The 2023 Kia Soul Compact SUV is Where Funk Meets Reliability
Don’t feel bad; the 2023 Kia Soul is used to being underestimated. If you wrote this Kia SUV off already, don’t feel bad. That said, there are a few reasons why the funky Soul SUV might be worth another look. The Kia Soul defies conventional size expectations by proving that greatness comes in compact packages. If you are looking for a safe, affordable, and oddly spacious new vehicle, the 2023 Kia Soul checks all those boxes.
Is the 2023 Kia Soul SUV a good vehicle?
This Kia SUV is a good vehicle and came in second on this year’s list of subcompact SUVs. The 2023 Kia Soul is reasonably priced and offers a lot of value for shoppers. With the top trim coming in under $25,000, it just makes a lot of sense. U.S. News and J.D. Power gave it high marks for a few reasons.
The 2023 Kia Soul comes in four different trim levels, from the base LX to the top EX. An entry-level Soul is only $19,890, while the fully-loaded EX costs $24,190. Kia’s Soul LX comes well-equipped with an eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and remote keyless entry.
| 2023 Kia Soul Trims | MSRP |
| LX | $19,890 |
| S | $22,390 |
| GT-Line | $23,490 |
| EX | $24,190 |
J.D. Power gave the 2023 Kia Soul a predicted reliability score of 87 out of 100. That is actually the highest reliability score in the entire subcompact SUV segment. Kia also has a class-leading five-year, 60,000-mile limited warranty and a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Is the 2023 Kia Soul a compact SUV?
The 2023 Soul is a subcompact Kia SUV, meaning it is even smaller than a compact SUV. Don’t let its looks deceive you, though. The 2023 Kia Soul is one of the roomiest options out there and is even on the list of best SUVs for tall drivers. It might be subcompact in size, but its sub-$20,000 price is a big deal.
The front headroom is 39.9 inches, and the front leg room is 41.1 inches. In the second row, the rear headroom is 39.5 inches. Legroom comes in at 38.8 inches. The Soul’s cargo area is 24.2 cubic feet behind the second row and 62.1 cubic feet with the second row folded. Thanks to the hatchback design, this Kia SUV offers a lot of versatile space throughout the cabin.
The engine is a 2.0L four-cylinder with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. All trim levels come with front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive is unavailable in 2023.
Is the compact Kia Soul SUV safe?
For how small the Kia SUV is, it earned good safety scores due to all of the added safety features. Kia includes the Drive Wise safety suite on all trim levels, which adds essential systems like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights. It also includes driver-attention monitoring, lane-keep assist, and rear-seat alert. Once you decide which Kia Soul trim is best for you, double-check to ensure it has all the safety systems you want. Kia offers a few additional packages if not.
On the main IIHS crashworthiness tests, the 2023 Soul earned high marks across the board. It protected the driver and passengers in all of the tests conducted. Additionally, the NHTSA gave it a four-star overall safety rating. The Kia SUV scored well on the frontal, side, and rollover tests. Kia’s safety technology passed all of the NHTSA performance criteria as well.
If that isn’t enough to change your mind about this Kia SUV, getting behind the wheel might. Those Kia Soul hamsters weren’t joking about enjoying the Soul.
