Not even Kia could have foreseen the runaway success of this little runabout when it was introduced in 2009, but shoppers took to its combination of quirky styling and practicality to catapult it to one of the brand’s best-sellers. And now the next generation is here – immediately recognizable as a Soul but with numerous enhancements to keep the masses satisfied. One of the changes is centered on personalization. Kia refers to it as a Soul for everyone, best exemplified with the new GT- and X-Lines. If you’re a passionate driver who is attracted to goodies such as a sport-tuned suspension, chrome-tip center exhaust, larger brakes, and sporty styling then the Soul GT-Line is for you. Or perhaps you’re more of the off-road type who is into the rugged look, with more body cladding, bigger fenders, 18” wheels and an optional 2-tone paint job – well, then it’s the X-Line you’ll want. Either way, both are powered by a standard 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower paired with Kia’s in-house developed continuously variable transmission. However, the GT-Line can be upgraded to the 1.6-liter turbo and 7-speed dual clutch transmission, turning up the heat to 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. A manual transmission is still offered but only on the base LX trim. Kia says the Soul’s all-new platform delivers a more refined driving experience with less noise, vibration and harshness while also improving handling and comfort. The Soul has grown about 2” in length and had its interior packaging tweaked to provide 5 cubic feet more cargo room while leaving other interior dimensions virtually unchanged. The tailgate is also wider and lower and there are larger front door openings. One of the Soul’s signature moves has always been its lighted speaker grilles. Well, Kia has taken this to a new level of awesomeness with 6 selectable moods, emitting light from the door panels and creating a 3D pattern surface, with the ability to synchronize the beat to the music. Pricing will be announced closer to the 2020 Soul’s on-sale date in the first half of 2019.
