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The 2022 Kia Soul is a fun and functional compact car that drives well and has more features and funk than any of its competitors.
What’s New for the 2022 Kia Soul?
For 2022, the Kia Soul loses its manual transmission option but gains a lot to keep you busy. Gone is the 7-inch base infotainment system in favor of an 8-inch touchscreen unit on the base model. Every other trim gets a big 10.25-inch unit. In addition, those same higher trims all get dual-zone automatic climate control, more USB ports, and wireless device charging.
2022 Kia Soul – kia.com | Shop 2022 Kia Soul on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Lunchbox styling is cool
Spacious interior
Excellent infotainment
Loud interior
CVT is clunky
Not as fuel-efficient as rivals
AWD would be nice
2022 Soul Specs
- 147 horsepower from base engine
- 132 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 6 available trims
- 24 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 62 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- Excellent touchscreen options
- IIHS Top Safety Pick
- Kia’s 10-year powertrain warranty
2022 Kia Soul Powertrain
The 2022 Kia Soul is one of the easiest cars to drive in the city thanks to its great visibility and small footprint. The steering provides great feedback and makes the car easy to place in its lane. We also like the way the brakes react to pressure. They’re linear and easy to modulate. The standard 2.0-liter I4 engine is pretty good too with 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. It’s not quick but it’s smooth and for the most part, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) matches it nicely. The only issue you may encounter is a bit of lag to react when some extra power is needed.
The Turbo drivetrain is sincerely outstanding. It’s won awards around the globe in other Kia and Hyundai products, and we can see why. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission squeezes every bit of performance potential out of the turbocharged 1.6-liter engine and makes the Soul a hoot to drive. It’s so punchy that the 2022 Kia Soul can sprint from 0-60 in just 6.4 seconds. For a boxy little vehicle that doesn’t look athletic, that’s pretty quick.
2022 Kia Soul Fuel Economy & MPG
The EPA rates the 2022 Kia Soul with the 2.0-liter engine at 28 mpg in the city and 33 mpg out on the open road. Those numbers drop just a single mpg in either situation for the Turbo model. That’s not as efficient as some of its rivals, but it’s also not a bank-breaking figure.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
Considering the price point of the 2022 Kia Soul, it’s an impressively comfortable car. The interior is spacious and provides more than enough room to get comfortable whether in the front or rear seats. Those front seats are supportive and easy to adjust for longer trips. The dash and door cards are built from pretty cheap plastic. It’s not the most attractive surface to be sure, and we’ve ripped some other brands for similar materials. Those vehicles don’t cost under $25,000 though. One thing the Soul does well is that it keeps everything within arm’s reach. The controls are simple and straightforward too.
If there’s anything to consider about those long trips with this Kia, it would have to be that three adults in the back seat will likely be very cramped. The back of the Soul offers decent cargo space with more than 25 cubic feet. The rear seats won’t fold all the way down, which we wish they would, but once down, there is 62 cubic feet of cargo volume.
Entertainment & Technology
One of the best parts of the 2022 Kia Soul is all of the tech. The infotainment system is so silky smooth and also integrates seamlessly with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The larger 10.25-inch infotainment system that comes in all but the base model (8-inch) is almost comically large in a car of this size. It’s not the only thing that makes the Soul feel special though.
This car can also be optioned with a heads-up display, a Harman Kardon premium audio system, a wireless charging pad, heated seats, and ambient lighting. Then there’s the actual tech package which adds more safety features like lane-keep assist and automated emergency braking.
Safety Features
The NHTSA gave the 2022 Kia Soul a four-star crash-test rating. Aside from that blemish on its record, it was awarded a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. Combine that with the great driver assistance features and we like the total package that the Soul provides.
2022 Kia Soul Trims & Pricing
LX – $19,290
All trims but the very top of the line Soul Turbo come with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter I4 engine that makes 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. It sends that power to the front wheels exclusively through a CVT. The base level Soul also gets an 8-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity and six speakers. It also has cloth upholstery, cruise control, and air conditioning. Buyers can add an optional safety suite called the LX Technology package which includes blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and driver attention warning.
S – $21,590
Go for the Soul S and you’ll get a larger 10.25-inch infotainment system, premium cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, and push button start.
GT-Line – $22,690
The GT-Line adds features from the trims below it, including the premium upholstery, the tech features, and the comfort features. The GT-Line also receives a special GT-Line exterior appearance, power sunroof, and a sport-tuned suspension.
X-Line – $22,690
Buyers who pick up the X-Line will get the same safety suite from the optional LX Tech package. It also comes in an exclusive Undercover green paint, roof rails, and an X-Line exterior body kit.
EX – $23,590
Perhaps the best value in the lineup is the 2022 Kia Soul EX with its 17-inch wheels, heated seats and mirrors, a cargo cover, rear armrest, powered sunroof, premium cloth seat trim, power lumbar support, and a key fob remote start.
Turbo – $27,890
The best driver is the Kia Soul Turbo model that features a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It also gets a heads-up display, LED headlights and fog lights, simulated leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, and a premium sound system.
Warranties
Kia offers a 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty on the 2022 Kia Soul. There’s no complimentary maintenance, but those warranty terms beat just about everyone in the industry aside from their parent company Hyundai.
What we think
2022 Kia Soul – kiamedia.com | Shop 2022 Kia Soul on Carsforsale.com
The 2022 Kia Soul is a highly balanced and practical car with a ton of likable features. The Soul Turbo is a love it or hate it value proposition as it’s nearing $30,000. Aside from it, every other trim is a great deal for a great little vehicle.
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