2019 Kia Soul review
Kia Soul highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Unique and boxy design
- Attractive, spacious cabin\
- Abundant cargo space
Cons
- No all-wheel drive
- Bumpy ride on uneven roads
- Base engine lacks sufficient power
Mileage (EPA estimate)
24 city, 30 highway, 27 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
A stylish and compact-yet-roomy car.
A practical and stylish compact car, the Kia Soul is a great daily driver offering generous passenger space and cargo capacity. The Soul is known for its smooth and comfortable ride both in urban settings and on the open road. Larger than a typical hatchback but smaller than a crossover SUV, the Kia Soul combines utility with convenience—and lots of standard and available features to make every trip as enjoyable as possible.
All Kia Soul years
What is new for the 2019 Kia Soul?
- Parking Sensors, Remote Start, and Sunroof(s) features are now available as options on select trims.
- The Base trim now comes with Cruise Control and Rear View Camera as standard equipment.
2019 Kia Soul trims
Base
Comes standard with one USB port, two 12V DC power outlets, air conditioning, telescoping steering wheel, and infotainment with a five-inch screen.
Plus
This trim includes several upgrades over the Base trim, such as a seven-inch touchscreen, remote keyless entry, one additional power outlet, and automatic temperature control.
Exclaim
The Exclaim trim includes everything from the Base and Plus trims, plus leather-trimmed seats, leather dashboard, and aluminum wheels, among other additional features. The main distinction though is the fact that it comes with a turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder engine that generates 201 horsepower and is paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission.
Kia Soul photos
5 reasons to buy the 2019 Kia Soul
1. Spacious cabin
Thanks to its boxy shape and strikingly tall roof, the 2019 Kia Soul makes for a spacious cabin that can seat you and four friends comfortably. With an overall height of 63.5 inches, it offers generous overhead room even for taller drivers and passengers. There is abundant legroom for all occupants, as well. In the back, it measures 39.1 inches, with 40.9 inches in the front. These dimensions help make even the longest trips as comfortable as possible.
2. Exciting powertrain options to choose from
The 2019 Kia Soul has some exciting optional powertrain options you can choose from. The Soul Exclaim trim, for instance, comes with a turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder engine that's combined with a seven-speed automatic transmission and delivers 201 horsepower. With this kind of power, the Kia Soul becomes a good choice for those looking for a more dynamic and thrilling ride, too. This turbocharged engine really makes the boxy car much sportier and agile than you might think at first glance.
3. High cargo capacity
In addition to the roomy interior, high cargo capacity is one of the main factors that make the 2019 Kia Soul so appealing. With a maximum of 61.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down, there is more than enough room to haul all kinds of items without a hassle. This means that you can fit lots of groceries in there, several suitcases for your family road trips, or the kids' sporting equipment.
4. Numerous standard and available tech features
The Kia Soul doesn't fall short when it comes to technology, either. It comes standard with a rearview camera, brake assist, a five-inch touchscreen as part of the infotainment system which can be controlled through voice commands, and wireless phone connectivity. There are lots of available options to choose from, too, including Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ and remote keyless entry.
5. Utility and convenience
The fact that it has an abundance of cargo capacity and plenty of passenger room while managing to be a relatively compact vehicle makes the 2019 Kia Soul stand out from the pack. Although it might look like one, it's smaller than many crossover SUVs. This is thanks to the upright design that allows for more interior and cargo space than a similarly sized vehicle with a curvier shape and a lower roof. With this kind of design, the Kia Soul offers a great amount of utility while also managing to keep the characteristics of an easily maneuverable and practical daily driver.
Similar vehicles
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Classic Jeep styling, a comfortable interior, and plenty of tech add up to make the Renegade a serious contender if you're looking for a small SUV. The 2018-2021 Jeep Renegade is available across four trims (Sport, Latitude, Trailhawk, and Limited) and with a choice of turbocharged engines, including a 180-hp 2.4L four-cylinder. The five-seat Renegade can take you off-road with the trail-ready Trailhawk trim, or into luxurious territory with the Limited trim.
The 2018-2021 Jeep Renegade Sport base trim features include:
Rearview camera
Fold-flat front passenger seat
Five-inch touchscreen (seven-inch from 2021)
The Honda Fit is a compact yet spacious vehicle, with high-end interiors and great handling. The 2017–2020 model has an impressive 52.7 cu-ft of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and that space can be customized thanks to the configurable Magic Seat. It allows movement of the rear seat cushions, allowing you to stow taller items, while the front passenger seat can be folded for other very large or unwieldy objects.
Standard features on the 2017–2020 Honda Fit include:
Brake assist
Keyless entry
Steering wheel controls
A simple, modern design and the functionality of an active lifestyle combine seamlessly in the 2017-2020 Honda HR-V. A 141-hp 1.8L four-cylinder engine powers all three trims through a continuously variable transmission(CVT), and AWD is available for excellent traction in less than ideal weather. Navigation, leather seating, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel are touches of luxury you'll find in the 2017-2020 Honda HR-V EX-L. The 2017-2020 Honda HR-V with the 1.8L engine and CVT gets an EPA-estimated 28 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.
Standard equipment on the 2017-2020 Honda HR-V includes:
Multi-angle rearview camera
Bluetooth streaming audio connectivity
Five-inch infotainment screen and USB charge port
Shop with your budget in mind
Ratings & reliability
Customer ratings
4.4 out of 5
22 customer reviews| 5 Stars | 15 |
|---|---|
| 4 Stars | 3 |
| 3 Stars | 2 |
| 2 Stars | 1 |
| 1 Star | 1 |
RepairPal gave the Kia Soul an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Kia Soul 3rd out of 8 among Subcompact SUVs.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Kia SoulKia Soul features and specs
Base 2WD 4D Wagon
Standard Features
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Bluetooth Technology
- Cloth Seats
- Cruise Control
- Manual Transmission
- Overhead Airbags
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear View Camera
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Side Airbags
- Traction Control
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Cloth Seats
- Parking Sensors
Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
1.6L
Horsepower
130
Torque (ft-lbs)
118
Engine type
Gas
Fuel capacity
14.2
Wheelbase
101.2"
Overall length
163"
Width
70.9"
Height
63.5"
Leg room
F 40.9"/R 39.1"
Head room
F 39.6"/R 39.5"
Front tires
P205/60HR16
Rear tires
P205/60HR16
Seating capacity
5
Transmission
Manual 6
2019 Kia Soul FAQ
The 2019 Kia Soul is available in multiple trims, each with its own estimated fuel economy, here are the EPA estimates for each trim:
- Base : 26 MPG City and 31 MPG Highway
- ! : 26 MPG City and 31 MPG Highway
- + : 25 MPG City and 30 MPG Highway
The Kia Soul received a rating of 4 out of 5 stars from RepairPal, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks the Kia Soul as 2 out of 8 among Subcompact SUV
The 2019 Kia Soul has received an average 4.4 out of 5 stars from our customers. If you're in the market for a 2019 Kia Soul, check out reviews from customers just like you. 2019 Kia Soul Reviews.
Here is what's new for the 2019 Kia Soul:
- Parking Sensors
- Remote Start
- Sunroof(s)
- Cruise Control
- Rear View Camera
More about the 2019 Kia Soul
Color options
Exterior colors
Alien 2
Bright Silver
Caribbean Blue
Clear White
Clear White/Red
Inferno Red
Inferno Red/Black
Mysterious Blue
Shadow Black
Titanium Gray
Wild Orange
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Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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