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2022 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul has a lot going for it. Its boxy shape gives it a seriously roomy passenger cabin and cargo area. It's also fun to drive, with above-

The Kia Soul is one of the rare vehicles that defies easy categorization. On the outside, the Soul resembles a boxy SUV, but its car-like ride height and lack of all-wheel drive make it more like a hatchback. While its taxonomy might be confusing, the Soul's wide range of strengths makes it one of our favorite small runabouts. For 2022, the Soul gets a few updates that build on its recent 2020 redesign. The larger 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen is now more widely available, and the base touchscreen is a little bigger, growing from 7 inches to 8 inches. Fans of the manual transmission will need to pour another one out, however, because the Soul has lost its shift-it-yourself gearbox.

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TheKiaSoulisoneofourfavoritesmallvehicles,and you should add it to your short list if you're looking for a useful but charismatic car. Other strong contenders from this segment are the new and impressive Chevrolet Trailblazer,theHyundaiKona,andthe sportyMazdaCX30. Take a look at our detailed Soul Expert Rating below to learn more.

How does the Soul drive? Maximum acceleration from the 2.0-liter engine is a little lacking, but the Soul feels perfectly spry around town. The steering is natural, and cornering abilities are better than expected. In most cases, average handling abilities and an intuitive continuously variable automatic transmission. Minor grievances aside, this small SUV is one of the best out there. the CVT automatic feels like a traditional automatic. In Edmunds' track testing, the Soul posted a 0-60 mph time of 8.8 seconds, which is a respectable time for a little SUV.

The steering features a light effort that builds up naturally when you move from center. The Soul has cornering abilities similar to sportier rivals such as the Mazda CX-3 and Mini Countryman. The only true downside is the touchy brake pedal, which takes some getting used to. The brake response builds too quickly, so you have to be smooth on the brakes to avoid lurching. Unlike some other subcompacts, the Soul doesn't offer all-wheel drive.

How comfortable is the Soul? The front seats are reasonably comfortable even after you've been sitting for hours. The rear seatback angle is fixed but is set at a comfortable angle. The ride is firm and controlled but never harsh. Unlike some rivals, the Soul doesn't shudder like it's falling apart when it's driven over bigger bumps.

At highway speeds, the upright windshield generates a noticeable but not irritating level of wind noise, and some tire noise is evident too. Simulated gearshifts mean the engine doesn't drone at full throttle like some CVT automatics.

How’s the interior? From an ergonomic standpoint, the simple interior design means there's not much to mess up. Navigating through touchscreen menus is easy thanks to an intuitive interface and physical buttons for high-level functions. A height-adjustable front seat and a generous range of steering wheel adjustment help accommodate drivers of all sizes.

The tall roof and wide door openings make it easy to get into the front and rear of the deceptively large cabin. There's lots of headroom and legroom in front and back four adults will have no problem taking road trips. All windows are tall and narrow with the exception of the small, upturned window in the rear three-quarter view.

How’s the tech? We tested the X-Line trim level, which has the basic six-speaker audio system. Without a dedicated subwoofer, bassy sounds come out of the speakers but lack punch. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility is standard. On every trim except the base LX, you also get advanced safety features such as forward collision mitigation and a blind-spot monitor.

How’s the storage? The Soul has a deep cargo well that gives it more cargo room than other small SUVs. Though this configuration has impressive volume (24.2 cubic feet), there's a large hump at the base of the rear seats when you fold them, which limits utility.

Storage space is decent for the class, with a good number of bins and cubbies for front occupants. Installing a car seat is tough despite a roomy back seat the anchors are inset deeply and access to the tethers is hampered by this trim's nonadjustable headrests.

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA rates the CVT automatic-equipped Soul at 30 mpg combined (27 city/33 highway), which is slightly better than most competitors. However, we weren't able to replicate these numbers in real life. Over 350 miles of driving (100 of which were on the highway at a reasonable pace), we averaged just 26.8 mpg.

The continuously variable automatic transmission isn't exactly fun to use, but it is well tuned and a bit more responsive than other CVT automatics. There's also not muchpower aboard get the Turbo for apeppier engine. Still, even the mid-tier Soul is fun to toss around corners and has a pleasant ride.

The Soul uses its boxy shape to its advantage by providing lots of interior and cargo room. Styling is distinct and unmistakable. The premium audio system even gets beat-synced speaker lights, which adds to the fun factor.

The 2022 Kia Soul is available in six trim levels: LX, X-Line, GT-Line, S, EX, and Turbo. Each successive trim gets you more standard features, and the Turbo has a more powerful engine as well.

MSRP range: $19,290 - $27,890

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