Driven! 2020 Kia Soul X-Line and Turbocharged GT-Line 

I drove an old '93 Ford Escort (FWD) in deep snow and it never got stuck. Winter tires do wonders. People want way more than they actually need.

Honestly, I love boxy cars. Style is nice and all, but honestly, all those slope-y roofs only rob internal space, both at the front and at the back. But I think what really makes the Soul so great is that Kia really understands its customers, saving costs where appropriate and giving them the features they need.

I find it aesthetically pleasing. It has an angular greenhouse that reminds me of a Range Rover.

What shocking to me, as someone who's 6'-4", is that the cars that have the most legroom and headroom are the smallest cars. (Mini coopers, Kia Soul), yet I get into full size pick-ups, most full size sedans and I'm cramped. Will never understand how the car industry makes big cars have less interior space.... (FYI, you should have 'the Brian test' in every review)...

I feel excited every time I see Tom's review popping up in my feed. Amazing work. Keep it up Tom.

AWESOME job Tom! Had a great time with you, thank you for the love! Till next time!

Your 12 minute reviews are more info packed, fluid and entertaining than other reviewers 28 minute reviews. That TP ban in California is likely going to cause a great deal of consternation!

Brilliant writing, shooting and presenting as always. Tom and team you guys are killing it!

Just keeps getting better in every way. Even the CVT seems ok. Great job Kia 😁

So many puns! Great review!

Pretty sweet that you got paired with Anthony! To find my favorite automotive videographer with my favorite automotive journalist is an awesome coincidence!

This guy deserves more subs. Here’s 1 more!

This car is sooo beautiful

Another great video Tom 👍👍👍👍🤙🤙🤙

Oh god. I love that green color. I'm usually not a huge fan of green anything, but that looked so striking!!

Another great review !!!

I drove a rental for a month last year. Four adults were comfortable on a road trip. The car had Apple car play and adjusted cruise control. Very easy drive, turns on a dime, great visibility, ok, the box shape is strange, but once inside...

Tom so glad to see your video again. Always enjoy your reviews. I used to own a 2012 Kia Soul in black. I've traded that in for another car. I must admit, I miss my Hamster. Thanks for the great review.

Nice review Tom! KIA has been doing a great job lately with their offerings

I love my 2013 Soul, I've been planning on getting another one when I wear out my current one, this just cements that plan.

What a great review! Next time would you include past reliability? Thanks and keep up the good work!

Impressive vehicle with great tech, thank you

Last box car I was in I banged my head getting out of...the Honda version. That door latch hanging down hurt!! Luckily we were at Lake Almanor CA and pulling up to a pie shop!!

Kia Soul is cashing in on its popularity with its price increase But it's okay business is business & somehow still a good value Nice review

Many like boxy cars. I sure do. The manufacturers should realize that.

“When it comes to soul the first thing people think about are hamsters.” This is exactly what I thought lol & that animals song by maroon 5 😂😂😂😂

AWD is beyond unnecessary for the soul. Seriously, my 2012 got me up the back roads of mountains, through snow, rain, and sand without a single problem. Can't wait to get the Xline 🙌

Great review Tom, as always. Thinking about buying this for my elderly mom. Probably not the target audience but she’s only about 5’ tall like your wife so it may be a good fit and I appreciate the fact that your wife’s has been reliable.

Beautiful

I never thought I would have a Soul . But is surprisingly comfortable and good gas mileage.

