The unique, stylized-toaster look of the 2023 Kia Soul and its iconic advertising campaign, which features hamsters bopping to dance music, speak something about the individual who chooses to drive one.
Although the Soul is unlike anything else on the road in terms of appearance, its boxy shape conceals a cabin that is incredibly efficient and has enough of space for both passengers and goods despite its small size.
For 2023, Kia's dim Soul SUV gets a minor facelift with a new grille and bumper. New 17- and 18-inch wheels are available, and there have been changes made to the headlamps.
Unfortunately, the zippy 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with 201 horsepower has been removed from the inventory, leaving the 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 147 horsepower as the only option.
We enjoy the GT-Line version because it presents a different perspective on the Soul's eccentric exterior. It has its distinctive wheel style and body-color trim, giving it a sportier look than its stablemates.
The only available powertrain is a front-wheel-drive 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 147 horsepower and a variable frequency automatic transmission (CVT).
Our test car needed 8.0 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph on our test track, which is longer than many others.
The Soul has an EPA rating that ranges from 28 mpg in the city to 35 mpg on the highway, which is not bad for a vehicle that appears to lack aerodynamics.
Additionally available features include heated seats and a heated steering wheel, ambience lighting, a cellphone charging pad, a face display, push-button start, and keyless entry.
The tall-roofed ute's cargo section has enough for seven carry-on bags, and when the back seats were folded (although they don't fold entirely flat), we were able to stow 20 cases.
All grades save the base model come with a sizable 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Google Auto compatibility; the LX receives an 8.0-inch screen.
You can receive luxuries like SiriusXM sirius xm, actual traffic updates, in-dash gps, and a magnetic smartphone charging pad if you choose a model with the 10.3-inch display.