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The Soul is one of the models that we just must stand back and look at for a minute here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis and admire for what it has accomplished within the boundaries of the economical, smaller sized, and Urban dweller prepped car market. Leading its class with more than 75,000 sales last year, this year’s model was due for an in-depth review and look at features from Hotcars.com staff.
The 2022 model year saw the addition of a 10/3-inch infotainment system to the S, X-Line, and GT-Line trim levels, as well as the all-new design Kia badges that every model received. The 2023 model is going to come to market with all-new styling features, brand-new colors to flaunt, two optional packages, and a long list of brand-new safety features. Coming on sale during the red-hot and exciting months between June and September, the 2023 Soul version will have the LX, S, EX, GT-Line, and GT-Line Tech trims as available options.
The Soul is one of those vehicles that is always going to ooze modern charm and doesn’t even have to try too hard to look and feel like just what any busy commuter would want in a small, quirky, and personality-rich car. The designers have now created new daytime running lights and turn signals, and the Soul also received significant changes to the rear, including upgraded tail lights. You will also have the choice of 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels, which provide a bit more aggressive look, along with the new color choices including two new two-tone schemes where you can jump on a design-inspired whim to combine either Clear White or Surf Blue with Fusion Black roof.
Inside, you’ll find a very well-designed and new dashboard along with high-quality seat upholstery, with an interior that boasts over 100 cubic feet of passenger volume. The LX Model is where you see the addition of the 8.0-inch infotainment screen, with all higher trim levels getting the 10.3-inch variant to navigate, evaluate, and have fun with! Elements that have sometimes become expected but are always all-around appreciated are the wireless smartphone charging pad, SiriusXM satellite radio, and real-time traffic information. The latest Hotcars.com review claimed that there’s plenty of pep, and provides a smooth ride and solid driving dynamics, along with plenty of space to spread out.
The EPA rating will probably be the same as last year’s lineup, nailing down 28-29 in the city and 33-35 on the highway, beating out the competition in the form of the Toyota C-HR’s estimates of 27 MPG in the city and 31 MPG highway. One of the best user reviews we have ever come across was within the realm of safety, as a brand-new owner was unwittingly broadsided by a pickup full of dirt and was so protected by the vehicle’s design and confines that she had no head injury and felt as if her life was saved! This is one of those models that is quite possibly the best all-around value in the market, offering up all the necessities while jumping in above and beyond to always add more and “feel the pulse” of what car owners want for tomorrow.
