder motor with 201 horsepower and 195 foot-pounds of torque, connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The 3rd procreation of the boxy small Soul is inactive instantly recognizable arsenic a Soul, which is simply a bully thing. The Soul’s oddly satisfying exterior signifier is what makes it basal retired from the ample tract of tiny crossovers. 

EPA fuel-economy ratings are a positive for the 2.0-liter engine: 27 mpg city/33 highway/30 combined. The Turbo exemplary is rated astatine 27/32/29.

Our tester for this study was the Soul X-Line, with the 2.0-liter motor and the CVT, which Kia refers to arsenic an IVT, oregon “intelligent adaptable transmission.”

With the redesign, the Soul’s iconic signifier “evolved,” but was not drastically changed, Kia said. 

But adjacent though the outward quality remains familiar, underneath the Soul features a wholly caller basal architecture from the crushed up.

This newest Soul is 165.2 inches long, which is 2.2 inches longer than the 2019 model. Wheelbase is 102.4 inches, which is 1.2 inches longer. The width (70.9 inches) and tallness (63 inches) are the aforesaid arsenic before.

Front doorway openings are larger, making the Soul easier to get into and retired of for the operator and beforehand passenger.

The rear liftgate opening is wider and lower, which helps with loading and unloading of cogwheel and groceries. There is an easy-grip grip connected the liftgate, and a dual-level “cargo board” offers much loading flexibility.

Front legroom is up slightly, portion rear legroom is down by 0.3 inch. Headroom and enarthrosis country are fundamentally unchanged.

Significant changes were made wrong the vehicle, on with its information and infotainment systems, which clasp state-of-the-art technology. Its “technologically precocious cockpit” is designed to supply a “visceral philharmonic experience,” Kia says. This is simply a concession to the Soul’s people consumers: young singles and couples for whom the in-vehicle audio acquisition is simply a large consideration.

But the Soul besides is fashionable with older bare nesters looking for value, benignant and inferior successful their superior vehicle. 

Kia says the 10.25-inch wide show and disposable Head-Up Display assistance “play up Soul’s high-tech image.”

The X-Line and GT models added immoderate ocular cues that made them look sportier. The Turbo exemplary replaced the erstwhile generation’s Soul! model, which came with the 1.6-liter turbo motor for the basal terms of $22,990.

During our test, we recovered the 2.0-liter motor to beryllium much than capable successful our X-Line model. The CVT shifted smoothly and astatine conscionable the close times during our drives implicit highways, metropolis streets and a fewer twisty state roads.

Among the caller generation’s exterior plan features are a high-tech beforehand headlight configuration; slimmer daytime moving lights and crook signals; a larger grille with two-tone appearance; revised beforehand fenders; three-dimension wraparound boomerang-shaped taillights; and rear broadside panels (C-pillars) designed to lucifer airplane wings. 

The signature vertical rear windows transportation implicit arsenic portion of the “Soul plan heritage,” the institution said.

Available dependable temper lighting is designed to make airy from the halfway doorway panels and a unsocial 3-D signifier aboveground connected the precocious doorway panels, with the quality to synchronize to the bushed of the euphony playing done the Soul’s audio system. 

There is simply a “rainbow of customizable colors,” the automaker says, with pre-set selectable “moods” with names specified arsenic Hey! Yo, Party Time, Traveling, Romance, Midnight City and Café.

This lighting strategy is an enactment ($325), but was not included connected our X-Line tester, which came with lone 1 other – carpeted level mats ($135).

To assistance support the occupants safe, the caller Soul uses much Advanced High Strength Steel, on with hot-stamped body/frame components and structural adhesive.

Special features connected the X-Line see a “rugged body” kit with assemblage cladding and over-fenders for a “chunkier” look; off-road-inspired accents (although this is simply a front-drive conveyance with nary off-road equipment); unsocial 18-inch alloy wheels; roof-rail inspired accents; optional two-tone overgarment (not included connected our tester, which came successful the Gravity Gray color); and fog lights. Our tester came with a achromatic interior.

Standard information features connected our X-Line besides included Blind-spot Collision Warning; Rear Cross Collision Warning; Lane Change Assist; antilock brakes with brake assist; physics stableness control, with traction control; hill-start assist; and tire-pressure monitoring. There are beforehand seat-mounted broadside aerial bags and full-length side-curtain aerial bags.

Other modular instrumentality included AM/FM/MP3 stereo with eight-inch interaction surface and rear camera; manual HVAC; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity; powerfulness windows/mirrors/door locks with remote; Bluetooth wireless technology; steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls; tilt and telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel; and automatic headlights. Pushbutton commencement was not included; the cardinal indispensable beryllium inserted to commencement the vehicle.

We did find the caller Soul to beryllium remarkably quiescent inside, adjacent during road driving, a marked betterment implicit the archetypal procreation of this vehicle. The archetypal procreation was truthful noisy successful the compartment that it was hard to perceive the audio strategy astatine road speeds.

The wholly manually adjusted beforehand bucket seats were mostly comfortable, with plentifulness of head, limb and genu room. 

Outboard rear passengers recovered those seats comfortable, but 3 adults successful the rear mightiness not beryllium the champion statement for a agelong trip. Child-seat tethers are included successful the backmost seat.

The cargo compartment has 24.2 cubic feet of abstraction down the rear seat, but tin grow to arsenic overmuch arsenic 62.1 cubic feet with the rear seatback folded. The seatback has a 60/40 split-folding feature. 

Total sticker terms of the 2022 Kia Soul X-Line tester was $22,725, including freight and the level mats. 

The automotive columns of G. Chambers Williams III person appeared regularly successful the San Antonio Express-News since 2000. Contact him astatine chambers@auto-writer.com oregon connected Twitter @gchambers3. 

2022 Kia Soul

The package: Five-door, five-passenger, front-wheel-drive, gasoline four-cylinder usually aspirated oregon turbocharged, subcompact crossover inferior vehicle.
Advantages: Kia’s boxy tiny crossover, which entered its 3rd procreation for 2020, continues to person edgy exterior styling, a roomy and functional interior, and a agelong database of modular amenities. And it's affordable, too.
Negatives: Rear spot is champion for 2 radical only.
Engine: 2.0-liter four-cylinder, usually aspirated; 1.6-liter four-cylinder, turbocharged (Turbo model).
Transmission: Continuously adaptable automatic (2.0-liter models); Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (Turbo only).
Power/torque: 147 HP./132 foot-pounds (2.0-liter); 201 HP./195 foot-pounds (1.6 Turbo).
Length: 165.2 inches.
Curb value scope (base): 2,802-3,036 pounds.
Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock.
Side aerial bags: Front seat-mounted; side-curtain for some rows.
Electronic stableness control: Standard.
Cargo volume: 24.2 cubic feet (rear seatback successful place); 62.1 cubic feet (rear spot folded).
Fuel capacity/type: 14.3 gallons/unleaded regular.
EPA substance economy: 27 mpg city/33 highway/30 combined (2.0-liter); 27/32/29 (Turbo).
Major competitors: Nissan Kicks, Jeep Renegade, Mazda CX-30, Chevrolet Trax, Hyundai Kona, Honda HR-V, Toyota C-HR, Subaru Crosstrek, Ford EcoSport.
Base terms range: $19,190-$27,790, positive $1,175 freight.
Price arsenic tested: $22,725, including freight and options (Soul X-Line with carpeted level mats).
On the Road rating: 8.7 (of a imaginable 10).
Prices shown are manufacturer’s suggested retail; existent selling terms whitethorn vary.