Kia Soul EX 2024 Redesign Model, Interior, Colors – The 2024 Kia Soul is a spacious five-seat hatchback, albeit it may be marketed as a crossover despite having only front-wheel drive. It competes with the Toyota C-HR, Nissan Kicks, and Hyundai Venue because it is fashionable, economical, and inexpensive. Since its debut a decade ago, the Kia Soul’s defining characteristic has been its attractiveness. It has slowly gotten more useless features, but it is still a fun car with many personalities.
2024 Kia Soul Redesign
The manual transmission has been eliminated, but the 8.0-inch touchscreen is now standard on the basic Soul LX hatchback. The optional Technology Package for the 2024 Kia Soul LX includes automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, and active lane control. Other variants have a touchscreen measuring 10.3 inches, keyless ignition, and wireless smartphone charging. The Soul is available in LX, S, EX, and GT-Line trim levels. All of them straddle the line between adorable and tacky, landing on the right side of cool. We like the Soul’s sharp, vibrant exterior design and fuss-free, roomy cabin. Most Souls have a 2.0-liter inline-four with 147 horsepower and a continuously variable transmission.
It has a combined fuel efficiency of up to 31 miles per gallon, even though it is not particularly quick. The 201-hp turbo-four has an unreliable 7-speed dual-clutch automated transmission that judders excessively at low speeds. The Soul’s above-average ride comfort and hefty steering deserve better. Five people can fit in the Soul if necessary. All rear-seat passengers will have ample head and leg room; shoulder room will be the limiting factor. With up to 62.1 cubic feet of storage capacity, the Soul is frequently (and appropriately) utilized as an extremely practical two-seater—a Millennial Pack ‘N Play. The NHTSA gives the Soul four stars for safety in a crash, and Soul LX hatchbacks don’t have automatic emergency brakes unless extra money is spent.
Interior
The Soul’s front seats are well-cushioned and offer sufficient room for most adults. Premium Souls include power-adjustable chairs, but most Souls have manual adjustments. The seats are not extremely comfy, but they are suitable for most people. It is feasible to fit three adults across the rear seats for short excursions. The back seats are spacious enough to accommodate two 6-foot-tall passengers.
The Soul can carry up to 24.2 cubic feet of cargo, or significantly more with the rear seat folded down. It features a high cargo floor, a large opening, and a movable cargo shelf. We’d expect more from its inside if it costs more, but for less than $20,000, the basic model offers a reasonable level of materials. In mid-range Souls, we prefer superior fabric, while in the most expensive models, we prefer synthetic leather.
Engine
The standard 2.0-liter inline-4 produces 132 lb-ft of torque and transfers it to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Kia has discontinued the manual information it provided last year. This combination is preferable; it does not generate excessive power or strain at the front wheels, and it is suitable for zipping through city traffic. On interstates, it’s smart to plan uphill passes, and we’d choose the Sport drive mode to give the steering weight to help it stay in its lane, even though the steering already feels heavier than that of competing hatchbacks.
The Soul rides well regardless of the terrain, especially with the larger 18-inch wheels seen on better-equipped versions. The 201-horsepower 1.6-liter turbo-4 engine in the top GT-Line Soul is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that provides 195 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. The powertrain sounds impressive in advertisements and on spec sheets, but it has a drawback: jerky shifting at low speeds. It hesitatingly shifts at city speeds and appears cumbersome in stop-and-go traffic. The turbo-4 does not alter its personality sufficiently to disregard shift quality.
2024 Kia Soul Release Date and Price
The $20,365 Soul LX includes power features and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but automated emergency braking is not included. We’d choose the $22,665 Soul S, which includes this active safety technology in addition to more comfortable fabric seats, a 10.3-inch touchscreen, and wireless smartphone charging.