The 2022 Kia Soul is the quirkiest car on the market. It has a boxy shape that makes it stand out among more traditionally styled subcompact crossovers. The design is not for everyone, but it’s certainly unique – especially when you consider two engines in the Soul! The standard engine is a 147-hp four-cylinder, but a 201-hp turbocharged four is available as an option. The boxy design provides ample space for four people to travel about in comfort, as well as a large storage capacity for their belongings. The Soul doesn’t come standard with all-wheel drive, as the Elantra does. Nor do its features include standard driver aids.
What’s New for 2022?
For the next five years, 2022 appears to be a year of few chances for the Soul. The old circular logo has vanished, replaced by Kia’s new cutting-edge design. The Sync 3 infotainment system with navigation was now standard on all but the base LX model, which gets an 8.0-inch display (previously 7.0 inches). The Technology option for the LX model adds automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot monitoring to the list of perks. The Infiniti Q50 (Premium) comes standard with X-Line, GT-Line, and S models, as well as two additional USB ports on the GS, GX, EX/LTD/TURBO models. Unfortunately, the manual gearbox is no longer available.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
We prefer the X-Line and GT-Line variants, which are priced at the same and provide two distinct takes on the Soul’s unusual appearance. With black plastic cladding and Green paint, the X has a more industrial appearance. The GT-Line is more aggressive, with its own wheel design and body-color trim, as well as some bright-red exterior accents. Both come standard with a slew of driver assists, including automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and rear cross-traffic warning.
Transmission and Performance
The Kia Soul is available with two engines. The base model is a 147-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine coupled with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). A Soul X-Line required 8.0 seconds to reach 60 mph at our test track, but it doesn’t feel underpowered in regular driving. The basic engine feels quick around town, and the CVT willingly drops gear ratios when you’re passing someone. The standard-equipment Turbo has a 201-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with a seven-speed automated gearbox. In our testing, it achieved a 6.4-second 60 mph time.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The Soul’s EPA rating is 35 mpg on the highway and 27 mpg in the city area, not bad for a seemingly nonaerodynamic box on wheels. With a 31-mpg city fuel economy, the Hyundai Kona is significantly superior to the Nissan Kicks and its major competitors, the Hyundai Venue (31 mpg) and Toyota RAV4 (30 mpg). The turbocharged Soul got 33 mpg in our 75-mph fuel-economy test. An X-Line car powered by the basic four-cylinder achieved 30 mpg. For more information about the Soul’s gas mileage, go to the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The 2022 Kia Soul’s upper torso is straight, allowing for a large interior with plenty of room for passengers and goods. Interior designers at Kia have included enough youthful cheekiness to match the Soul’s fashion-forward look, such as textured door panel inserts and bright trim. You can buy a house that has different lights. You can also charge your phone here. It has a head-up display and push-button ignition with keyless entry, as well as heating for the seats and steering wheel. Kia adds a few more features for the Rio. Customers can choose from three different two-tone paint schemes and numerous interior color combinations. In the cargo hold, the tall-roofed utility provides enough area for seven carry-on bags; with the rear seats lowered—they don’t completely flat fold—we were able to fit 20 cases. With the rear seats down, the Venue could accommodate four behind the rear seat and 17 in total.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Touchscreen infotainment with Apple and Android is standard. All but the cheapest trims have a 10.3-inch display. Choose a 10.3-inch model, and you’ll get features such as satellite radio, real-time traffic information, dash navigation, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. The majority of vehicles come with a six-speaker radio, but the top-of-the-line Turbo model is equipped with a Harman/Kardon system.
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Kia, on the other hand, offers a longer 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, whereas Hyundai provides three years of complimentary scheduled maintenance in addition.
- Five years or 60,000 miles are covered by the warranty.
- The powertrain guarantee is for ten years or 100,000 miles.
- There is no maintenance program available.
2022 Kia Cars 