Though many people mistakenly consider the Kia Soul to be a hatchback, it is actually a subcompact SUV. According to U.S. News, the Soul is at the top of its sector, which combines the simplicity of use and practicality of a compact car with the luggage space of an SUV.
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How big is a Kia Soul?
You probably haven’t given much mind to how the 2021 Kia Soul is grouped with other cars, but if you perform a fast search to contrast it with other cars, you could find that it comes up under the subcompact SUV category rather than sedans or hatchbacks. It is an ideal middle ground for many purchasers because it is on the smaller side of SUVs while yet providing more inside room and cargo capacity than your typical sedan.
The 2021 Kia Soul stands out for more reasons than simply its low price, which makes it a perfect choice for commuters who need to combine spaciousness with fuel efficiency or big-city drivers who don’t want the headache of operating a full-sized SUV.
It is a unique subcompact SUV market because it is also available as an EV.
Is the Kia Soul regarded as compact?
It’s true that the Kia Soul is an SUV. It belongs to a market segment that combines the utility and comfort of a small car with the cargo space of an SUV, and according to U.S. News, it’s at the top of the market segment.
What is a Kia Soul’s equivalent?
The Hyundai Kona is a subcompact SUV with a lot to offer, much like the Kia Soul. It features a basic price of $20,500, is offered with a variety of powertrain options, and even comes with all-wheel drive. The Hyundai Kona was named a Top Safety Pick for this year by the IIHS, just as the Kia Soul.
But does the Hyundai Kona outperform the Kia Soul as a substitute? It varies. The Kia Soul may not be the most dependable subcompact SUV, claims Consumer Reports. In actuality, Consumer Reports awarded this year’s model a one out of five anticipated reliability rating while J.D. Power rated the Soul a “Great” overall quality and reliability rating.
The Hyundai Kona, what about it? It received a predicted reliability rating of five out of five from Consumer Reports. But keep in mind that every situation is unique when it comes to dependability.
A Kia Soul is larger than a car, right?
Finding the ideal vehicle for your needs might occasionally seem unattainable. Do you want to consider purchasing a Kia Soul but are unsure of its size? We’ve done a lot of research and have the answers for you right here. Let’s get started.
A Kia Soul is properly categorized as an SUV despite being smaller. You may anticipate five seats, four doors including a rear hatchback, and a lot of cargo room inside your car for the 2021 and 2022 models. A Kia Soul is classified as a more small size vehicle because of its dimensions, which are around 165 x 71 x 63 inches.
Is a Kia Soul spacious?
The upright body of the Soul creates a roomy cabin with lots of space for passengers and cargo. The interior of the Kia Soul has been given just the right amount of young cheekiness to complement its stylish exterior. This includes colorful trim and textured door panel inserts. Additionally available features include heated seats and a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting, a smartphone charging pad, a head-up display, push-button start, and keyless entry. With its variety of interior color schemes and two-tone paint possibilities, Kia also offers owners a degree of customization. The tall-roofed ute’s cargo area has room for seven carry-on baggage when the back seats are folded, though it should be noted that they don’t fold completely flat. 20 cases could fit, so we did. Only four people could fit behind the back seat and 17 people with the seats down in the Venue due to its smaller hold and lower rear seat room.
Is the Soul being phased out by Kia?
The Kia Soul gets a makeover for the 2023 model year that features a redesigned lineup and an angrier mug. For 2023, Kia has reduced the number of Soul models available, removing the X-Line and Turbo trims.
A Honda CRV’s size compared to a Kia Soul’s
The Kia Soul’s clever design allows it to have nearly identical inside dimensions despite the Honda CR-V being more than a foot longer.
A Kia Soul is a hatchback, right?
We must understand the distinction between hatchbacks and crossovers before we can begin the topic. Sedans and hatchbacks are frequently matched. The former, which has comparable front faces, has a “hatch rear door” and additional cargo space in the back. In addition, hatchbacks are sometimes relatively economical and could provide better fuel efficiency than some crossovers. Crossovers, however, have a higher platform than hatchbacks, and all-wheel drive is frequently an option. Additionally, a lot of small crossovers still come with second-row seats that fold down and greater rear room.
The 2021 Kia Soul is a Subcompact Crossover
Although many people would refer to the 2021 Kia Soul as a hatchback, it is actually a subcompact crossover. The model provides standard Rear Fold-Down Seats to access up to 62.1 cubic feet of cargo space, making it a standout option on the market. To further confuse matters, the model keeps the handling and drivability of Kia sedans while starting at merely $17,590 on the MSRP scale. Its overall dimensions are comparable to Kia sedans, however the Rear Power Liftgate replaces the rear hatch.
What issues are there with Kia Souls?
The Kia Soul dominated the market for more than ten years with its boxy appearance, which people either love or detest, good safety ratings, and a long list of standard amenities. Today, the Soul is among Kia’s best-selling vehicles and is still a serious competitor in the subcompact crossover SUV market.
Despite being a reliable small SUV, there have been several problems, complaints, and recalls across a number of model years. There are some Kia Soul years to stay away from when purchasing used.
The worst Kia Soul years to steer clear of due to reliability difficulties are listed below, along with the safest years for used purchasing.
Which Kia Soul Years to Avoid?
