By Jim Powell
Advertising is all about getting people’s attention. Friends still talk about the hamsters rocking out in a Kia Soul in the middle of Super Bowl commercials back in 2010. Hundreds of hamsters running on cage wheels while the cool gangster/hamsters cruise by in a new red Kia Soul was a brilliant aid. Ten years later, Kia has upped the volume just a bit with modern styling and even electrification in the 2020 Soul EV.
I had the chance to spend a week in the new Kia Soul Turbo, listening to my tunes. Kia claims that “music has been an overarching theme for Soul since its inception,” and one can sense that theme even more in the 2020 interior. This third-generation has turned up the volume with “emotional visualization of sound” shapes. Thankfully, Kia also focused on holding more road-noise outside the cabin. The small changes in exterior aerodynamics also have helped reduce wind noise and get a couple more mpg’s.
Exterior updates include new headlights with slimmer daytime running lights and turn signals. There is a larger front grille and flared front fenders. The vertical rear window and taillights have been reshaped and most will recognize the image as a “Cool Soul.” On the practical side, the new platform and structure will support some weight on the roof, and engineers have included roof rack mounting points.
There is more performance in the revised 2.0-liter gas engine, but the constant-variable “IVT” transmission combination would not be my first choice in drivetrains. All the new power is transferred through a mileage-oriented acceleration engine management software, which takes some of the fun out of the quirky Soul.Enthusiasts who love to drive should opt for the 6-speed manual transmission.
The iconic shape and profile seem very similar to the first-generation Soul, yet it rides on an all-new platform. The new “GT-Line” and “X-Line” models add some performance cues but the car is still a reliable commuter. The handling for the 2020 Soul is more secure and grounded to the pavement during high-speed lane-changes. Braking is more accurate and steering is more precise. Kia has added a new level of sophistication to the 2020 Soul with better driving dynamics. Yet, Kia did not forget to keep the 2020 Kia Soul funky enough to be fun.
The new 10.25-inch wide color display is intuitive. Like all Kia vehicles, the controls are logical and easy to reach, even for shorter drivers. There is an upscale feel to the materials used on the inside of the cabin, and also a new Head-Up Display [HUD] is optional on the higher trim levels. The seats are more supportive upfront and the cabin is a nicer place to be for road trips. Some think this updated Soul is more “mature” but I feel the Kia Soul is more conducive to longer road-trips.
They also include their host of safety features called “Kia Drive Wise” on all models. The driver-assist features include Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA) with pedestrian detection, Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Changing Assist (LCA) with steering inputs, Blind-spot Collision Warning (BCW), and Rear Cross Collision Warning (RCW). Available highway safety is increased with their Smart Cruise Control (SCC) and High Beam Assist (HBA).
Nice touches include available wireless charging, dual auto climate control, and more speakers on the upper trims. Soul continues to show-off their signature tweeters in the front and bumps up the mood lighting options. Customizable lighting emits a soft glow from the center door panels and a unique 3D pattern surface on the upper door panels. It can also be synchronized with the music playing through the audio system. This can be pretty cool or pretty distracting, depending on your tolerance and level of fatigue one experiences while driving at night. It can also be turned off if your head is pounding right along with the large subwoofer bass.
Unique to Kia/Hyundai/Genesis is a Driver Attention Warning (DAW) system that monitors the driver’s face for signs of sleepiness or distraction. I found this system did not understand some “head-banging” rock-n-roll music, driver-seat dancing, sing-along moves that made me famous in high school. The readout warned me and wanted me to take a break much sooner than needed!
There is always a compromise when revising a funky fan favorite to meet the needs of the masses, aiming to attract buyers of the Boomer Generation with the most buying power. Kia has done a good job of keeping the 2020 Soul fresh and minimizing the compromises while delivering an updated ride and interior, and still keeping some hamster funk and fun. They have done this all while keeping the 2020 Kia Soul affordable with a starting MSRP at just $17,490. My Soul GT-Line Turbo started at $27,490 with all the goodies.