The Kia Soul is a subcompact crossover SUV that Kia[1] presently produces and markets on a global scale.
The Soul, which was created at Kia’s design studio in California and had its debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, is made in South Korea. Kia has been selling the Soul EV, an electric model, since 2014.
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What distinguishes the Kia Soul?
The only vehicle having a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard equipment is the Kia Soul! It produces 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque from a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, making it the fastest of the group.
What does a Kia Soul qualify as?
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.
Kia Souls: Are they a good car?
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.
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.
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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.
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Kia meaning:
The meaning of the name Kia is actually quite intriguing. It may surprise you to learn that even a word as short as Kia contains two parts to its Korean meaning. Ki means to emerge, and a signifies to the east. Kia means “to come out of the east,” to put it another way. Fitting for a corporation that is based in East Asia and serves so many different nations.
The 2013 U.S. introduction of the Cadenza sedan, also known as the K7 in Korea, is named after an exquisite, bright, and challenging artistic solo (typically musical). Musical words are frequently used as model names. Simply observe the Hyundai Sonata.
In 2010, the four-door Forte sedan, which takes its name from the Middle French word fort, which means “strong,” was introduced in America as the K3 in Korea. We understand it to relate to a person’s best quality or expertise.
The K900, a more recent addition to the list, is a fresh way for the brand to approach the luxury market. The K900 is known as the K9 in Korea, adhering to the brand’s customary naming pattern of K(ia) + # for its passenger cars, although having several names throughout the world, including the Quorist. In order to avoid being confused with a dog, the name in America has two zeros added.
The name of this passenger sedan is a riff on the Latin word “optimus,” which means “best or “bonus,” and is generally quite well known. That is where the word “optimum”which refers to the ideal level or circumstancecomes from.
After being created, the Kia Rio has gone through several names over the years: Pride, Avella, and finally Rio. Rio is not just the name of a city in Brazil that recently played host to the Olympics; in Spanish and Portuguese, it also refers to a river. It describes the smooth flow of the car’s body lines and handling.
The Sedona minivan’s name is odd for Kia, and it has a rather enigmatic history. Many claim that the small town in Arizona served as the idea for the name. The company may have desired a name that evoked the outdoors and elegance but was less regionally known than, say, Santa Fe. According to records, the name “Sedona” was coined by the mother of an early settler of the region out of the blue because it sounded lovely.
Although the name’s exact meaning is unknown, it originates from the tiny Italian village of Sorrento, which was greatly impacted by Greek culture. The name of the town of Sorrento is probably derived from the fact that it contains a sanctuary that was formerly home to the religion of the Sirens. We’re not sure how this name relates to a Kia SUV.
The Soul is named after the term for the inner life of the human soul and all the stirring cultural and historical connotations that go with it. It is the name that is most self-explanatory on the list.
As Kia’s most outdoor-oriented vehicle, the Sportage crossover SUV’s name is a special fusion of the term “sport,” which refers to the car’s sportiness, and the suffix “-age,” which means “a state or condition of.
The Kia Stinger received plaudits for its alluring and memorable name when it made its debut at the 2017 NAIAS. While the model itself is modeled off the 2011 GT concept car, the name of the vehicle is a nod to the GT4 Stinger idea. Our high-performance sedan’s aim to be a fearless and aggressive new competitor in the market is aptly encapsulated by the name “Stinger.” Living true to its name and the expectations, the Stinger GT exudes an appearance and air of explosive confidence and edginess.
What car is comparable to the Kia Soul?
The 2018 EcoSport is Ford’s entry into the small crossover market. The base EcoSport is a front-wheel drive car with four doors on the sides, but it is also equipped with an automatic transmission and a 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine that produces 123 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. The standard EcoSport from Ford costs $19,995. The EcoSport is available with a larger engine and AWD, but it costs up to $27,330.
The EcoSport stands out thanks to its fifth door at the back. The EcoSport door opens up to the side rather than swinging up like a hatch, making access to the rear cargo area more simpler. The EcoSport has five passenger seats and around 50 cubic feet of cargo space.