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Travel-Sized Mitsubishi Pajero Mini2023 Kia Soul: Fully Matured
What do our experts think of the 2023 Kia Soul? We look at powertrain, interior options, trim levels and more. Find out our thoughts here.
2023 Kia Soul – kiamedia.com | Shop 2023 Kia Soul on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2023 Kia Soul?
Arriving with a midlife refresh, the third-gen 2023 Kia Soul sports new front and rear fascias that give this small SUV a more aggressive look with squinty headlights and a gaping front maw. On sale since 2010, the Soul has successfully managed to attract its youthful target demographic, something Scion ultimately could not pull off as we talk about here. Other changes over the 2022 Soul, which is reviewed here, include dropping the spicy turbocharged engine and ruggedly styled X-Line trim.
The Breakdown
Roomy inside
Sharp looks outside
So much value
No more turbo power
Overwrought cabin design
Best features have limited availability
Still channeling the youthful target market
2023 Soul Specs
- 147 horsepower from base engine
- 132 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 4 available trims
- 24.2 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 62.1 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- Sound connected LED speaker lighting
- Standard Driver Attention Monitor
- 10 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage
2023 Kia Soul Powertrain
Though the Kia Soul formerly offered a potent turbocharged powertrain, for 2023 that has been dropped in favor of the naturally aspirated 2.0L inline-four as the sole offering across the lineup. This DOHC mill features four valves per cylinder and multi-port injection, making 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, enough to move the roughly 3,000-pound Soul capably, if not all that quickly. A continuously variable transmission handles “shifting” duty here, powering the front wheels only, there is no option for all-wheel drive.
Regarding that capable movement, the 2023 Kia Soul is setup for competent handling, nothing especially sporty, though it does have a torsion beam rear axle setup coupled with a MacPherson strut front layout. All Souls come with a Drive Mode selector that allows drivers to choose from pre-mapped programming of throttle and transmission settings to better suit your driving style.
2023 Kia Soul Fuel Economy & MPG
While all 2023 Souls are fitted with the same running gear, the EX model boasts slightly higher fuel economy ratings than its other three trim siblings. Figures of 29 mpg in city driving and 35 on the highway will stretch your fuel further than the 28/33 mpg ratings in city/highway driving for the rest of the Soul lineup. You can rest easy knowing this car only requires 87-octane and cruise even easier knowing you have a 500-mile highway range.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
Thanks to that boxy envelope, the Kia Soul boasts a regular cavernous cabin relative to its size, one of the many reasons it takes first place on our List of 7 Best Subcompact SUVs. Strictly a five-seat, two-row crossover, you can split-fold the rear bench for odd-shaped cargo, or drop it completely flat to open up 62 cubic feet of room. That absolutely shames the 45 cubes of maximum cargo volume found in a Mazda CX-30.
Upholstery ranges from basic black cloth to snazzy black SynTex with white or red contrast inserts and stitching on the GT-Line. Kia’s COO of America, Steve Center, referred to the Soul as a “funky runabout”, an apt description particularly for the interior with its geometrically-patterned door handle trim and light-up LED speaker accents that pulse in time with the music. It is a look that while a bit busy, works for its target audience and offers plenty of creature comforts like heated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control.
Entertainment & Technology
Get this, every single 2023 Kia Soul comes with a fully digital gauge cluster. Not too shabby for 21 grand. An 8-inch touchscreen display for infotainment interfacing is found on the base LX model, but the rest of the lineup sports a sizable 10.25-inch screen.
Across the board, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration are part of the deal. There is a potent Harman-Kardon stereo system that features slick LED speaker-grille inserts timed to flicker with the sound, but you can only have it as part of a $2,400 package on the GT-Line Soul.
Safety Features
Kia has built a reputation for value by packing their reasonably-priced vehicles with tons of content and that applies on the Souls’ safety front as well. Six airbags, including full-length curtains help the Soul earn a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS. On the active side of the safety house, forward collision warning, lane keeping and change assist, and a driver attention monitor are standard systems. S models and above come with rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control is available via package.
2023 Kia Soul Trims & Pricing
LX – $21,085
Priced low, the base Soul LX has plenty of tech like an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple and Android mirroring baked in. There’s even a digital instrument panel. Amenities are on the more basic side, but include power accessories, cloth seating, and 16-inch steel wheels with hubcaps. For $500, you can tack on the LX Technology package, which brings blind spot collision avoidance with rear cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, and alloy wheels.
S – $23,585
Featuring 16” alloy rims and the option for a gloss black roof to contrast with the body finish, S stands for Style and includes Smart Key access. Cabin amenities include dual-zone automatic climate control and a power-adjustable driver’s seat, while the infotainment screen jumps to 10.25 inches in size. Blind spot collision avoidance with rear cross-traffic alert is standard on this model.
GT-Line – $24,685
With trim-exclusive exterior accents like black mirrors, a sunroof, and 18-inch wheels, the GT-Line is a looker. Inside, you’ll find black SynTex fabric with red contrast stitching or you can opt for a snappy black-and-white scheme. The flat-bottomed steering wheel adds a sporting touch. Tick the GT-Line Technology package box to add heated front seats, audio by Harman-Kardon, LED exterior lighting, and adaptive cruise control.
EX – $25,385
Top-spec EX models are the only Souls sporting “Tricot” cloth upholstery that adds horizontally-arranged inserts of premium fabric. Heated side mirrors and front seats are included here, as is a dual-level rear cargo floor with integrated cover. Other niceties included built-in navigation with real-time traffic update capability, Kia Connect services, three USB ports, and a wireless charger.
Warranties
Kia’s well-known 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty applies to the 2023 Soul, as does 5-year/60,000-mile coverage of the overall vehicle and 24/7 roadside assistance. Corporate cousin Hyundai has started offering complimentary maintenance, but Kia has not gotten there yet.
What We Think
2023 Kia Soul – kiamedia.com | Shop 2023 Kia Soul on Carsforsale.com
Reading through our list of all-time best cube cars, you’ll notice the 2023 Kia Soul is the only one – of the Americanized Kei cars – still standing. That’s largely due to its all-around excellence, proven out by entering generation three with more value and content than ever. As seen in our new vs. used Soul writeup, these cars hold that value.
Though it may be forever tied to silly dancing hamsters, the Kia Soul has fully matured into an excellent small SUV with a just-right amount of youthful fun. Considering how value-priced the Soul is, I would have to spring for the GT-Line. It adds a nice punch of visual flair, looks killer on those 18s, features a sunroof, and unlocks access to the audiophile-friendly system.