I drive a 2015 SX model as my daily driver. It's been a good car

The Soul "cult" is smaller than the Subaru "cult" here in western Washington but it's just as fanatical. The wide demographic appeal is pretty amazing. I see everyone from hipster millennials to aging boomers driving them. The fact that it survives while its competition has died off is apparently a tribute to the power of rodent-based marketing. KIA's extension of the Soul's trim levels is not a surprise. Want a budget vehicle? Want the looks of a crossover? (No accounting for taste.) Want lots of bells and whistles? Want a sub-compact vehicle that a 6'5" driver can use? The KIA Soul has you covered. Was gratifying to see Tom comment about the absence of AWD. Some viewers may be surprised to learn that in the "good ole days" people actually drove vehicles in the winter without AWD. Even RWD vehicles with a couple of sandbags in the trunk or an overweight brother-in-law in the back seat. A good set of winter tires with the weight of the engine over the FWD drivetrain is all most of us need to cope with messy winter driving conditions. The GT Line trim with a more powerful engine and "sporty" bits combined with improved driving dynamics across all trim lines will attract some buyers, especially when the name of Albert Biermann is linked to it. Have to wonder, though, just how much attention Mr. Biermann and his colleagues has been able to devote to the Soul when they seem to be consumed with blessing practically every other "performance" Hyundai, Genesis, and KIA models. I'm not tempted to replace my GTI with a Soul GT but those considering a standard Golf (and other comparable hatchbacks) may well see things differently. The big news about the Soul line, though, is the forthcoming extended range Soul EV. A range of nearly 250 miles in a vehicle that's tens of thousands dollars less than a Tesla is a game changer for those with round trip commutes of, say, 80 to 100 miles. Add the versatility of the Soul, even better performance than the Soul GT, and the cost to fully recharge the vehicle of about $10. If dealers are willing to sell the Soul EV at a price in the mid-thirty thousand price point, they'll fly off the showroom floor.

beautiful and interesting, love it

Such a shame the seat pockets and rear usb or power ports aren’t standard. But what I was really hoping for was an AWD version. Yeah, I know snow tires are better for winter driving, but AWD would give the car more grip, especially on thick, snowy roads. Excellent video as usual Tom.

@1:05 Alex on Autos diligently taking notes... Great review!

The transmission's manual-mode does not simply "simulate shift feel," but actually allows changing preset, physical gear ratios within the CVT.

great review of a nice car. gotta check this one out. i wish honda still made the element (my non-sequitor of the morning).

2:23 look at that steering column!

Excellent review for an excellent small car that lives big. I can't wait for the EV version, but I also wish the turbo mill could be had in lower trims with a manual transmission.

Love what Mazda is doing. Great review!

CVT transmissions can be good if they are done right. I’ve been driving around in a 2015 Outback 3.6r for a few years now and I have no complaints about it’s CVT. I’ve driven a few different Nissans, and Mitsubishi cars with CVTs and they were truly awful. Glad to hear the Kia CVT is not so bad.

Great video Tom! The link for Halcyon doesn’t seem to be working on my iPhone

****Nice Design! ! !

So cool, it's as cool as the old Honda Civic from 1989 and 1990. And and as rugged as the origonal Xtera. I hate overly huge and intimidating feeling cars. This definitely looks fun and simple to drive.

Manual transmission sounds good 👍

Glad the cargo area is larger, which is exactly what the Soul needed. Would help sales if it has AWD. I am a fan of old fashion keys !!!

Nice jacket tom.

A nice well-rounded car for not much money. What's not to like?

I think Kia are just killing it lately. Love my Telluride, and would consider this or the Seltos as my smaller secondary vehicle. I wish they were bringing the EV version sooner to the US. Would be very interested in that.

Does the engine sound that raspy and unrefined in person (around 2:25)? I was hoping it would just be cold or my speakers.

Love the Soul. No AWD too! Best funky looking hatchback yet! Get the GT model! No you cannot drive it in the snowy climates unless you want to get into trouble.

Hey Tom, does the front passenger seat back fold flat to accommodate long loads? Also, does the GT have an independent rear suspension, like the electric version? Thanks for a great review!

Liked for "Soul Survivor"

Hey Tom nice research on the based on the Wild Boar, not many people know that little Gem, I love my Soul it's the most "Vehicular Versatile Value" in the known Car Universe In my opinion.#KIASOUL#VehicularVersatileValue

The x-line should have the turbo option as well

All the Kia Soul models are So Expensive 0_o Definitely wait 3-5 years before you buy one & it will be worth that price tag :D

HI Tom - love your videos. Do you sell t-shirts with your logo? Would love to buy one.

2:21 that gap of that steering column cover says kia clearly.

There are a few boxy cars left. No one mentions the Mini, but there are a ton of them around. I wonder if people just don't regard them as real cars? They hardly ever get mentioned.

@2:23 the steering column plastic doesn't look like it was snapped together.

I have a 2016 + but the only problem I have with it is it burns up oil . I can't understand why. I take care of it. Get it maintenence done. Don't get it

Keep it simple and affordable. I don't need AWD or a panoramic roof. I love my 2017 and will get a 2020 when my lease is up.

