The third generation Kia Soul is soldiering on with a new look arriving after 3 years.
Generation 3 of the Kia Soul arrived in the US in 2019 bringing cleaner looks and more equipment and an electric option. In 2021, Kia sold over 75,000 units of the Soul in the US, so it’s doing relatively well there. Last week Kia revealed the facelift of this model with a new look and more technology. They’ve also simplified the trim line-up to include just the LX, S, EX, GT-Line, GT-Line Tech while dropping the X-Line and Turbo models.
This also means that there’s only one powertrain for the Soul – a 2.0L naturally-aspirated petrol 4-banger with 147 hp and 179Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via an Intelligent Variable Transmission, the same CVT tech that goes into the Hyundai Elantra.
The following features have been made standard on the Kia Soul for this generation:
- Forward Collision Avoidance Assist-Pedestrian (FCA-Ped; camera type)
- Lane Keeping Assist + Lane Following Assist
- Driver Attention Warning
- Lane Departure Warning
- High Beam Assist
- Rear Occupant Alert (door logic)
The redesign exercise is a relatively minor one. The main highlights are the reshaped headlights that abandoned the ultra-narrow look from before, a cleaner front bumper with a slim cutout for fog lights and new taillights.
The rear bumper has also been redesigned to look a little more angular and there’s now a central exhaust tip. New 17″ and 18″ two-tone rims and chrome accent strips have been added to the Soul as well.
In terms of tech, the 2023 Kia Soul gets a larger 10.25″ infotainment screen and the driver gets a new digital instrument cluster. The top-spec Kia Soul GT-Line with the Technology Package brings a Harman/Kardon audio system with an external amplifier, subwoofer and door-mounted tweeters. These have multi-coloured LED speaker light pulses.
This variant of the Soul also gets the following features:
- Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Junction Turning capability (radar + camera type)
- Highway Drive Assist
- Navigation based Smart Cruise Control
- Electronic Parking Brake
- Power driver seat
- High-gloss interior trim
- LED headlights and taillights
- Cargo Cover
- Dual-level cargo floor
A new range of paint options have also been added, inclusind Clear White with a Fusion Black roof and Surf Blue with a Fusion Black roof.
