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2021 Kia Soul review

Research, photos, specs, and expertise
7 photos

Kia Soul highlights

Customer rating

Pros

  • Head-turning exterior
  • Ample cargo space for its class
  • Very fuel-friendly

Cons

  • Base engine performance is modest
  • Intrusive highway road and wind noise
  • Uneven responses from turbo engine's transmission

Mileage (EPA estimate)

25 city, 31 highway, 27 combined

Pricing for current inventory

(no current inventory)

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The sparkling subcompact that's big on fun

A head-turning subcompact SUV that matches its big personality with a feature-filled cabin, the 2021 Kia Soul is a vibrant daily driver that welcomes weekend adventures too. While determined to be different, the Kia Soul is, above all, passenger-friendly; thanks to its quirky exterior styling, impeccable road manners, and plush interior comforts.

All Kia Soul years

What is new for the 2021 Kia Soul?

  • The Soul is available in a new trim called the Turbo.
  • The GT-Line Turbo trim has been discontinued for 2021.
  • Soul trims have been upgraded with Remote Start as standard equipment this year.
  • The EX trim now comes with Sunroof(s) as standard equipment.
  • The LX trim now comes with Alloy Wheels as standard equipment.
  • The S trim now comes with Power Seat(s) as standard equipment.
  • The GT-Line trim now comes with Sunroof(s) and Blind Spot Monitor as standard equipment.

2021 Kia Soul trims

Curious how Kia Soul trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similarities

LX:

  • Includes cloth upholstery, smartphone connectivity, six-speaker sound system, seven-inch touchscreen display, air conditioning, rearview camera, hill-start assist, emergency breaking assist, and more.

S:

  • Includes eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, idle stop and go system, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, pre-collision warning system, lane-keeping assist, optional wheel locks, and more.

X-Line:

  • Adds roof rails, front fog lights, 18-inch painted alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel, forward collision mitigation and more.

GT-Line:

  • Adds 18-inch alloy wheels, dual illuminating vanity mirrors, premium cloth upholstery, positioning lights, sport appearance front and rear bumper fascias, sunroof with power sunshade, and more.

EX:

  • Includes LED running lights, heated outside mirrors, dual-zone climate control, rear center armrest with cup holders, heated front seats, a 10.3-inch touchscreen entertainment display, wireless charging, and more.

Turbo:

  • Includes adaptive cruise control, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, head-up display, LED high mounted stop lamp, 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, LED cargo lighting, chrome exhaust, heated steering wheel, and more.

View all Kia Souls in stock

Kia Soul photos

5 reasons to buy the 2021 Kia Soul

1. Eye-catching exterior colorways

2021 Kia Soul: Exterior | CarMax

Head-turning in every way—the 2021 Kia Soul stands out for all the right reasons. Exterior paint options for the 2021 models include two dual-colorway options available on the X-Line trim (Mars Orange or Neptune Blue, paired with Cherry Black) and a rather grand Undercover Green option available on the X-Line and EX trims. This means it's easy to find the color scheme that fits your personality!

2. Storage solutions

2021 Kia Soul: Trunk | CarMax

With 24.2 cu-ft of space behind the rear seats and 62.1 cu-ft when the back row is folded down, there's an impressive amount of cargo space in the 2021 Kia Soul. But it's the storage details throughout its interior that can claim a share of the praise too. These passenger-focused features include a front-seat back pocket (S, EX, Turbo), a center console armrest with storage (standard from S trim), front and rear door cup holders (standard across all trims), and an illuminated glove box.

3. An intelligent interior

2021 Kia Soul: Front Seats | CarMax

The boxy Kia Soul feels perfectly proportioned for adult passengers thanks to wide door openings and elevated roof clearance. As the driver, you'll first appreciate the multi-adjustable seat and steering wheel, and the infotainment menus that feel highly functional and easy to track back and forwards through. Just as pleasing are the comfort touches for your rear-seat passengers: they've got 38.8 inches of legroom, adjustable headrests (EX, Turbo), and some impressively tall windows too.

4. Trim choice

2021 Kia Soul: Phone | CarMax

The 2021 Kia Soul has got its trim choices absolutely spot-on: six trims with two engines and three transmission choices mean your preferred driving delivery will be found somewhere across the range. If you are so inclined, the Kia Soul has two sporty trims (GT-Line and Turbo), while across all trims, the cabin comforts, tech offerings, and driver assistance features are fairly distributed. Each trim feels special.

5. The top-of-range Turbo trim

2021 Kia Soul: Engine | CarMax

If you're shopping for a vehicle that matches your get-up-and-go, then special mention must go to the 2021 Kia Soul Turbo trim; it's your perfect weekend-getaway driver. Thanks to a 1.6L turbocharged four-cylinder engine, you have performance and acceleration at your fingertips; it's ready for the highway. And as the 2021 Soul's top-of-range trim, the Turbo is also kitted out with some welcome touches to elevate your long-distance road trips, including: heads-up display, heated steering wheel, and the premium Harman Kardon® 10-speaker audio system with subwoofer and amplifier.

Similar vehicles

If you're interested in the 2021 Kia Soul, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.

Image of Nissan Murano

The 2017-2019 Nissan Murano offers lots of V6 power, a refined interior, and a smooth ride. Surround yourself with luxurious features like natural wood trim, semi-aniline leather seats, quilted leather inserts, and a panoramic sunroof in the 2017-2019 Murano Platinum trim. Even the entry-level Murano is well equipped, with in-demand features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Standard features on the 2017-2019 Nissan Murano include:

  • Eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system

  • Push-button start

  • Dual-zone automatic climate control

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Ratings & reliability

Customer ratings

4
Excellent

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 Soul

Kia Soul features and specs

LX 2WD 4D Wagon

Standard Features

  • ABS Brakes
  • Air Conditioning
  • AM/FM Stereo
  • Android Auto
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Auxiliary Audio Input
  • Bluetooth Technology
  • Cloth Seats
  • Manual Transmission
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Power Locks
  • Power Mirrors
  • Power Windows
  • Rear Defroster
  • Rear View Camera
  • Side Airbags
  • Traction Control
  • Alloy Wheels
  • Cruise Control

Drive Wheels

Front Wheel Drive (2WD)

Engine size

2.0L

Horsepower

147

Torque (ft-lbs)

132

Engine type

Gas

Fuel capacity

14.3

Wheelbase

102.4"

Overall length

165.2"

Width

70.9"

Height

63"

Leg room

F 41.1"/R 38.8"

Head room

F 39.4"/R 39.5"

Front tires

P205/60HR16

Rear tires

P205/60HR16

Seating capacity

5

Transmission

Manual 6

2021 Kia Soul FAQ

More about the 2021 Kia Soul

Color options

Exterior colors:

  • Cherry Black

  • Gravity Gray (LX with CVT and above

  • Inferno Red (LX with CVT and above)

  • Mars Orange (LX with CVT, S, X-Line)

  • Neptune Blue (X-Line, GT-Line, Turbo)

  • Snow White Pearl

  • Sparkling Silver (LX, S, EX)

  • Undercover Green (X-Line, EX)

Interior details

  • Seating for five passengers

  • 24.2 cu-ft of cargo space, expanding to 62.1 cu-ft with rear seating folded back

  • Front and rear-seat legroom of 41.1, and 38.8 inches, respectively

  • Total interior volume of 120.9 cu-ft

  • Rear-occupant alert, new for all 2021 Kia Soul models

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