I like the new Soul overall.. I like the box shape, which is much better for comfort, visibility, and interior room. I like the more traditional dashboard/instrument cluster.. One thing I don't like is the squinty headlights.. They look very strange/odd for some reason. I thought the previous version's large headlights looked much better.

I like the front, but hate the back. Hopefully the next generation will have a back so therefore this looks like a range rover killer

I'm 6'4". Smaller than your friend. And, I have gray hair like you do. And, I have always had an interest in the Soul.

I’ve noticed that in almost every video lately you say “I forget to bring this.” or “I forget to turn on that”. Is everything okay? Maybe you should buy some of those pills made from jellyfish. 😆😂. Great vid as usual, Tom.

Please Kia please make the rear roof finish a little less angular, it's a bit too 90 degree.

if you could have held off this review til 4/1, you could have pulled off the CA ban of toilet paper LOL

I'm fairly certain I spoke with Kia on their Instagram page and they said AWD was a strong possibility sadly it wasn't incorporated

Just bought a 2019 with very low miles and a manual transmission. Love it. Now to the 2020. Get one with a manual transmission. The CVT is a Jatco. They are junk. Already getting many reports of it failing before 20k.

Eminem been real quiet since Tom started uploading,...

Mr. Purcell's link above doesn't work, and I really liked hearing some ambient noise in the in-car segments...

Plastic. Weird. Hmmm. Good tech, but just not feeling it. I like the second generation a little better. That TP comment got me laughing a lot!!! XD Awesome video as always!! 😎😎😎

I don’t need the tech package I need the manual gearbox on the turbo engine

What about safety features?

This guy seems like he’d wine about the placement of his tomatoes and hold up the line at subway.

So you fly from chilly Seattle to San Diego and you hit the road and you drive up to the mountains towards Julian and... Get caught in snow? Is that true?

What about the Jeep renegade isn't that a boxy car?

Rear hatch not yet wide enough , doesn't match with the increase of the cargo area .

Hey Tom, after watching this I went to KBB.com and looked up 2019 SOUL and I searched inventory I seen brand New Souls starting at $14.300.00. That is a Bargain. for a car that not a penalty box and a 10 year warranty.

Great looking vehicle. Wish the seats folded absolutely flat and had Honda Fit's "magic seat" fold up capability. That, and gimme a 30 gallon fuel tank so I could tour all over the U.S. and Canada and crawl in the back to sleep.

This thing looks really nice, they did a great job on the styling, I wonder how reliable it is as compared to a Toyota?

They didn’t try to sell you at all on an electric one, huh.

the lift floor is the same one, u just move it up. hmmm one version should at least have the awd

Is all these models available in India please comment and if not why not 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

I own a 2018 Soul Turbo even the cheaper models have cup holders in the back if you had turned down the middle armrests in the back seat you would see the cup holders there. I did like your review of the 2020 I am thinking of getting one but will miss my panoramic sunroof. But with a panoramic sunroof you can not put on the roof rack. When I traded my 2017 Soul Plus I tried at the dealer to transfer my roof rack there are NO sluts to put them in. Since I traded for a Soul with all the options I kept it but for a moment I wanted to just leave it at the dealer and keep my 2017.

Interesting that here in the Netherlands we only get the electric version

On Kias website they advertise the soul starting at $17,400ish give or take a few hundred

I Wonder for a New Cube model in the US, Im pretty sure in Japan is still being made

I want to see it bigger like a Ford flex but a little bit smaller

Drove the 2020 with turbo. Was not impressed with the trans. Also, there are too many models for the 2020. And, the new version of 2.0 motor has less power than before. Ended up getting a very lightly used 2017 soul+ with primo and audio package. Other than missing out on nicer rims on the 2020, I am very happy.

Re: Soul...You say one of the best selling Kia products...I have heard the Soul is Kia's # one selling product for several years now.

Is there a Soul hybrid in the future?

Why the fuck does only the base model get the stickshift

I have sat in one, but never driven one.

*THE ONLY THING I HATE IS THE BACK LIGHTS.*

2:24 😬 Nice panel gap

The Kia Soul has a manual transmission?

This redesign is very impressive. They should have added independent rear suspension, at least on the GT line models.

Nissan cube has 2 generations