Page 85 - Motor Trend (January 2020)

Finalists I COTY

PRO Excellent CVT tuning • Iconic styling • Surprising ride and handling CON Wind noise • Weakening value proposition • Slightly cheap interior materials
seats, which easily fit four adults.
Kia Soul Respectable cargo capacity

gives you plenty of flexibility for
hauling stuff, especially with the
s the last box on the shelf, cargo floor in its lowest position
the 2020 Kia Soul is in a and rear seats folded. The logical
Aclass of its own. Now in its cabin layout and a user-friendly
third generation, the Soul charms infotainment system minimize
with its utility, character, and the learning curve with the Soul’s
commendable road manners. controls piped through the large
Underpinned by a new platform 10.3-inch touchscreen.
and sporting a recognizable yet Cool details such as the red
fresh exterior design, the 2020 Kia trim and contrast stitching in the
Soul is a quirky underdog playing GT-Line Turbo add a sense of
in the big leagues. youthfulness. Even the X-Line’s our judges. Ride quality, in it as “one of the best in the
Like its predecessors, the Soul more conventional metallic-look particular, impressed—especially business, adroitly working the
polarized opinions the moment trim garnered praise from Priddle considering gas-powered Souls torque so the engine doesn’t
we laid eyes on it. Cortina wasn’t for breaking up the sea of black use an old-school torsion-beam scream and moan under heavy
a fan of the front-end design. plastic. Pulsating ambient rear suspension. Big potholes on load.” Opt for the range-topping
On the opposite end of the lighting returns and now extends our Tehachapi road loop didn’t GT-Line Turbo if you’d like a tiny
spectrum, Theodore and Callum, to the door trim. Unfortunately, even register on the Soul X-Line, bit more speed. The seven-speed
noted design experts, liked the that’s only available on the Nishimoto said. Even the GT-Line dual-clutch automatic could
car’s latest evolution. range-topping model. The rest of Turbo had a compliant ride still use some fine tuning. Markus
“A refreshing update of the the lineup doesn’t get this, which despite its sportier suspension found that it doesn’t downshift to
original,” Theodore said. Callum is a shame considering how much calibration and 18-inch wheels a lower gear when approaching
described the Soul’s looks as character the Soul has. Although shod in tires with less sidewall. a corner, even in Sport mode.
honest, fresh, and “done by MacKenzie noted, “Memo to When the roads got twisty, the Although the 2020 Kia Soul still
people who know what they’re Toyota: This is how you do quirky,” 2020 Kia Soul happily tackled comes with a long list of standard
doing.” Once inside, Rechtin the material quality could them. “Such great fun in spirited equipment, its value proposition
described the Soul’s interior as use improvement. Nishimoto driving conditions,” Loh said. “The has weakened slightly. Only the
“clunky and chunky, but in a described some interior cabin Soul really holds its own.” GT-Line Turbo gets the full driver
cool way.” bits as feeling “slightly low rent.” The well-tuned CVT paired assistance suite, and the lower
In trade for the wind noise its The 2020 Kia Soul’s sophisti- with the base 2.0-liter I-4 is also trims only get certain features.
cubelike proportions create, the cated road manners surprised a surprise. MacKenzie described Base models of the Honda Civic
2020 Kia Soul has a roomy interior and Toyota Corolla get nearly
despite its small exterior foot- everything, further highlighting
print. Theodore appreciated the that the Soul isn’t as strong in the
accommodating front and rear bang-for-your-buck department
as it used to be. Stefan Ogbac

SPECS 2020 Kia Soul (X-Line) 2020 Kia Soul GT-Line
Base Price/As Tested $22,535/$22,665 $21,335/$28,765
Power (SAE net) 147 hp @ 6,200 rpm 201 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm 195 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph 6.9 sec 6.7 sec
Quarter Mile 15.2 sec @ 91.3 mph 15.2 sec @ 92.9 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 118 ft 119 ft
Lateral Acceleration 0.86 g (avg) 0.83 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 27.5 sec @ 0.61 g (avg) 26.9 sec @ 0.66 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 27/33/30 mpg 27/32/29 mpg GT-Line

Vehicle Layout Front-engine, FWD, 5-pass, 4-door hatchback Engine/Transmission X-Line 2.0L DOHC 16-valve I-4/cont variable auto
GT Line 1.6L turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4/7-speed twin-clutch auto Curb Weight (F/R Dist) X-Line 2,940 lb (61/39%) GT Line 3,120 lb (61/39%)
Wheelbase 102.4 in Length x Width x Height 165.2 x 70.9 x 63.0 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy X-Line 125/102 kW-hr/100 miles GT Line 125/105
kW-hr/100 miles CO2 Emissions, Comb X-Line 0.66 lb/mile GT Line 0.67 lb/mile
JANUARY 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 85