The 2021 Kia Soul is a crossover SUV which is also referred to as a big sized wagon for its lack of ground clearance and it majorly lacks an all-wheel-drive. The 2021 Soul will go under a few changes giving a refreshing look since the 2020 model. The vehicle will be offered in six trims and ranges start from $17,490 for the LX trim up to $27,550 for GT Line turbo trim. There are not many boxy SUVs in 2021 which offer the funkiness and functionality of this SUV, derived from its 201 hp 1.6 L turbocharged engine.
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
The 2021 Kia Soul is out now to appeal to the masses, and it will always be remembered for two most important things, firstly its got a character, though it’s not charming enough, and secondly its affordability.
The Kia Soul gets tough competition from the likes of Hyundai Kona, the Japanese Honda HR-V, and Subaru Crosstrek. It also gives a remarkable competition to its own sibling the Kia Seltos. Here’s our take on the 2021 Kia Soul regarding its performance, interior, exterior, and pricing.
2021 Kia Soul Right Side View
2021 Kia Soul Left Side View
7.0/10 Pricing and Features
6.5/10 Engine and Performance
5.0/10 Fuel Economy
8.6/10 Interior
8.0/10 Exterior
7.0/10 Safety
9.1/10 Competition
2021 Kia Soul Pricing and Features
7.0/10
The 2021 Kia Soul is offered in six trims- LX, S, GT-LINE, X-LINE, EX, AND GT-LINE Turbo. The vehicle offers two engine options with a 2.0L Inline 4engine that produces 147hp and 132lb-ft and 1.6L turbo 4 engine rated at 201hp and 195lb-ft with the best safety features. The prices of the base LX trim starts at $17,600 and the top-of-the-line GT-Line Turbo trim is priced at $27,550.
Trims
LX
S
GT-Line
X-Line
EX
GT-Line Turbo
MSRP (Manual)
$17,490
$20,590
-
-
-
-
MSRP (Auto)
$18,990
-
$21,690
$21,690
$23,250
$27,550
Key Features
6-Speed Manual Transmission
All the Features in LX included and
All the Features in S included and
All the Features in GT-Line included and
All the Features in X-Line included and
All the Features in EX included and
7-inch Touch Screen Display
Blind Spot Collision Warning (BSW)
18-inch alloy wheels
Fog lamps
10.25-inch touch screen with navigation system
7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission with paddle shifters
Privacy Glass
Intelligent Variable Transmission(IVT)
High Gloss Black Exterior Trim
Roof Trim
LED Positioning Lights
Chrome Tipped Center Exhaust
Rear Camera Display
Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
Unique Exterior Appearance including red accents.
Rugged Black Exterior Trim
Heated Outside Mirrors
Sunroof
All around power windows
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Assist.
Automatic day and night rearview mirror
Push Button Start
17- inch wheels
SOFINO and Cloth seats
The LX trim is offered at $17,600 with basic features like 6-Speed Manual Transmission, 7-inch Touch Screen Display, Privacy Glass, Rear Camera Display, and many more features.
The S trim is offered at $20,290 with basic features that are included in the LX trim and added features like Blind Spot Collision Warning, Intelligent Variable Transmission, Lane Keeping Assist, and a few more features.
The next trim offered is the GT-Line, whereas we do not have the exact figures but estimate it’ll cost you around $20,290 and offers the same features that are included in the S trim and added features like 18-inch alloy wheels, High Gloss Black Exterior Trim, Automatic day and night rearview mirror and many more features.
2021 Kia Soul Front View
The next in line is the X-Line offered in $21,490 (est), which comes with many added features like the Roof Trim, Fog lamps, Push Button Start, etc, and also includes the features offered in the GT-Line.
The EX trim offered in $22,690(est), which has features included in the X-line and few extra features like the 10.25-inch touch screen with the navigation system, LED Positioning Lights, Heated Outside Mirrors, and a few more.
The last trim offered is the GT-Line Turbo offered in $27,490 (est). As per the reports, the exact price has not yet been revealed but the model offers the maximum number of features like a 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission with paddle shifters, Chrome Tipped Center Exhaust, sunroof, and many more including the features offered in the EX Trim.
2021 Kia Soul Maintenance, Reliability and Warranty
As per the reports, Kia Soul is one of the most reliable and it is known for producing affordable cars amongst its rivals in the market and ranked #1 in terms of affordability. Kia provides great customer satisfaction and extreme comfort to its customers. The Kia Soul ranked highest in the industry and awarded the following 6 J.D power Awards for 2019 Kia Soul for fulfilling Quality, Dependability, and performance parameters.
