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The funky Kia Soul crossover gets a big update for 2023 that, though it’s minor, seems to make the 2022 version look old overnight. If you buy a 2023 Kia Soul, you get basically the same runabout, but with a new face, new back end, and new colors. The trendy and boxy Soul SUV looks fresh again. The Soul made a mark with its two-box look when it debuted in 2009 and as Kia’s lowest-price crossover. Since then, it’s been constantly refreshed and the 2023 Soul gets its biggest update since 2019.

The 2023 Kia Soul packs a lot in for $19,790

The Kia Soul gets a big update for 2023.
2023 Kia Soul | Kia

The Kia Soul has long been Kia’s entry-level SUV. The 2023 version starts at $19,790 and comes standard with a lot of the goodies you’d expect, like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a fuel-efficient 2.0-liter four-cylinder on all models, and Kia’s Drive Wise driver assist technology. If you buy a 2023 Kia Soul, it comes in five trim levels, and each is front-wheel drive with a CVT.

The base LX trim comes with an eight-inch screen, while every other trim comes with a new 10.25-inch touchscreen.  The new LX Technology Package includes Blind Spot Collision Avoidance, Rear Cross Collision Avoidance, and 16-inch alloy wheels. The 2023 Soul should hit dealers late this summer.

What’s new for the 2023 Kia Soul?

2023 Kia soul interior in black
2023 Soul interior | Kia

The new 2023 Kia Soul for sale has a new look and new tech. The 2023 Soul’s facelift t gives it new headlights, taillights, front and rear bumpers, and new colors. Though the changes don’t sound like much, they add up to more than just a facelift. It looks like a new SUV, with an EV-inspired front end and the lower air dam gives it a sportier look.

We’re expecting the new 2023 Kia Soul will carry on its No. 2 quality ranking at J.D. Power.

The Turbo is gone, but the the GT-Line retruns.

The 2023 Kia Soul GT-Line package packs in two-tone paint and a fancier interior.
2023 Soul | Kia

For 2023 Kia simplified the order sheet of the Soul. if you want the turbo, though, the 2022 Kia Soul is its last hurrah. The turbo has about 25% more power that the standard version. Kia also killed popular X-Line trim that gave the Soul a more aggressive look, but no more utility.

While Kia killed the hot turbocharged version of the Soul, the new GT-Line looks the part. The GT-Line version has 18-inch wheels, and many of the premium options like remote start and driver safety alerts are standard. The GT-Line has two-tone paint and black-on-red seats that set it off from the standard Soul. It starts at $23,390 and also includes heated front seats and LED lights that bounce to the beat of your tunes.

The EV-version is long gone

The Soul EV was discontinued in 2019.
2019 Soul EV

Kia used the Soul to try new tech or new ideas. Many are expecting a new EV version of the Kia Soul for sale soon. In 2015 Kia started selling the Soul as an EV in the U.S. The Soul EV competed with the Nissan Leaf, and only has a 93-mile range. At the time, however, it was one of the highest-range EVs you could buy. By the time 2020 rolled around, the Soul EV was dead, and not many people noticed, although its range had been extended to 111 miles.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.