2017 Kia Soul Turbo Review: Kia's Best Seller Grows a Pair-No, Make That Only One Turbo 

so I rented a Kia soul to go to ny and I have to admit as weird as the car is. it is extremely comfortable, very quiet, and the sound system is amazing.

instead of screaming "that v-tec yo" scream HAMSTER POWA!!!!

For all the people that don't understand, turbos aren't just for speed, but also efficiency because of the use of forced induction so it makes perfect sense to put it on a practical car, plus adding a bit of optional power & fun. Maybe the BOX design was too subtle a hint that it's not meant to be a racecar.

Great review, guys! The Kia Soul sure does find it's self in somewhat of a niche market. Ironically though, that niche has allowed for it to prevail. Also, that niche allows for the vehicle to gain sales from both the hatchback class and the compact utility vehicle class! I cannot wait until I can review one of these my self. I haven't reviewed a Soul yet, but based off of everyone's opinions, they like them. I guess I will have to see for my self once I can get my hands on one! Keep up the great work, TFL! I love how concise, yet still informative your style of reviewers are. Go, TFL! 😉 -DriveAndBeDriven "The Quest To Record The Best!"

0:29 Nathan actually blends in with the hamsters!!

It's because of the hamsters without a doubt

I had a Kia Soul base model as a rental a while ago. And thy are really fun cars. Elevated seat position, added space and decent sound system, plus great marketing campaign make for fun cars

I agree with Nathan on this one. Great car. Biggest flaw on my 2016 ! was the lack of power. Unfortunately, they got rid of the ventilated front seats this year...not sure why. Also wish this dual clutch would have paddle shifters. This is a lot of car with a lot of features for the price. And it does have some SOUL! Good quick-take review guys

With the Stinger coming soon......Kia is setting the stage for exciting products down the pipeline. The Soul turbo is one of them. There were a lot of traffic and buzz from other OEM's at the Kia display at the Detroit Auto show.

I never thought kia would be the company to listen and make these faster more exciting cars I've always loved the soul and soon they'll release the stinger which in my opinion looks amazing, just way to go kia

At sea level, its in the mid-6's

How about a Koupe turbo with AWD? I would be interested in that.

flat bottom steering wheel, this car looks good, I will take one

7:47 He really got mad about the hamster dance lol

What compact car can be compair for the same price range? Thank you.

I'm 6ft tall and 280. We have a 2015 1.6 non turbo and it has just under 100K. It was my wife's but she bought a Subaru and I inherited this one to save my my trucks mileage and gas. She needed AWD. The SOUL has been a big surprise. It's been all over the West coast from San Diego to Canada. It gets 27-32 miles in real world driving, roughly 2X my truck's. Not sure if the turbo model needs 91-92 octane fuel or not. I would have preferred the 2.0 model for myself but this one is ok. Now that it's mine I have to force myself not to tinker with it. I'm old but I'm not dead.

Veloster turbo has had this engine for years but gets no love-even has a stick. Such is life.

This little car is amazing and this was a bad review. Heated steering wheel, cooled and heated front seats, heated rear seats, panoramic moonroof, folding mirrors, best infotainment in the market.

Kia "Elantra" Sport lolololol 6:55 Love you guys though, good video!

Great video, you guys, and I don't have a Kia but I like the hamsters too.

Most automotive people are saying that this car is not a Hot-Hatch or an SUV of any type...that it really belongs in the "wagon" class of cars. Also, it's not called the Exclamation Mark. It s the Exclaim trim.

So when will you be testing the Kia Elantra sport. Never knew this car was ever made.

So 7 years ago they did have the Soul Sport (2010 model) that had a manual - I had one and should have never gotten rid of that car. Loaded (for the day) it was just over $18500 - leather wasn't an option neither was Navi but the following year they dropped the manual in all but the base model.... Although the auto is probably quite good (now) I want to row my own gears for a car like that.

Yeah I'm definitely going to lease one of these. Though I'd get mine in black.

I have the 2016 soul 2.0, and I am very happy with it. If you want a compact car with a lot of space and good quality, I recommen this car. I drove it for a year already.

Nice! Kia is starting to pick it up! But where's the manual?

Great review

So glad they finally did a sporty version of this car. BUT, my next kid hauler/DD will be a used Soul EV. They are just too cheap right now for next to no mileage to pass up.

Nice review @ can't wait for the new Stinger? At least Kia is gettting some balls in its hp now

I would definitely consider buying this vehicle.

It the right one for Nathan! Nathan needs some Soul and seems to be a perfect fit!

Every turbo car should have a manual transmission!

when did they start making the Kia Elantra sport? this must be a new car I don't know of.... Nathan, care to explain further on the Kia Elantra sport?

Nice Review

No manual trans offered? Whats up with that? Come on Kia.

Nice Review! But why no manual transmission for this car?

The Kia Forte5 has had this turbo available for a few years now. That would be the designated "hot hatch."

Can you guys do a review on the new 2017 Audi Allroad?

It's sad that this isn't offered in a manual. Kia estimates this turbo soul at 7.5 seconds, you showed 7.31, however i've had my 2012 2.0L 6MT 0-60 in 6.94. and quarter mile in 15.21.

it looks good....it nearing the appeal of mini cooper or fiat 500

Nice hamster dance Roman!

Hi TFL I'm just getting into cars, I know quite a bit but I have a question, what is a CVT transmission? You guys were talking about it in the Jeep vs Honda video.