Reliability and Ownership Costs
As per the reports, the 2019 Kia Soul ranked nearly the top in the compact car rankings. The vehicle earned the highest safety and predicted reliability ratings, it offers plenty of space and user-friendly technology and has one of the nicest interiors in the class. The 2019 Kia Soul receives an overall rating of 81 out of 100 from J.D Power reports.
The car is reliable and easy to maintain and comes with the best features and technologies. On average, the vehicle costs around 19500 USD across the states. Arizona and California enjoy low prices due to low destination charges. No recalls have been made by the company for its earlier model which makes it a pretty reliable car.
5-year ownership and maintenance table
The cost of ownership for Kia Soul is calculated at $27000 spread across five years. This includes all the various costs incurred while one owns the vehicle for a five year period. These costs estimates are done on a yearly basis and then combined together for a period of 5 years.
Particulars
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Total
Tax Credit
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Insurance
$738
$764
$791
$818
$847
$3,958
Maintenance
$424
$604
$529
$884
$1,429
$3,870
Repairs
$0
$0
$0
$0
$524
$524
Taxes and Fees
$876
$73
$73
$73
$73
$1,168
Financing
$906
$728
$539
$337
$122
$2,632
Depreciation
$3,425
$1,105
$1,045
$1,226
$1,161
$7,962
Fuel
$1,244
$1,281
$1,319
$1,359
$1,400
$6,603
True Cost to Own
$7,613
$4,555
$4,296
$4,697
$5,556
$26,717
*cost to own table of 2019 Kio Soul.
The above table shows the cost to own expense of a 2019 Kia Soul base model. This includes all the cost variables including maintenance and repair costs for a period of 5 years.
Warranty
The Kia Soul Wagon has the best warranty period amongst its rivals that comes with a standard 5-Year/60,000 miles limit warranty. Being a trusted partner, Kia never disappoints its buyers with a great warranty and powertrain warranty period of 10 years/ 100,000 miles which is the best in the class. It offers a 24-hour roadside assistance service available in the United States valid during the 5-Year/60,000-Mile Limited Warranty term.
Criteria
Period
Limited Warranty
5 Years/ 60,000 Miles
Powertrain Warranty
10 Years/ 100,00 Miles
24-Hours roadside assistance
5 Years/ 60,000 Miles
*reference is taken from 2020
Kia Soul provides a competitive limited and powertrain warranty as well as more roadside assistance than all of its rivals. Competitors like Hyundai Kona and Subaru Crosstrek only offer 3 years/ 36,000 miles of limited warranty.
Miles Per Dollar
Kia Soul Wagon offers 30MPG and if a gallon of fuel costs 2.5USD, then it should deliver approximately 6 miles per dollar.
2021 Kia Soul Buying Advice
We recommend you opt for the LX trim which is offered at $17,600 with basic features like 6-Speed Manual Transmission, 7-inch Touch Screen Display, Privacy Glass, Rear Camera Display, and many more features. The Kia Soul is the better package for those who are looking for an ample amount of cabin space and powerful performance with advanced features and comfort at the lowest price range amongst its rivals.
Is buying a used Kia Soul Wagon a good idea?
Kia Soul retains a good resale value among its rivals and is rated 86 out of 100 on quality and reliability by J.D Power report. Calculating for depreciation value, the value of a used 2018 Kia Soul ranges from $6789 to $11,629 depending on the vehicle condition, mileage, and performance. So according to its resale value used Kia Soul is a better buy as it is ranked 3rd in best resale value.
2021 Kia Soul Engine and Performance
6.5/10
The 2021 Kia Soul wagon comes with two options: the 2.0l inline 4 engine and 1.6l turbocharged inline 4 cylinder engine that makes it a more practical car for daily driving. Its base engine is a 2.0L inline 4 engine that produces 147hp and 132lb-ft of torque and will be available with manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.
2021 Kia Soul Engine
Whereas, the 1.6L turbocharged inline 4 cylinder engine comes with more power for this daily hatchback and delivers 201hp and 195lb- ft of torque. The Kia Soul also offers an electric variant that brings a 64 kWh battery pack and will have a range of 243 miles that is more than Kia Niro EV.
