2023 Kia Soul Offers Luxury Touches, Sharpened Styling, and Tremendous Value

Buyers looking for the ideal vehicle here at Jim Butler Kia of St. Louis have usually done a fair amount of homework and come to us prepared to make the final decision on the model to best fit their needs. As there are a few last items to check out before you make your mind up, price point and daily drivability are two qualities that have guided shoppers towards the 2023 Kia Soul. Making its official debut in 2008, it has now undergone a third-generation refresh and seen some tech and styling tweaks.

The lineup now has four trim levels instead of six, and they all derive power from one turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The Motor1.com auto review team tested the GT-Line model just in time for spring and found a very well-evolved ride at an excellent price. The Soul’s interior has gotten more appealing with each generation, and the current model offers a 10.3-inch-high resolution touch screen, a new type of seat inserts and stitching, and the all-digital gauge cluster.

The Neptune Blue color is well-coordinated and appointed with the interior, as the Soul now possesses the design geared towards a more selective buyer. As people are embarking on their daily shuttling or longer weekend trip, the Soul offers a good amount of sound and vibration containment, making for a peaceful drive and an ideal space to quickly check a few important incoming emails or schedule changes. The seats are large and very wide, and rear seat passengers enjoy 38.8 inches of legroom, a considerable improvement over the Nissan Kicks’ 33.4 inches.

Drivers now have high expectations for what their newest selection offers, as some supply chain issues have eased a bit and a sense of some normalcy is present in manufacturing efforts. The Soul excels greatly at offering features that are usually reserved for cars with a higher price tag, boasting heated seats, push-button start, radar-based cruise control, USB A and C ports, and wireless charging. The continuously variable transmission provides very smooth off-the-line acceleration, and braking is perfectly executed by modern-model standards.

The Soul is available with a Level 2 hands-on driver-assist system, that keeps the driver safe by establishing a preset distance from the car in front of you and guiding you gently back inside the lane. It requires the driver to constantly have one hand on the steering wheel and is an excellent form of technology to have as a bonus in a vehicle at this price. Other excellent safety features on board to assure that your destination is reached timely and assuredly are camera-based forward collision avoidance assist, lane departure warning, high beam assist, and rear occupant alert.

It’s always best to know where your firmest competition lies, and the soul faces off with the Chevy Trailblazer, Hyundai Kona, and Mazda CX30. The Edmunds.com driving team remarked that this year’s Soul felt “nice and spry around town”, with natural steering and excellent cornering abilities. The height-adjustable front seat and generous range of steering wheel adjustment provide enough flexibility to accommodate any size driver. One recommendation we would make to render every single trip sizzle with out-of-this-world audio would be the available Harman Kardon Stereo System, one of the finest brands on the globe to enjoy sounds with!

 

KIA Trio Hailed as Segment Winners in 2017 J.D. Power Performance, Execution, and Layout Study

The Niro, Soul, and Kia Cadenza have all been making waves in the marketplace quite heavily: J.D. Power APEAL Awards came out with all them snagging the best in their specific genres. The Niro grabbed accolades in the Small SUV segment, The Soul Dominated the Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle segment, and the Cadenza presided at the top of the list for the Large Car Segment. For the second year in a row, Kia Motors was ranked the absolute highest in the industry, and all 3 Kia APEAL study segment winners were also IQS segment winners.

Here on the lot as every new day presents us with opportunities to link people up with great cars in the St. Louis metro, we recognize that buyers today have more choices than ever before. They are looking for vehicles that offer first-class design, technology, efficiency, and amenities that really shine. More consumers looking for a smooth and safe commute are finding KIA every day, and realizing just how incredibly well these cars are fating against the competition.

The Niro cross over hybrid performed a noticeably large 51 points total aboce other average models within its segment. The Cadenza also dominated highly within its own segment, surpassing the average model's score by 27 points. The Soul has always been a hefty favorite with consumers who march to a slightly different beat, and this year it nailed down its fifth APEAL Award. This solidifies its position as the vehicle with the most APEAL awards in Kia's entire lineup of cars, and it is the only care with a spot in the Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle category to score above its segment average.

The J.D. Powers APEAL study measure new-vehicle owners' overall running level of satisfaction with their vehicles during the first 3 months of ownership. This is such a crucial time when you really think about it: this is when the owner gets the most drastic first impression, that determines or not they would have recommend the car to a friend. It also determines whether or not they would choose to purchase the car again themselves, which we understand so much of our business at Jim Butler derives from.

Hailed by Car and Driver as "The fully realized execution that could elevate the hybrid crossover to widespread adoption", the Niro is rated at 50 MPG. Most likely causing many consumers heads to turn immediately, it is the true face-to-face contender of the supposedly savvy and dapper Toyota Prius. CNBC calls the Cadenza a "Spacious boat of a car with great value", with a true difference in identify. Motor Trend calls the Soul "Stylish and Surprisingly practical": make sure you take some xtra time over the coming month to see us at Jim Butler, and find out how a new Kia car will add a deliberate sense of direction to your fall driving itinerary.

The Diary of a Kia Soul Enthusiast

We were cleaning the Jim Butler Kia office recently and came across someone’s diary. We tried not to read it, honest! But we caved and found the sweetest love note to the Kia Soul. We’re letting you sneak a peek, but don’t tell anybody, OK?

Dear Diary,

I think I’ve fallen in love! No, not with Chris -- that’s old news. No, the one that’s captured my heart is the Kia Soul! That modern design, those fun colors, and all that space for my friends -- it’s a dreamboat.

But here’s the thing, Diary -- word on the street is that the Soul’s got a new family member, and this one’s going to be even better! Oh, I can hardly wait to get my hands on the new Soul! The grapevine tells me that this one will get a turbocharged 1.6 liter I-4 from its cousin, the Kia Forte. The new Soul will have so much punch, especially with that engine that makes 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque in the Forte.

Some people even are saying that this new Soul might have all-wheel drive. That’s still just a rumor, though. But wouldn’t it be rad?

I want a new Soul so much! I love the current Kia Soul, but there’s just something about a fresh body, you know?

‘Til next time!

Whew! Ok, friends, don’t tell everyone that you read that here! But we have to admit that we’re excited about the upcoming Kia Soul, too. What do you think it will be like? Drop by Jim Butler Kia and let us know!