Although the Kia Soul doesn’t come with AWD, it can be purchased with front-wheel drive instead (FWD). For this little SUV, Shelby drivers will have the option of customizing their drivetrain and powertrain: 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque are produced by the 2.0-liter in-line 4-cylinder engine found in most Kia Soul grade levels.
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A 2013 Kia Soul has rear-wheel drive, right?
SPEECH AND SENSE (Not Really, Fair, Great, or Excellent) Family-Friendly Good Times receives a fair fun factor (None, Some, Groove-On).
BACKWARDS THE WHEEL A 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 138 horsepower powers the standard Soul. The 2.0-liter engine in my Soul! and the Soul+ has been updated to 164 horsepower. All Souls feature front-wheel drive, and the base and Soul+ both offer a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission as options. Only The Soul! is automatic. Even in Eco mode, which can help drivers get better gas mileage, mine had plenty of zip and zing for daily, around-town driving. To maintain speed on the highway, though, you truly need to nurse the Soul, as opposed to other cars that almost seem to drive themselves. Lots of highway driving in a base Soul would undoubtedly become unpleasant because it lacks cruise control.
The Kia Soul’s cabin noise is another factor in long-distance driver tiredness. Although the engine is actually rather quiet, the Soul’s lack of noise shielding reveals its low price. When driving this car, road and wind noise are immediately audible.
The EPA anticipated that my car would get 23/28 mpg on the city/highway. The estimated fuel economy for the 2.0-liter with the manual transmission is 24/29 mpg. For an estimated 1 mpg more than the standard 2.0-liter automatic, the Soul+ with an automatic transmission qualifies for the optional Eco Package (not the Eco mode that comes in all Souls), which includes special tires and a feature that turns the engine on and off at stoplights.
No matter the transmission, the standard Soul’s 1.6-liter engine is rated at 25/30 mpg.
Around town, the Kia Soul’s tight suspension is enjoyable and sporty-feeling, but at highway speeds, it became unsettling due to its inability to absorb and recover from bumps. I had to concentrate and hold on to the steering wheel more securely while the Soul was taking a curved ramp from one highway to another since it hopped around a little bit over the harsh bump where the two met.
Quick errands were a breeze with the Soul’s 34.4-foot turning circle, which allowed it to turn on a dime into parking places that others passed by.
SAFETY The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 2013 Kia Soul its highest grade of Good in the front, side, rear, and roof-strength tests, making it a Top Safety Pick. The small-overlap front test has not been performed on it. The Soul received a four-star overall crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Kia Soul comes equipped with traction control, electronic stability control, and antilock brakes as standard equipment, as has been mandated from the 2012 model year. The Soul comes equipped with full-length side curtain airbags, front-seat mounted side-impact airbags, and standard dual advanced airbags in the front.
The Kia Soul! that I drove also has a standard backup camera display; it isn’t available on the base model of the Kia Soul and is optional on the Soul+. Although backup cameras are not currently required on automobiles, we predict that they will in the future, so having one standard on the Soul! increased my sense of security in a home full of my children, nephews, children’s friends, and pets.
The lower Latch anchors on the Kia Soul are shallow within the seat bight but don’t offer much room at the top and bottom of the anchor, making them difficult for families to install child safety seats. This can make it challenging to install child safety seats with hard Latch hooks. However, it should be simpler to install chairs that utilise Latch hooks on flexible nylon webbing.
The seat belt buckles on the Soul have drawn complaints from my two youngest daughters. They frequently slide and tuck beneath the back of a booster seat when not in use since they have flimsy nylon bases. Because of this, it was difficult for my daughter to access the buckle when she climbed in without getting out of her seat and moving the booster out of the way. Read the entire Car Seat Check report here.
Which Kia models have rear-wheel drive?
The Kia Stinger is a four-door sportback sedan with seating for five passengers and rear- or all-wheel drive. The Stinger is offered in four trim levels: GT-Line, GT, GT1 and GT2.
A 2013 Kia Soul has all-wheel drive, right?
There are no all-wheel drive options; all versions are front-wheel drive only. The 2013 Kia Soul models differ from the 2012 models by offering new color and trim options as well as some minor content modifications. As a 2010 model, the Kia Soul made its premiere.
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 Complaints, 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. 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.
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What issues do 2013 Kia Soul models have?
Kia Soul Recalls from 2013 The catalytic converter may become damaged by high exhaust gas temperatures, which could lead to irregular engine combustion, damage to one or more engine pistons, and even piston connecting rod failure. Consequence: Piston damage may cause an engine to stall, raising the likelihood of a collision.
Can the Kia Soul handle snow?
When fitted with snow tires, the Kia Soul can manage snow pretty well. The Soul has front-wheel drive, which, when combined with the engine’s weight distributed over the wheels, results in good traction. The Soul is a good option for winter driving thanks to a number of comfort and safety features.
Are Kias reliable in the winter?
The Kia Sportage is a reliable option for winter travel, with the all-wheel-drive model being the best. The Sportage performs admirably in the winter thanks to its traction control, stability control, ABS, and Driver Assist Technology features, but its 6.4-inch ground clearance places some restrictions on it.