In the brand-new 2020 Soul EV hybrid for sale at Jim Ellis Kia of Kennesaw, get ready for more adventure than ever. Featuring an electric engine that produces an estimated 201 horsepower and 291 pound. ft. of torque, making its debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.
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The Kia Soul is what kind of car?
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 does a hybrid Kia Soul cost?
Soul LX Kia The base model, which costs $19,190, has a continuously variable automatic transmission and a four-cylinder engine that produces 147 horsepower (CVT).
Kia Souls have electric motors?
It’s true what you say: the Kia Soul is a compact gas-powered SUV. However, the tales you’ve heard about it turning into an EV aren’t entirely untrue. Although Kia Souls are electric, there aren’t any in the United States.
The South Korean carmaker developed an electric Soul but ultimately decided against marketing it in the United States. Only three other electric SUVs share the same pricing range as the Soul EV: the Mazda MX-30, the Chevy Bolt EUV, and the Hyundai Kona Electric.
The Mazda MX-30 falls short of today’s EV requirements. It’s a difficult vehicle to rely on with a battery range of only 100 miles as assessed by the EPA. Additionally, it is now exclusively available in California, which does little to assist the typical American in making the move to electricity.
On the other hand, the models from Chevy and Hyundai allow a whole new group of drivers who want to transport their families in a car that is more environmentally friendly than their current vehicles to enter the world of electric vehicles. Both models offer plenty of storage space and legroom while having a range of around 250 miles between charges.
That said, there aren’t many EVs available for under $40,000. However, there are more ways to cut costs when switching to an electric vehicle, including the federal tax credit, state government incentives, and special EV-focused auto insurance.
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What Car? says…
Before the Kia Soul EV, when you think of soul, James Brown or Aretha Franklin’s music certainly comes to mind. However, Kia would like you to have more automotive soul in your life, exactly like James Carr, the singer of the popular song “You Gotta Have Soul.”
Similar to that song, the Soul has a history of setting trends. The second generation of the Soul was the first to provide customers the option of choosing between gasoline, diesel, or electric propulsion. That occurred in 2014, a full year prior to Volkswagen introducing the e-Golf.
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 worry seems to be related to the Soul’s oil pump, which causes the engine to consume more oil than usual. 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. Car Complaints awarded the 2011 Soul a “Pretty Good” Seal of Approval for dependability, stating that it is “pleasant to drive, roomy, and trustworthy.”
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.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
The simplest way to purchase a car is using the CoPilot auto shopping app. You may create a customized list of the top car listings in your area by telling us what you’re looking for, and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area.
Just seeking for more recent models? The search engine for virtually new vehicles is CoPilot Compare. only observe recentfive years or lessautos with little mileage. The greatest place to look for off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO vehicles is CoPilot Compare.
What’s best? We have more information on each vehicle than our rivals since CoPilot was developed using the same technologies that dealerships use to acquire and sell their inventories. Since CoPilot doesn’t partner with automakers, there aren’t any sponsored posts or other dubious tacticsjust the most information about the best vehicles. To learn more about CoPilot’s operation, see our About Us page.
Is buying a Kia Soul worthwhile?
Yes, the Kia Soul is a good automobile, especially if you’re looking for something that’s dependable, stylish, and reasonably priced. The brakes are effective, and the engine accelerates rapidly. Furthermore, the inside is spacious and comfy. The Kia Soul is a great SUV option all around, featuring essential features and well-liked improvements.
Kia Soul went electric when?
In April 2014, South Korea began producing the Soul EV. Before a 50% government subsidy, the starting price in the South Korean market was 42 million won ($39,400). Kia established a 2014 global sales goal of 5,000 units. [4] With the delivery of 38 units, deliveries in South Korea got underway in May 2014. [2] [3]
Kia started producing the Soul EV for export on June 12, 2014. The first automobiles to leave the factory were shipped to certain nations in Europe. [4] [24] Retail deliveries to Europe started in July 2014. [4] [25]
Sales for the 2015 model year began in the United States in October 2014.
[5] At first, it was exclusively sold in California, but in March 2015, Kia Motors North America announced the Soul EV would also be offered in Georgia starting in the second quarter of the year, as well as in Texas, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, and Washington.
[26] In late July 2015, sales of 2016 Kia Soul EVs began in the state of Washington.
[27] Pricing for it began at US$33,700 before any applicable government subsidies, and it was offered in two trims. [28]
Following the government’s 5,000 Plug-in Car Grant, the Kia Soul EV went on sale in the UK in November 2014 at $24,995.
[29]
The 2016 Soul EV will be available in three trim levels: EV, EV+, and EV-e, according to Kia. California was the only state that sold the EV-e. The EV+’s Sun & Fun package included a sunroof as well as interior and speaker lighting. Colors and other small adjustments were added. [30]
In August 2015, global sales exceeded 5,000 units, of which 1,177 were sold in South Korea.
[31] The milestone of 10,000 units was attained in January 2016. With 6,770 units sold, Europe was the largest market, followed by South Korea with 1,580 and the United States with 1,411. [6] The top two European markets as of December 2015[update] were Germany with 3,853 units sold[7][8] and Norway with 1,637 units. [32] [33]
2,044 used Soul EVs were imported into Norway in 2015.
[34] According to the publication Der Spiegel, Kia registered the vehicles in Germany before shipping them to Norway, a member state of the non-EU. The Hyundai-Kia Group was able to reduce its fleet’s average CO2 emissions thanks to this legal loophole[35], avoiding a large charge.
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.