Her + His Car Reviews
2020 Kia Soul GT-Line 1.6 Turbo
Our car reviews are innovative and interesting as we provide insightful and expert reviews from both Her + His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate, women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| $29,055 | $29,055 |
| Performance | |
| Kia has done a tremendous job with their all new 2020 Soul GT-Line Turbo. This new vehicle has a powerful 201 horsepower and can go for the long run powered by the 1.6 liter four cylinder direct- injection turbo engine. Kia is pulling away from the pack as this nuanced 5-door vehicle has a lot of room for passengers, handles with aplomb and has plenty of punch. 7 Speed Dual Clutch Transmission. | Sparkling! Acceleration is instant, and with only six or so seconds required to hit 60 miles per hour, you'll want to keep a close eye on the speedometer. You can get carried away in a flash--seriously. The steering was so crisp and responsive, and the brakes so powerful that you'll think you're driving a bonafide sports car around town. Handling was just about flawless with sure footed stick-like-glue behavior around corners. Altogether--Bravo! |
| Fuel Economy | |
| 27 city miles/32 highway miles/29 combined miles. | The Soul only needs 3.4 gallons of gasoline to drive 100 miles. You save $500 in fuel costs over five years compared to other new vehicles. Annual fuel cost is about $1,400 based on gasoline costing $2.70 a gallon. Total annual costs over five years is about $7,500, according to the federal government. |
| The Car | |
| The value-proposition of this vehicle that is addressed in the Aesthetics & Styling section, makes this a standout and simply a "Best Buy."
Supported with mighty sporty 19" Alloy wheels is the first thing that shows off the completely new design of the Kia Soul. It has generous space for driver, and passengers alike in the "Smaller SUV" category that it plays in. Seriously, what is there not to like? It's quiet in the cabin, the interior has been upgraded in terms of materials used and ease of reach, and the new seats are Com-Fee! Great fitting for the longer trips - or rides of any length. As with all Souls, there are some fun and funky accent touch points. Further, we found the nav and infotainment system is easy and intuitive all around; the platform holds up to ten apps. Comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. |
Kia apparently is making a major bid for the sales from performance minded enthusiasts who still want a car that, while fast, still is chock full of practicality, and that pretty much sums up this car. For 2020, Kia did a major overhaul of its popular, "go its own way" styled subcompact sedan, giving it an updated, ahead of the pack look with a redesigned roof, rear end, front end, and different character lines and profile from its predecessors. |
| Safety | |
| Dual Front Advanced Airbags, Front Seat Mounted Airbags, Full-Length Side Curtain Airbags, 2 sets of LATCH for Children, Anti-Lock Braking System with Brake Assist, Traction Control System, Electronic Stability Control, Vehicle Control Management, Hill-Start Assist Connect, Tire-Pressure Monitoring System. | Safety features include lane keep assist, blind-spot collision warning system and foreword collision avoidance system. |
| Technology | |
| Entertainment includes AM/FM/MP3 with 10.3" infotainment system with Touchscreen; we love how it can show multi-screen display for optimal POV, Rear Camera, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay Smartphone integration, Power Outside Mirrors, Bluetooth® Wireless Technology, Cruise Control, Tilt & Telescoping Steering Wheel for Customized Fit, Center Console with Armrest. Sunroof, Dual-Zone Climate Control, Lane Keeping Assist, driver Attention Warning, Forward Collision, Avoidance Assist Car, Harmon Kardon Audio System with 10-speakers for a terrific all around sound. The Soul comes with a Liftgate available for hands-free access to the back. |
Most Souls are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (147 hp, 132 lb-ft). The LX comes with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. A CVT automatic is optional on the LX and standard on all other trims with the 2.0-liter engine. The GT-Line Turbo has a powertrain unique to this model: a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder (201 hp, 195 lb-ft) paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All Souls are front-wheel-drive, and all-wheel drive isn't available. If you get the base LX, you can expect the following standard features: 16" steel wheels, automatic headlights, rear privacy glass, a height-adjustable driver's seat, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, Bluetooth, a 7" touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and a six-speaker audio system. Standard safety features include a rearview camera and hill start assist. The LX model with the CVT automatic also adds an engine stop-start feature, body-colored mirrors and door handles, remote locking/unlocking, cruise control, selectable driving modes, and a storage console under the armrest. Buying the GT-Line adds sporty exterior accents, different 18" wheels, foglights, gloss-black mirrors, a triangle-pattern grille, and the leather-wrapped steering wheel. The forward collision warning, lane departure warning and drowsy driver warning systems are standard here. A sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, a wireless charging pad, and the blind-spot monitor can also be had if you order the GT-Line Sunroof package. The GT-l\Line Turbo adds some goodies that are above and beyond: LED exterior and interior lighting, a chrome exhaust, a sunroof, cloth and faux leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat, heated steering wheel, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, pedestrian detection for the forward collision system, adaptive cruise control and a head-up display. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| Supported with mighty sporty 18" Alloy wheels is the first thing that shows off the completely new design of the Kia Soul. This boxy vehicle, has generous space for driver and passengers alike in the "Smaller SUV" category that it plays in. Over 62 cubic feet of total packing space are avail with the rear seats folded; with them upright just over 24 cubic feet. What is also attractive about this vehicle is the price - frankly it's more competitive at under $30k than Kia's rivals; something that they build into their formula of car building and marketing. That is not pure chance but part of a real strategy in building better product and a better value. This 2020 Turbo model has a long list of technology and safety features that make it a top of the line to test drive. And, once you do so, it's hard to beat. Visibility in this car is clear, clean and the driver is unencumbered by blind spots - this we like. |
Kia definitely did a terrific job of updating the Soul this year. It is unmistakably a Soul, but a thoroughly futuristic looking one inside and out. It stands out enough that it adds to the joy of owning the car. And speaking of inside and out, the interior of the Soul is pulled together beautifully with top notch materials, plenty of room all around, and a dashboard that is artistic looking, practical and easy to use in terms of its controls and display. |
| Warranty | |
| 10 Year/100,000 Limited Powertrain, 5 Year/60,000 Basic Warranty, 5 Year/60,000 Roadside Assistance | 5 year/60,000 overall warranty and 10 year, 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. |