The vehicle comes standard with RWD for all its models paired with a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission for rapid acceleration.
Models
2021 Kia Soul wagon (Expected)
2020 Hyundai Kona SE
2020 Honda HR-V
2020 Subaru Crosstrek
MSRP
$17,490
$20,100
$20,620
$21,895
Engine
2.0L Inline-4
2.0L Inline-4
1.8L Inline-4
2.0L Flat-4
Drivetrain
FWD
FWD
FWD
AWD
Transmission
6-speed Manual
6-speed Shiftable Automatic
CVT-Automatic
6-speed Manual
Power
147hp@6,200rpm
147hp@6,200rpm
141hp@6,500rpm
152hp@6,000rpm
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm)
132lb-ft@4,500rpm
132lb-ft@4,500rpm
127lb-ft@4,300rpm
145lb-ft@4,500rpm
Amongst its rivals, Subaru Crosstrek is the most powerful car in the lot inclined with a 2.0L flat 4 engine that produces 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. Whereas, Kia Soul and Hyundai Kona carries the same engine and produces the same power of 147hp and Honda HR-V needs a lot of improvement in this department.
2021 Kia Soul Wagon Acceleration And Braking Performance
The 2021 Kia Soul offers two engine options a 2.0L inline 4 cylinder and a 1.6L turbocharged engine that manages to accelerate the car from 0-60 mph in just 8.4 secs. All the models of the car are equipped with a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, which is very impressive for rapid speed and smooth for gear changes.
2021 Kia Soul Accelerate 0-60 MPH Just In 8.4 Sec
The Kia Soul does not undergo many under changes in its acceleration segment and comes with the same acceleration as its previous models. But the brakes deliver plenty of confidence as being the lightest in curb weight 2802 lbs amongst the rivals. It also takes nearly 116ft to come from 60-0MPH and come standard with RWD which shows a very confident braking performance.
Models
2021 Kia Soul wagon (Expected)2.0L unit
2020 Hyundai Kona SE
2020 Honda HR-V
2020 Subaru Crosstrek
0-60 MPH
8.4 secs
9.7 secs
8.6 secs
8.7 secs
Quarter Mile
16.5 secs
16.3 secs
16.3 secs
16.3 secs
Top Speed
128 MPH
132 MPH
N/A
N/A
60-0 MPH
116 ft
133 ft
N/A
131ft
Compared to its competitors, The Kia Soul has the lightest curb weight that helps in faster acceleration and better braking performance. The Kia Soul is the real king in this segment.
2021 Kia Soul Fuel Economy
5.0/10
The Kia Soul is one of the fuel-efficient vehicles that offer a good balance of performance and efficiency. The vehicle offers up to 27MPG in the city, 33MPG on the Highway, and in total it offers 30MPG (combined), with 8-speed manual transmission. It carries a decent amount of fuel capacity of 14.3 gallons in its segment which can easily cover up to 429 miles on a full tank of gas.
Models
2021 Kia Soul wagon (Expected)
2020 Hyundai Kona SE
2020 Honda HR-V
2020 Subaru Crosstrek
MPG (City)
27
27
28
23
MPG (Highway)
33
33
34
29
MPG (Combined)
30
30
30
25
Fuel Capacity
14.3 gallons
13.2 gallons
13.2 gallons
16.6 gallons
Range (City/Highway/Combined)
386.1/471.9/429 miles
356.4/435.6/396 miles
370/449/396 miles
448/548/415 miles
Compared to its rivals, Kia Soul has the second-largest fuel capacity of the tank, whereas the Hyundai Kona and Honda HR-V takes the charge in terms of fuel efficiency because of its smaller engine.
2021 Kia Soul Interior
8.6/10
The 2021 Kia Soul provides a comfortable journey with its spacious cabin. The interiors of the car did not undergo tremendous changes since its past models, we get extremely comfortable seats which are a perfect blend of style and support. The vehicle can easily accommodate up to five people providing enough legroom space. The seats of the car are well ventilated, but the dashboard area does not change much since its previous models and gives the same old look.
2021 Kia Soul Front Seat
The Kia Soul also offers a few options for interior customization. These include dual-tone two-paint options and other added features like keyless entry, push-button start, and much more. A new list of features including 7-inch touchscreen infotainment in the all-new Kia Soul makes your journey interesting.