Hi Guys, Nice review. As said when you compared it with the Porsche, we can't get it overhere. Kia is too scared to put the price tag on it (including CO2-tax). Volkswagen is not scared to do it: the Golf GTI costs US$ 55,000 here including the stupid CO2 tax...... If Kia will sell it, I might actually buy one !!

Can you guys review the new 2017 Honda CR-V Touring alone? Thanks

Traffic Jams everywhere so Don't Need the Manual.. Just want turbo Automatic. Also Heated seats only works 3 months out of the year. They need Cooled seats too for the rest of the year when your buns sweat or you overheat yourself . DUH! NEED COOLED SEATS

Is this about the same size as the Kia Niro?

Do a review on the 2017 Hyundai accent.

I want that Kia Elantra he mentioned. ; )

I love everythina bout Kia with 2 exceptions: Hamsters and Melissa McCarthy

You can also compare this with the 2 new hatches, but not "hot hatches " -- the Honda Civic and the Chevy Cruze.

Car manufacturers say all the time that manual transmission cars don't sell here in the USA so they don't make that many models/trims that have it as an option so fewer and fewer people buy them so then car manufactures build less manual transmission cars so then fewer and fewer people buy them.... Hmmm.... I see a pattern here.... Even when the auto is faster 0-60 and in the 1/4 mile - I, like a lot of people, would still choose the manual trans option...

they should have made it AWD and it would have been really amazingt.

The one thing that sucks about this car is that it does not come with a Spare Tire. What's even worse is that the Dealership wont tell you about it

8:11, did you just say Kia Elantra???

I can see these passing by gt86 and brz

Can't wait for that fresh Kia Elantra Sport ;)

IMHO it's not a crossover because its clearance is only 16 cm and it doesn't have good angles. I'm not talking about it lacks all wheel drive. It's just a weird looking tall hatch. Or micro van.

Kia elantra sport?

at 0:50 there is a missing nut on the intake manifold

in america or in the us?

good review. but it is a Hyundai Elantra sport not a Kia Elantra. :-)

it also doesn't have a spare tire or jack.Its a $250.00 option.

kia elantra?

i had a kia optima sxl up til about 6 months ago. great car but i do have one issue with kia. the fuel pump for the direct injection is very expensive. while they have great warranties the fuel pump isnt covered after 5 years or 60k miles. the fuel pumps last about 20k-30k miles. so after 60k miles expect to shell out 1k for a fuel pump. before you hit 100k miles expect to replace it twice. if the fuel pump was covered for 120k miles or it was cheaper then great. but thats a deal breaker for me. until this is resolved i wont buy another.

You guys meant Hyundai Elantra Sport right!?

The Kia Soul seems like a good car

why they don't bring it here

This thing get the same mpg as my 3.5 Avenger on the highway

If Kia ever gets around to a turbo AWD version of the Soul, I’d dress up as a hamster and drive this around the Kia lots on camera.

At 6:55 you mean the Hyundai Elantra?! Greetings from Germany ;)

The deal killer for me on this car is the inability to have a roof rack with the panoramic sunroof.

$27,000 as tested. In 2010 “starting at $14,000.”

Kia elantra? kia forte, hyundai elantra. I still get what you are saying.

did I miss the MSRP? or failed to mention it again..

I'm torn between this and the Niro.

I still can't get why KIA turboed the 1.6 motor! aka: The Kia Forte motor. Why didn't they put the Kia Optima motor in. I think a 2014 Kia Optima 2.0 Turbo motor was 245HP!!! The 2.0 Kia Soul already had 165hp!

That exhaust noise! Is that a Kia?

Hamster absolutely the best ad ever

A GTI would have a similar amount of space, significantly better interior, a better DSG with paddle shifters, and an engine with much more torque for a similar price point.

What the hell is the Kia Elantra sport

Bring out the Soul n!

I sure wouldn't want to buy a used one of these that Nathan has driven! BRAKE TORQUING a DCT transmission means you're just sitting there slipping the clutch like crazy. A fluid coupled torque converter can handle this kind of abuse. A DCT cannot! People burn these things up like crazy sitting stopped on inclines and holding the car from rolling backward by slighting depressing the throttle INSTEAD of using the Brakes. They were used to doing this with conventional automatics. A DCT is essentially a manual transmission which is shifted automatically. NOBODY in their right mind would sit on a hill slipping the clutch with a manual, nor try to brake torque one to bring the revs up. They'd just rev it up and then dump the clutch. But then, whoever said Nathan was in his right mind?

No manual, no care.

Hyundai Elantra sport, just saying. love the show

The precursor of the Lamborghini Urus

How’s the car fit tall people like 6.3

only if it was AWD and 300hp

2:42 Econobox? Lol, I have the 2013 2.0L Soul and how the Korean's managed to get so little power and bad fuel economy vs my new Pathfinder blows my mind. It is nimble and fun to drive but slow. V6 Japanese engineering all the way.

With a turbo, the Kia Soul is now as fast as a Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Kia elantra sport.. Honda cx5.. Mazda gti ✌️

Kia elantra sport

I had a Soul and think they are a consistent best in class, but this feels very Kia sponsored based on how hard you guys are on most other vehicles and the very specific language used. Nothing wrong with sponsored but at least let us know up front if so.

27K for this car? Damn that's a little too much for this Kia. Cool car nonetheless.

I think he meant Hyundai Elantra Sport lol.

The brake-torque thing is what they need to stop doing....

Hmmmm........ Kia....... appealing!

Sorry but I would buy the GTI way before this for the same price or almost the same price.

It's a hatchback

7.3 seconds to 60? That's more average than fast. Camry Hybrids run that. Not bad but got a kick out of Romans hyperbole.

When a kia soul chews 5 gum