Kia Soul review (2019-2023)
Are you a soul brother or soul sister? And are you in the market for a small urban SUV? If so, the Kia Soul could be just what you’re looking for. The car is smart-looking, spacious and, dare we say it, soulful. Learn what it's like to drive in our road-tested Kia Soul review
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Pros
- Comfortable ride
- Upgraded EV tech over predecessor
- Plenty of headroom
Cons
- Boot could be bigger
- Interior not as high-tech as others
Interior
Our rating: 7/10
Not surprisingly, given those boxy looks and high roofline, there’s lots of space inside the Kia Soul.
Whether you go for the second or third-generation model, everything feels solidly put together, and this is most definitely a car designed to put up with the rough and tumble of young family life.
Driving position
As Forrest Gump so wisely said: ‘Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.’
At least in the Kia Soul, you get a very good view of what’s coming your way, and what’s around you and indeed behind you.
This is thanks to a high-up driving position, the big front windscreen and general all-around good visibility.
Tech and features
Trim levels for the second-generation car are as easy as 1, 2, 3 – as that’s what they are called.
The entry-level 1 comes with air-conditioning, which is essential in summer to prevent the cabin from getting too hot with that big windscreen.
A digital radio and Bluetooth connectivity are also provided.
A rear-view camera, climate control, sat-nav and cruise control make life a little easier when parking around town and tackling long motorway journeys in the 2 trim model.
Stepping up to level 3 lets you cruise around on heated leather seats. There are a few special-edition models to look out for too, which feature special equipment and trim.
The new 3rd-generation model also has a smarter cabin design compared with older models, though it's not as tech-laden as Kia's latest electric cars.
Features such as crisply rendered touchscreens with smartphone connectivity, digital instrument dials, wireless charging and a premium 10-speaker sound system are all available.
Performance
Our rating: 7/10
Handling and ride comfort
The third-generation electric model feels a lot more comfortable than the previous models, which is great news.
You can use a button on the steering wheel to vary the weighting of the steering to find a set-up you like.
The handling is nippy enough for town driving and the Soul feels composed on country roads and motorways.
Engines, electric motors and power
The choice of engines available in the 2nd-generation model includes a 1.6-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel.
Of course, you don’t have to have such an engine at all, as there’s also an electric version of the second-generation car, while the latest model comes with electric power too.
Practicality
Our rating: 8/10
Boot space
While you’ll find plenty of space for occupants inside the Kia Soul, the boot is not the largest in the class.
You can comfortably fit a week’s shopping in the boot and there’s enough space for luggage for two for a trip away.
The boot opening is a nice square size to make it easier to lift objects in and out.
If you’re heading to the garden centre at the weekend, you’ll almost certainly want to fold the split rear seats down, which is easy to do.
Storage solutions
Stowage space is very good throughout the cabin, with a large glovebox, deep central cubby locker and front door bins large enough to hold a two-litre bottle of water.
Running costs
Our rating: 8/10
Reliability
With its standard seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty the Soul provides a level of reassurance that few of its rivals can match.
The Kia brand’s models usually perform solidly in customer satisfaction and reliability surveys.
Range
The third-generation electric model is more expensive to buy.
Once you’ve made the purchase, running costs should be low as Kia claims an electric driving range of 280 miles on a single charge.
Power is stored in a 64kWh battery, which is the biggest of the two options available on first-generation Kia e-Niro and Hyundai Kona Electric models.
Fuel economy
The second-generation petrol and diesel variants are much more affordable.
Best for fuel economy and all-around performance is the 1.6 diesel, which should return around 50mpg with careful driving.
The verdict
Interior
7/10
Performance
7/10
Practicality
8/10
Running costs
8/10
The Kia Soul looks like something you can imagine designers at another car company trying to get into production, only to be told by senior management: “Yes, very good, now go away and design something more sensible instead.”
Kia had the nerve to put it on the road. We love the Soul’s sense of individuality and the breath of fresh air its styling brings.
It doesn't offer the amount of storage space you might think, looking at it from the outside, but there's still enough for a family and a couple of bags, which is enough in most cases.
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