If at all possible, stay away from buying a secondhand Kia Soul from one of the following model years:
- Kia Soul 2012
- Kia Soul (2013)
- Kia Soul (2014)
- Kia Soul 2015
- Kia Soul 2016
Kia Soul
The 2012 Kia Soul should be avoided at all costs, according to the people from Car Reports, who cite 470 NHTSA complaints. Body integrity issues and flawed safety features were its principal shortcomings.
Clunking noises when turning are this Soul year’s most prevalent problem. Owners have mentioned hearing a clunking or popping sound when rotating the steering wheel. Additionally, some owners have heard loud rattles when driving on roads or hitting small bumps. Owners are perplexed that there hasn’t been a recall because this body integrity issue is so prevalent.
The 2012 Soul’s unlatched hood while driving is another potential issue. Although this is a rare problem, it poses a serious safety risk, particularly on roads or freeways.
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Kia Soul
Several owners of the 2013 Soul have suffered engine failure, which has been known to occur at roughly 85,000 miles or more. Some users reported hearing a banging sound emanating from the engine, while others just experienced an engine failure. The expected fix for this issue is to replace the engine, which will set you back a whooping $5,000.
A few owners reported that their Soul’s engine had started to make a ticking noise, which is less serious. The ticking noise, which may be anywhere from mildly bothersome to frighteningly loud, compels owners to visit their nearby Kia dealership. With an average repair cost of $4,100, we cannot recommend the Soul model year.
Kia Soul
The 2014 Kia Soul is the greatest loser in terms of complaints. The 2014 Soul is unquestionably one of the worst Kia Soul years to stay away from, receiving more than 900 complaints. Similar to the 2013 Kia Soul, the 2014 model similarly receives a pitiful 1 out of 5 stars from Consumer Reports.
One of the 2014 Soul’s most serious problems, according to a number of Consumer Reports owners, is engine failure. This issue appears to be connected to the oil pump in the Soul, which results in higher-than-normal oil consumption by the engine. One owner said that the car began requiring a quart of oil every 300 miles.
The 2014 Soul has a terrible comeback of the engine’s annoying ticking/knocking noise. The initial diagnosis by technicians is that this occurs at about 105k miles and is caused by low oil. However, the owners who are meticulous and keep up with their oil changes are the ones who complain the most.
Kia Soul
The 2015 Kia Soul is another vehicle you ought to stay away from, with more than 700 NHTSA complaints and four recalls to its name. The 2015 model of the Soul has numerous engine problems, just like the other problematic Souls on our list.
Engine failure is the issue that needs to be addressed first. Around 80k miles is the typical mileage at which this problem appears. Many customers have noted that the engine initially made knocking or ticking noises or began to burn more oil. The Soul’s engine finally just stopped working. You will be responsible for paying the estimated $4,620 cost of the engine rebuild or replacement if this occurs.
Excessive oil use is another area of concern. It seems that the engine guzzles oil like it’s nobody’s business when it’s not breaking down.
Check out our list of the top 10 most dependable used sedans available if you’re ready to start looking for a used automobile and reliability is important to you.
Kia Soul
The number one issue with the 2016 Soul, as measured by the severity scale, is a blown engine. According to several accounts, the 2016 Soul’s engine is prone to blowing up, particularly after 90k miles. This is not only dangerous, but an engine replacement will cost you almost $7,000 as well.
Additionally, Kia Soul owners complained that their car simply won’t start. Although there are indications that there may be a battery issue, most concerns are unrelated to this.
Common Kia Soul Problems
Although the Kia Soul is extremely reliable in every way, there are a few persistent issues that impact cars from a few years ago. Here are a few examples:
- spike in cruise control There are rumors that some Soul models have a surgey cruise control technology. Owners reported that when the SUV was in cruise control mode, it would suddenly accelerate and then slow down to a crawl. As of the time of writing, Kia has not yet addressed this potentially deadly problem.
- a ticking clock
- Although it’s not the most typical of Soul models, 2013 Soul owners find it extremely annoying. Hearing loud knocking or ticking noises emanating from the engine is not enjoyable. The Kia Soul has yet another problem with its engine.
- spinning while clicking
- The 2012 Soul’s clunking sounds when turning were a problem for owners. This is unquestionably a body integrity issue that Kia overlooked.
This question’s solution is more complex than you might think. Let’s examine the distinctions between gasoline and diesel engines as well as the precise number of spark plugs that a diesel engine truly has.
Kia Soul
One of the most dependable Kia Soul generations was the second one ever produced. A adaptable, reasonably priced, and all-around useful compact SUV is the 2011 Soul. In terms of reliability, Car Complaints granted it a ‘Pretty Good’ Seal of Approval, noting that the 2011 Soul is “pleasant to drive, roomy and reliable.
Kia Soul
The 2018 Soul features a huge luggage area, a roomy interior, a nimble turbocharged engine, and top-notch reliability ratings. In fact, the 2018 Soul received a fantastic Quality & Reliability score from J.D. Power of 84 out of 100.
Kia Soul
The Kia Soul made a victorious comeback the following year with its 2019 year model. The 2019 Kia Soul received praise for its smooth ride, great utility, and respectable fuel efficiency. You may put your reliability concerns to rest because the 2019 Kia Soul received a reliability rating of 4 out of 5.
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