Just a few years ago, the boxy compact hatchback segment was red hot. Every automaker worth its salt had one or two entries in the space, and buyers were flocking to the quirky but practical box on wheels. Back then, you were spoiled for choice if you were looking for a new car in this segment. You had the Nissan Cube, Scion xB, Kia Soul, and more. But then suddenly, everything changed.
The segment cooled off considerably, with several automakers withdrawing their compact hatchbacks from the market. For a while, it looked like the boxy hatchback might be a thing of the past. Today, only the Soul remains, and the Kia is here to prove that the segment isn’t dead just yet with its all-new 2023 Kia Soul.
The Kia Soul brings something fresh and exciting to the compact SUV segment. It’s quirky yet stylish and has a spacious and practical interior. It’s also packed with advanced safety features and comes with a long list of optional extras, yet it remains affordable. Its lightly refreshed exterior styling is still immediately recognizable as a Soul, but it’s clear that this is a new and improved model that has abundant style, substance, and quality.
This review will take an in-depth look at the all-new 2023 Kia Soul, covering everything from its interior cabin and features to its performance and miles per gallon. We’ll also touch on its safety equipment and tell you what we think of the Kia Soul overall. If you have any questions, feel free to call Tom Kadlec Kia at (507) 215-8923.
Drivetrain, Performance, and Transmission
Image via kia.com
Although Kia ditches the sporty GT-Line Turbo trim and its turbocharged four-cylinder engine option for the new model year, every other 2023 Soul still comes standard with a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder that has 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. That’s not a lot of power, but it’s enough to get the Soul around town without any drama. The peppy little engine comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that sends power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is not available.
The Soul is not a fast car by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s not meant to be. It’s more of a city dweller that’s comfortable puttering around town and running errands. With a zero to 60 mph time of around nine seconds, the Soul is zippy enough to keep up with traffic and make merging onto the highway a breeze, but it’s not going to win any drag races. The CVT does an excellent job of simulating traditional gear changes, and there’s minimal engine noise when zipping around town.
As for the EPA-estimated fuel economy, the front-wheel-drive Soul achieves 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, which is on par with other compact hatchbacks and SUVs. These numbers are awe-inspiring for a seemingly non-aerodynamic box-on-wheels. The Soul is worth considering if you’re looking for a fuel-efficient small car with a flash of personality.
Interior and Cargo Space
The all-new Soul is a roomy little hatchback that can comfortably seat five adults. It has plenty of head and legroom for your front and rear passengers thanks to its squared-off shape. The seats are comfortable and supportive, and the cabin is relatively quiet, even at highway speeds.
The all-new Soul also has a stylish and well-crafted interior that’s a big step up from the previous generation in terms of quality and design. The colorful trim and textured door-panel inserts are a nice touch, and the overall design and layout are both stylish and modern. Kia also allows for a good deal of customization with the all-new Soul, offering you a plethora of interior color schemes to choose from.
The Soul’s squared-off shape also pays dividends in terms of cargo space. It has 24.2 cu ft of space with the rear seats up and 62.1 cu ft folded down, which is more than most of its rivals. The tailgate opening is also wide and tall, making it easy to load and unload cargo.
In fact, the all-new Soul is also one of the few small cars that can comfortably accommodate a set of golf clubs in the trunk. If you have a small family, space shouldn’t be an issue when it comes to the all-new Soul, so if you’re in the market for a small car that’s big on interior and cargo space, it’s definitely worth a look.
Infotainment and Connectivity
All trims of the 2023 Kia Soul come standard with a 10.3-inch touch screen display, except for the base trim, which has an 8.0-inch unit. The display is sharp, colorful, responsive, and easy to read, even in direct sunlight. It also houses all the Soul’s infotainment and connectivity features, including Bluetooth, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
If you opt for the larger display, you’ll get a few additional features, including standard navigation, wireless device charging, and SiriusXM satellite radio with real-time traffic updates. A six-speaker audio system comes standard, but a six-speaker Harman/Kardon premium audio system is available as an option on the high-end Turbo trim. Overall, the all-new Soul’s infotainment system is user-friendly and packed with 21st-century features, making it one of the best in its class.
2023 Kia Soul: Safety Equipment and Crash Test Ratings
The all-new Kia Soul comes standard with a good amount of safety and driver-assistance features. Every model includes the following:
- Forward collision warning.
- Automatic emergency breaking.
- Pedestrian detection.
- Lane-keeping assist.
- A driver-attention monitor.
- Rear occupant alert.
In addition, the all-new Soul is available with the following optional features:
- Blind-spot monitoring.
- Rear cross-traffic alert.
- Automatic high beams.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not yet released its safety ratings for the all-new Soul. However, it has awarded the 2022 Soul (which is essentially identical to the 2023 model) a five-star overall safety rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has also given the all-new Soul its highest rating of “Good” in all crash tests. So, if you’re looking for a safe and reliable small car, the all-new Kia Soul should be at the top of your list.
You won’t go wrong with the all-new Kia Soul. It’s a stylish, well-crafted, spacious small car with plenty of personality. Tom Kadlec Kia is your go-to source for the all-new Kia Soul in Rochester, MN. We invite you to stop by our dealership and take the all-new Soul for a test drive or explore our extensive inventory of new and used vehicles . Also, feel free to call us if you have any questions or need assistance. We’re always happy to help.
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Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.