Kia Soul

The Kia Soul is one of the rare vehicles that defies easy categorization. On the outside, the Soul resembles a boxy SUV, but its car-like ride height and lack of all-wheel drive make it more like a hatchback. While its taxonomy might be confusing, the

For 2022, the Soul gets a few updates that build on its recent 2020 redesign. The larger 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen is now more widely available, and the base touchscreen is a little bigger, growing from 7 inches to 8 inches. Fans of the manual transmission will need to pour another one out, however, because the Soul has lost its shift-it-yourself gearbox.

The Kia Soul is one of our favorite small vehicles, and you should add it to your short list if you're looking for a useful but charismatic car. Other strong contenders from this segment are the new and impressive Chevrolet Trailblazer, the Hyundai Kona and the sporty Mazda CX-30. Take a look at our detailed Soul Expert Rating below to learn more.

We think the EX is the sweet spot of the Soul lineup. For not much more money than the GT- and X-Line, the EX includes a sunroof, wireless charging, keyless ignition and heated front seats that make it feel pretty upscale. If you have the extra money, the Turbo's extra power and features are definitely worth a look.

The 2022 Kia Soul is available in six trim levels: LX, X-Line, GT-Line, S, EX and Turbo. Each successive trim gets you more standard features, and the Turbo has a more powerful engine as well. Highlights include:

You get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (147 horsepower, 132 lb-ft of torque) on all the trim levels except for the top-of-the-line Turbo, which uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (201 hp, 195 lb-ft). A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is standard on all but the Turbo model — it gets a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All trims are front-wheel-drive.

LX Starts you out with:

Air conditioning
8-inch infotainment touchscreen
Six-speaker audio system
Cruise control
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration

LX Technology package This optional package adds 16-inch alloy wheels and useful advanced driver aids such as:

Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane keeping assist (steers the Soul back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)

X-Line Has an off-road-inspired look as well as:

Roof rails
10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen
Integrated navigation system
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Wireless smartphone charger
Proximity keyless entry and push-button start
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Advanced safety features from the LX Technology package

GT-Line Like the X-Line but with a sportier look thanks to a mesh-style grille and more body-colored accents. It also has:

Sunroof
Premium cloth upholstery

S Stepping up to the S trim includes the extra convenience features above, minus the special styling enhancements and sunroof. You also get a power-adjustable driver's seat.

EX Compared to the S, the EX trim adds several convenience and comfort items that include:

17-inch wheels
Heated outside mirrors
Sunroof
Heated front seats
Rear center armrest
Cargo cover and space divider

Turbo The Turbo trim builds off the EX's feature list and adds:

Turbocharged 201-hp four-cylinder engine
Seven-speed automatic transmission
LED headlights and foglights
Head-up display
Simulated leather upholstery
Upgraded power-adjustable driver's seat
Heated steering wheel
Premium Harman Kardon audio system
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Soul and the car in front)