I had a 2012 Soul and bought a 2020 Soul S a few months ago. My 2012 had way more "personality". Even the model names were unique "!", "+", etc. much more original than "X-Line", "S", "LX" etc. I will undoubtedly miss this Soul much less than my 2012 when I trade it in on a 2021 Honda Element perhaps?? Video was pretty much spot on though I thought.
I've owned every generation and I love my 2020 EX. It's the right balance for me between the low end trim and the very top. The things that bug me are the loss of the fully-auto windows (now it's down only, driver's side) and the shrunken glove box storage. I *do* think Kia cheaped out by not making satellite available on all trims, but I get it on the EX, along with 10" screen, heated seats, dual climate control, heated mirrors, lane keeping assist and blind spot detection, along with the standard rear-camera. I'm very happy with my third Soul, and I love the new look.
I agree. Owned a 2012 + model for 5 years, been driving the EX now, and maybe I'm uncultured swine but I don't feel any of the issues with the powertrain described in the video.
Can I call this a great review and disagree in a couple of points? My 2020 is my 3rd cvt (prior Corolla and Cube) which I bought after disappointment driving the 2019. (At the time both were available new.) My 2 comments of disagreement are with the power train, otherwise I'm fully onboard with your review. the "i"vt isn't really a gimmick, though in the first year-and-a-half they did a LOT of software upgrading. I found the shifts more realistic (as advertised and as other reviews have noted) *except* when you fully step on it. And its the same with the acceleration. On the LX (which is the lightest, and, with the 16 inch wheels maybe a tad quicker) I find that a slightly modulated pedal-to-the-metal works better than an immediate smash, and that you can mash it down in mid-range acceleration and feel torque. One reviewer noted a bit of tire spin on each simulated shift in fact. It certainly improved over time. 0-60 runs are showing between 8.5 and 8.8. When I test drove the 2019 automatic (two of them, one used) I found each had some jerky acceleration from 3rd to 4th, with an overall feel just a touch sportier. However the amazing handling of the new gen won me over. I checked the data in Consumer Reports for their maneuvering course, measured in highest speed without loosing control, and not only did the Soul smoke its class, but most other cars that weren't sports cars. For a box that's impressive, and the price is paid over bumps. Pushed to the limit, rather than slip and scare you, I've found it makes a little rear tire screech to warn you. The next gen will most likely get multi-link in the back, which will make a difference in ride and handling at the limits. In sum, this is the 1st CVT I've found not bothering me. Moderated acceleration will mimic an automatic, but not hard acceleration. As for fuel economy, I regularly beat the estimates (using the proper measurement method, not the onboard "liar" 😄. However I mostly drive on the mellow side. For you I'd recommend leaving it in Sport mode, which keeps the revs up (and pleasantly tightens steering) since your driving habits are not economy. I'd love to hear your review of the Corolla Cross, though just discovering you, I'll have to see if you're doing this! ... Thanks for your review.
Good job as always man on the review. Realistic about the CVT and what it is-how it feels driving this model. I like the looks of those GT’s where the LED headlights are at the top of the vehicle.
If you like the Soul, but really don't want to drive a CVT, take a look at the Hyundai Kona. It has the same engine, but hooked up to a 6-spd auto. I personally like CVTs. Well, not all CVTs. Some are horrible slippy feeling things that feel like they don't put the power to the wheels. Some are tuned fairly well though. When you drive in a lot of stop and go city traffic like I do, a CVT is a godsend. There's nothing quite like stopping and going in 30mph traffic and feeling the transmission constantly bumping up and down through 4 of the 6 gears like I experience in my current car.
I just test drove a 2020 Kia Soul EX. I thought it was fine. The IVT seemed very smooth and responsive and I was stunned by the amount of room the car. I'm waiting for the Seltos to hit the showroom so I can test drive that model before deciding which one to buy. I will say the Soul felt smoother and more powerful than my Honda Civic which has been an absolute lemon. A Honda with only 87K miles and perfectly maintained and I've replaced the entire A/C system and Power Steering system (including the rack) and have to get new front brakes every 12K miles because of a design defect. It's my last Honda and I'm going to give Kia a chance.
I like how you critiqued the car without bashing it. Personally a CVT doesn't really bother me as long as the car has enough power to get you up to speed without long periods of droning in between. I plan on checking the Soul out. This review helps me to know what to look for! 👍
Love the KIA Soul. It's a remarkably funky and functional vehicle. Its demographic appeal is amazing. Around Seattle I see everyone from senior citizens to twenty something hipsters tooling around in them. It's not surprising to see KIA expanding the range of trims offered. I expect the forthcoming Soul EV to be a hit around here. And I sometimes wonder whether Honda and Nissan regret dropping their competing Element and Cube models in the face of the success of hamsters as spokes-rodents. I like the Storm Trooper styling of the new generation with one exception, the headlights mounted just above the bumper. It's a styling choice the Jeep abandoned in the Cherokee in the face of cries of widespread denunciations from the Jeep faithful but other brands including Hyundai in the Palisade and KIA in the Soul have seen fit to adopt. My objection isn't aesthetic; it's functional. I live in the Pacific Northwest and every year the snow melt from the Cascades brings many tons of rocks and gravel down from the mountains to cover our highways. The result is widespread windshield and headlight cover replacements from bullet velocity gravel thrown behind logging trucks and other large vehicles. Mounting the headlights just above the bumper only increases that vulnerability in vehicles following too closely and extends the risk from smaller vehicles. Not to mention the issues arising from minor parking lot fender benders. If I were shopping I'd opt for the GT-Line Turbo with its more powerful engine and the DCT transmission. I'm not a fan of CVT's either but I'm not a fanatic about it. The increasing adoption of CVT's across the industry reflects their advantage in fuel economy (traditionally a challenge for KIA and Hyundai) and as Sam implies most drivers don't even know what the term CVT refers to and couldn't care less as long as they don't have to shift gears on their own. Sam suggests that KIA's IVT is no better than other CVT's. I haven't driven one but other reviewers don't agree. Regardless, as the owner of a GTI with a dual clutch transmission, I'm a fan. I suspect the KIA version wouldn't match the behavior of VW's DSG but I also think it's an appealing alternative to a traditional torque converter as well as a CVT. I'm also a fan of turbos in small vehicles with small engines. Again, I suspect the turbo in the Soul won't compare to the magnificent two liter four banger in the GTI but it certainly adds performance without seriously impacting the engine's durability and reliability. I'm not going to be adding one of the current Soul's to our family's fleet but when the new Soul EV is released, I may well give it a serious look.
I went to buy a can of fix=a=flat and the warning said NOT to store it in the back of a hatchback cause the temp could rise to 120 degrees and the can might explode.
Sam, great review. New subscriber. Is the "S" model similarly equipped to the X-Line, without the horrendous silver lower body cladding, which reminds me of a 90s Pontiac? Also see the stormtrooper face, especially on a white Soul. Thanks! 😉🌵🌵🌵
thanks for being honest with the review... not one other reviewer was somewhat negative and mentioned those specific details that seem like steps back in a new gen car... i will be crossing this off of my list now bc of those negative things... the soul should've gotten better not worse with this new platform... what a shame
Hi, Sam! Thanks for the great review! I can tell you're not a huge fan of this car. Can you do a review on the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SE/SEL and show how effective the S-AWC is in your area? Would be really cool to watch you take one off-road, like you did with a Subaru Legacy Outback, a couple years ago. Thanks!
We tested an Eclipse Cross last year and decided against completing a review on it as it would have been so negative. Nobody wins when we do a scathing review.
