2018 Kia Soul Review

The 2018 Kia Soul can be loosely described as a subcompact crossover SUV, while some might argue that it's a wagon or a hatchback. Whatever you think, the Soul is one of the few cars that has a distinct and unmistakable appearance. It comes in three different trims, the base, Plus (+), and Exclaim (!) and each comes with a different engine giving buyers a range to choose from to suit their needs. Power outputs range from 130 horsepower in the base 1.6-liter to 201 hp in the turbocharged 1.6-liter on Exclaim models, with 2.0-liter slotting neatly in the middle generating 161 hp. A six-speed manual is standard on the base model, but an automatic is available on the base and standard on the Plus derivative, while the turbocharged Exclaim gets a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. In a crossover-crazed world, can the boxy Soul steal buyers away from the more conventional Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V?

What's the Price of the 2018 Kia Soul?

The MSRP of the base model in the manual configuration is $16,200, while the one with the automatic transmission is $17,800. The starting price of the Plus is $20,400 while the turbocharged Exclaim starts at $22,900. These prices exclude tax, registration, and licensing fees, as well as a destination charge of $995.

2018 Soul Exterior

Dimensions

2018 Soul Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

The Soul was given a suspension upgrade in 2014, making a world of difference to the way it drives. While the base might have the weakest engine of all the trims, it still has responsive steering that's quick to see the Soul change direction. Unfortunately, the base model makes the Soul feel bigger than it is due to its lumbering performance. Driving gets even better with the Plus and Exclaim trims due to their abundance of torque.

Despite the boxy shape of the Soul giving it the visual impression of weight, there isn't much body roll; even when taking corners at a fair speed, it never feels like it's losing grip. For a car of this shape and size, the ride quality sits in the sweet spot of not being too hard and not being too soft. It easily absorbs the bumps and maintains its stability, however, as wheel sizes increase with the trim levels, the ride quality over broken tarmac is decreased, while road and tire noise gets louder and more invasive.

It's no hot hatch, but the Soul strikes a good balance between comfort and capability and manages to cater to the needs of most in the ride and handling department.

2018 Soul Interior

2018 Soul Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Verdict: Is the 2018 Kia Soul A Good SUV?

The Kia Soul is a stylish mix between a compact crossover SUV and a hatchback/wagon. Although a bit unusual, the Kia Soul is a handsome looking vehicle offering enough space for most occupants, with cargo volumes to rival and most of the segment. It pairs this practicality with impressive ride comfort and enticing driving dynamics and, provided you forego the base model, fairly potent engine choices, even if they aren't the most efficient. With an impressive amount of technology and safety features, the Soul is capable of competing against some more expensive cars out there, but we wish the driver assistance features were available on more than one trim. This is perhaps the biggest omission but is comfortably remedied by the perceived sense of quality and longevity, with Kia's extensive warranties giving buyers peace of mind. It's unorthodox, but the Kia Soul is a great car, particularly in a crossover crazed society.

What Kia Soul Model Should I Buy?

Three Souls each have their own personas to offer, and each brings to the table its own engine offering. So which is best? In our opinion, it's the mid-spec Plus. But there's a caveat to the choice, as it's only the best because of the additional safety features available, which come in the form of costly options packages, driving the price up well beyond the turbocharged Exclaim model's fully loaded price. However, we feel these safety features are needed to make the most of the Soul, while the 2.0-liter inline four is an impressive compromise between power, cost, and drivability.

2018 Kia Soul Comparisons

2018 Kia Soul vs Mazda CX-3

Mazda's new SUVs are renowned for their car-like handling and nippy engines. They also have an aggressive sporty look that's completely different to the boxy Soul. So how does the CX-3 stack up against the Kia Soul? The Mazda CX-3 starts out at around $20,500 and is only available with a 2.0-liter engine which makes a paltry 148 hp. The Soul has far more interior space for passengers, as well as cargo which the CX-3 just can't match. Where the Mazda shines is in the fuel economy department, as well as having agile handling. Although the ride and handling of the Mazda may seem slightly better than the Kia, the Soul makes up for it by being faster and having a great ride. The CX-3 is also available in all-wheel-drive, while the Soul is only available in front-wheel-drive.

The Mazda CX-3 is a worthy competitor to the Soul, but the Soul wins due to having more power and space at a lower price.

2018 Kia Soul vs Toyota C-HR

In stark contrast to the boxy Kia Soul, the Toyota CH-R is a very sleek and sporty looking crossover. The base model CH-R starts at around $21,000 with a two-liter, four-cylinder engine that only makes 144 hp. In comparison, the mid-level Soul Plus makes 161 hp and starts at $20,400. In the space department, the Soul has more passenger space with more headroom and legroom in both the front and rear. The Kia also beats the Toyota in cargo space, which is a big factor when buying a car in this class. The CH-R beats the Soul when it comes to gas mileage estimates, but loses out in the technology department because it only has Android Auto and lacks Apple CarPlay. However, the CH-R offers a wider availability of safety systems, which are limited and expensive on the Kia. Overall it can be argued that the Soul is better in almost all areas, but the Toyota is still compelling, and offers excellent levels of refinement and build quality. This one comes down to which of the two catches the buyer's eye the most.