Models
2021 Kia Soul wagon (Expected)
2020 Hyundai Kona SE
2020 Honda HR-V
2020 Subaru Crosstrek
Seating Capacity
5
5
5
5
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)
39.4/55.5/41.1
39.6/55.5/41.5
39.5/56.8/41.2
39.8/56.7/43.1
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)
39.5/54.7/38.8
37.8/54.7/38.8
38.3/54.5/39.3
38.0/55.6/36.5
Cargo Capacity (cu-ft.)
24.2
19.2
24.3
20.8
*reference is taken from 2020
The Honda HR-V has the maximum cargo capacity in this segment where the Kia Soul wagon gives neck to neck competition. The Hyundai needs to up its game in this segment as it lags behind in cargo capacity.
How’s the 2021 Kia Soul Wagon Infotainment system?
The car is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which is offered as a basic feature in each trim and few added features included are the navigation and many more. The infotainment system does not go under many changes but is an added advantage to it.
2021 Kia Soul Exterior
8.0/10
The 2021 Kia Soul Wagon does not go under any changes since its previous model and offers. The car gets headlights with various configurations and gives an overall bold look. The vehicle has a decent length of about 165.2 inches and is the lightest amongst all its rivals with a curb weight of 2802 lbs.
2021 Kia Soul Third Quarter View
It is offered in 17 different colors which gives a bold and broader look, the few color options are Snow White Pearl, Sparkling Silver, Cherry Black, Gravity Gray, Inferno Red, Mars Orange, Solar Yellow, Neptune Blue, Undercover Green, Platinum Gold and many more.
Models
2021 Kia Soul wagon (Expected)
2020 Hyundai Kona SE
2020 Honda HR-V
2020 Subaru Crosstrek
Curb Weight
2802lbs
2890lbs
2902lbs
3113lbs
Length
165.2”
164.0”
170.4”
175.8”
Width
70.9”
70.9”
69.8”
71.0”
Height
63.0”
61.0”
63.2”
63.6”
Ground Clearance
6.7”
6.7”
7.3”
8.7”
Wheelbase
102.4”
102.4”
102.8”
104.9”
The Subaru cross trek is the longest and widest hatchback car in the segment and offers a great amount of ground clearance whereas Honda HR-V is the closest competitor in terms of length width and ground clearance.
2021 Kia Soul Safety
7.0/10
The 2021 Kia Soul Safety features includes a forward-collision warning system with automatic emergency braking. The vehicle earned a four-star rating from NHTSA and has not yet been tested by the IIHS. Various trims offer different safety features which also include automatic stability control, front-impact airbags, side-impact airbags, and many more features. Whereas the 2020 Kia Soul had been rated the top safety pick by IIHS.
Safety features that can be seen in the Kia Soul wagon are:
Available forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
Available lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
Available adaptive cruise control
Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
Blind Spot Collision Warning (BCW)
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Assist (RCCA)
Lane Change Assist (LCA)
Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)
Hill Start Assist Control (HAC)
2021 Kia Soul Competition
9.1/10
2021 Kia Soul Wagon Vs Hyundai Kona
The Hyundai Kona gives a neck to neck competition as it is also a Korean based car like Kia Soul. It comes with a similar engine 2.0L inline 4- engine and produces 147hp and 132lb-ft of torque whereas Kia Soul is a better car in terms of performance.
2021 Hyundai Kona
It also has better cargo capacity and cabin space. So overall Kia Soul is the most recommended one as it is a complete package and is also the least expensive among its competitors.
2021 Kia Soul Wagon Vs Subaru Crosstrek
The Subaru Crosstrek gives a head to head competition to Kia Soul with its powerful performance, cargo space, ample amount of legroom/headroom and towing capacity but the Kia Soul takes the charge with its safety features, fuel efficiency, and pocket-friendly price where Subaru cross trek lacks.
2021 Subaru Crosstrek
That makes it a value for money offer for buyers but for those who are looking for a powerful engine and an ample amount of space inside the car, the cross trek is the best choice for the buyers.
2021 Kia Soul Final Verdict
The 2021 Kia Soul is a stylish car with decent space and offers great performance with its 2.0L inline 4 engine. The vehicle is offered in six trims with all basic features and latest modifications giving a comfortable and efficient ride. We get the best mixture of elegance and style in the all-new Kia Soul. We cannot wait for the launch of 2021 Kia Soul as it will be the perfect blend of something comfortable, powerful, cost-effective, and will offer the best safety features. So overall, then it will be a better car for the buyers.
