The Bottom Line: The 2020 Kia Soul is the only box-on-wheels vehicle available today, and returns with an all-new third generation for the 2020 model year. It cranks up its unusual styling, while offering more practicality at the same time. The new-generation Soul’s interior has a bold design to match its new body lines, and the shapes and textures are inspired by visualizing music.
The Kia Soul started out with lots of boxy competition. Through out the years, its square-shaped rivals like the Honda Element, Scion xB and the Nissan Cube have all died off.
You could say that the new Kia is the Soul Survivor, and has outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted all of them, combined.
Now Kia is hoping to parlay its success into an all-new third generation model built for a world with very different competition: no longer tissue boxes on wheels, but small crossover vehicles that look like rough-and-tumble SUVs.
Despite its completely new design, this new-generation Soul 2020 model remains very familiar inside and out. Kia uses words like “funkier,” “quirky” and “unconventionally styled” to describe it, and they’re right. There’s nothing else that looks quite like it, which is noteworthy at a time when compact sedan sales are tanking, and lookalike, cookie-cutter crossovers and SUV’s are booming.
I am surprised that Kia resisted the urge to make the new Soul look more bland like the glorified hatchbacks that are selling so well lately. Its headlights are squintier and the front end looks more menacing, cranking the “funky” knob up to a 12+.
Usually, the more interesting a car looks, the more impractical it becomes, as is the case with low-slung coupes that utilize sexy rear rooflines that crowd rear headroom, and limit visibility out the back window. That looks great, but function terribly.
The Soul, with its utilitarian boxy shape becoming an integral part of its oddball DNA, manages to be both easier to use, and easier on the eyes, at the same time. The rear lift gate is lower to the ground, and it offers more cargo carrying capacity than ever before, thanks to it’s slightly longer dimensions, and with the extended length helping it to look more sleek, and to haul more stuff.
Inside the new Soul follows the same theme as its body: more of the same. Unusual textures and shapes help it stand out. I was especially surprised at the bold use of patterns and colors on the door and roof panels.
Music has always been an inspiration for the Soul’s interior designers, and that’s still the case with the all-new third generation. Those shapes and textures that are so unusual were inspired by the visualization of music.
One feature takes that quite literally. “Sound mood lighting” uses soft, gentle lights in the cabin to change in sync with the beat playing on the sound system, giving the interior space a hint of a dance-club vibe. You also can customize the color choices to suit your mood and taste.
In my test drive, the Apple CarPlay worked flawlessly on the Soul’s 10.25-inch touch screen, which delivered a quick response, and was simple and intuitive to use. An optional 8-inch HUD, Heads-Up Display, keeps information front and center.
Two four-cylinder engines are available: a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter that makes 147 horsepower, or a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that makes 201 horses. And Kia made a gutsy choice to switch to a CVT, Continuously Variable Transmission, for the 2020 Soul, something that can improve fuel economy, but often results in a less engaging driving experience, historically a standout quality of the Soul.
As long as you don’t mash the throttle, the Soul’s new transmission responds quickly and feels similar to the old six-speed automatic on the previous generation. If you floor it, you’ll get the disappointing CVT drone, but at least it’s quieter and slightly faster than the outgoing model.
Fuel economy is rated at 35 mpg on the highway and 29 in the city with the 2.0-liter engine. Pricing starts at $17,490 for the base LX trim and ranges up to $27,490 for the sporty GT-Line Turbo.
What was tested? The 2020 Kia Soul Turbo with a base price of $27,490. Options on the test car: Carpeted floor mats for $130, and a cargo tray for $95. The total MSRP, Manufactures Suggested Retail Price, window sticker price as tested, including the $995 destination charge, came to: $28,710.
Why buy it? It’s more practical than ever, but it still keeps its lovable driving personality and style. Plus the all-new for 2020 Kia Soul keeps its funky attitude, and adds more practicality. Now the Kia is the Soul Survivor, and has outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted all of them.
And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today ©”. Remember: “You Are What You Drive ©”
This Bottom Line Review is provided by: Tony Leopardo © AutoWire.Net.
“Tony the Car Guy” is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net or visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net
