Motorcarspecs.com delivers automobile industry news, and its unique content can entice viewers from all over the world. Every day, the Motorcarspecs.com team assists thousands of consumers in conducting vehicle research and comparing pricing on a wide range of automotive products and services. We’ve been pioneering innovative ways for prospective buyers to engage with automobiles and obtain timely and accurate information since January 2020. We created this platform for you, the viewers, to provide an honest evaluation on a relevant automobile, which we will completely review and post on our site.
2022 Kia Soul, One of those unique cars that defies easy categorization is the Kia Soul. From the outside, the Soul appears to be a boxy SUV, but its car-like ride height and lack of all-wheel drive make it more like a hatchback. The Soul is one of our favorite little runabouts, despite the fact that its taxonomy may be confusing.
Building on its prior 2020 redesign, The Soul receives a few upgrades for 2022. While the regular touchscreen has expanded from 7 to 8 inches in size, the bigger 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen is now more widely available. The Soul no longer provides a shift-it-yourself gearbox, so aficionados of manual transmissions will need to pour another one.
If you’re looking for a vehicle that is both functional and attractive, the Kia Soul should be at the top of your short list. It is one of our favorite little vehicles. Strong competitors in this category include the superb new Chevrolet Trailblazer, the Hyundai Kona, and the quick Mazda CX-30. Please review our detailed Soul Expert Rating below for further information.
The highest acceleration of the 2.0-liter engine is a little underwhelming, but the Soul feels appropriately agile around town. The turning abilities are above average, and the handling is effortless. The CVT transmission feels like a typical automatic transmission in most circumstances. In Edmunds’ track testing, the Soul reached 0-60 mph in 8.8 seconds, which is a respectable rate for a compact SUV.
As you go out from the center, the steering’s light effort progressively becomes more intense. The handling prowess of the Soul is on par with that of sportier competitors like the Mazda CX-3 and Mini Countryman. The delicate brake pedal, which takes some getting used to, is the one significant downside. You must use the brakes smoothly to prevent lurching because the brake reaction is too quick. The Soul lacks all-wheel drive, in contrast to a number of other subcompacts.
The front chairs are quite comfortable, even after hours of sitting. Although it is adjusted at a pleasant angle, the angle of the back seatback is fixed. The ride is steady and well-controlled, yet it’s never uncomfortable. When traveling over larger bumps, the Soul doesn’t tremble like it’s about to collapse as some of its rivals do.
The upright windshield produces some audible, although not very bothersome, wind noise and some tire noise at highway speeds. The engine does not drone at maximum power like some CVT automatics because of the simulated gearshifts.
The trim level with the base six speakers, the X-Line, was scrutinized. The speakers provide bassy tones but lack punch in the absence of a dedicated subwoofer. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support for smartphones is standard. All trims contain advanced safety features including frontal collision avoidance and a blind-spot monitor, with the exception of the entry-level LX.
There isn’t much room for error in terms of ergonomics due to the limited interior design. Touchscreen menus are easy to navigate because of their basic user interface and physical buttons for advanced functions. A height-adjustable front seat and a wide range of steering wheel adjustments will be helpful to drivers of all sizes.
Access to the front and back of the deceptively large home is made easy by the tall ceiling and wide door openings. Four adults may easily travel together since there is enough headroom and legroom in the front and back. All windows are tall and narrow, with the exception of the little upturned window in the back three-quarter perspective.
The Soul is inexpensive—even for a tiny SUV. Soft-touch plastic is sparse, yet it doesn’t feel cheap. The faux leather on the door rest, where you rest your elbow, and the leather-wrapped steering wheel both have a great feel to them. To break up the monotony of the all-black cabin, there is also a lot of silver trim. As usual, Kia offers a class-leading warranty.
.