First introduced for the 2009 model year, the Kia Soul is in its third generation and doesn’t disappoint as one of Kia’s best-selling and most versatile models known for its sensibility and style. The new 2021 Kia Soul offers a long list of features from capabilities, comforts, and conveniences to innovation, modern technology, and an impressive 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. What’s even better is that it doesn’t come with a hefty price tag, making it one of the most affordable cars on the market.
The 2021 base model is the Soul LX and starts at $17,490. The high-end model, the Soul Turbo, pushes the envelope with even more features, but it still doesn’t break the bank with a $27,550 starting MSRP. Fortunately for Kia lovers, the six trims offer plenty of standard features that are notably sophisticated and add to the car’s overall comfort and performance. If you’re looking for more options, Kia answers the call with optional add-ons like LED exterior lighting, keyless ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, and heated front seats. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg!
While the new 2021 Kia Soul features minor enhancements compared to the 2020 model, those improvements are enough to turn heads. Let’s take a closer look at what’s new on the 2021 model and see why the Soul is a top-ranked Kia vehicle.
What’s New on the 2021 Soul
New for the 2021 model, all trim packages in the Kia Soul lineup now feature standard rear occupant alerts. The previously known Soul GT-Line Turbo is reintroduced as the Soul Turbo and features revised badging on the grille, liftgate, and steering wheel. A remote start option was only available as part of the UVO telematics system, but Kia responded to driver requests and now offers an integrated remote start for the 2021 EX and Turbo models. Kia also improved ride comfort on the 2.0-liter X-Line and GT-Line with 18-inch wheels by adding new standard RS valves to the shock absorbers, giving these two models even smoother rides. These are some significant upgrades from previous models but don’t worry; the previous model’s benefits are also still offered!
2021 Kia Soul Trims
The 2021 Soul LX is the base trim and is affordably priced at $17,490 with plenty of features beginning with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that offers 147 hp and 132 lb-ft torque. Additionally, the LX has an average fuel economy of 25 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway. There are also plenty of safety features, including electronic stability control, hill-start assist control, tire-pressure monitoring, and six airbags with rollover sensor technology.
The next package brings us to the Soul S, which starts at $20,590 and offers even more in terms of comfort, style, and technology. The Soul S includes all the standard features of the Soul LX in addition to a few modifications and enhancements, including 16-inch alloy wheels and a 10-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support. The S’s safety features include lane-keeping assist, lane change assist, rear cross-traffic alerts, and blind-spot collision warnings. There is no denying the safety in this trim.
The Soul GT-Line and the Soul X-Line both start at $21,690. The GT-Line looks noticeably different thanks to its sporty exterior appearance, while the X-Line features a rugged exterior body with silver accents. Both models come with 18-inch alloy X-line exclusive wheels and the standard 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The GT-Line offers premium cloth seat trim. And both of these two trims offer the same standard safety equipment as the other trims.
The 2021 Soul EX is another step up in comfort and features with a modest starting price of $23,250. The EX includes the standard 2.0-liter engine but offers an impressive improvement with its intelligent variable automatic transmission (IVT). This is also offered on the other trims, except the base LX. Other comfort features include heated front seats, a powered sunroof, and dual-zone automatic temperature control. How’s that for comfort?
Fortunately, the amenities don’t stop there. The EX features a 10.25-inch HD touchscreen navigation system and rear camera with enhanced navigation features and smartphone remote start. Additionally, you will see many of the same safety features that are offered on other trims such as high beam assist, driver attention warning, and lane-keeping technology.
Last, but certainly not least, is the 2021 Soul Turbo that packs a powerful punch with an impressive starting MSRP of $27,550. The Turbo gets its name from its 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine offering 201 hp and 195 lb-ft torque. It features a GT-Line exterior appearance with a 7-speed DCT transmission with paddle shifters, 18-inch alloy GT-Line wheels, sunroof, LED headlights, fog lights, and a combination of cloth and synthetic leather seat trim. The features don’t stop there with the Turbo, including a 10.25-inch HD touchscreen navigation system and rear camera, a Harman Kardon audio system with speaker lights, as well as a heads-up display and smart cruise control. Now that’s an impressive lineup with an affordable price tag!
It’s All About the Technology
Now that we’ve covered the different trims, let’s look closer at the 2021 Kia Soul’s impressive technology. All models include an HD touchscreen, wireless charging, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And connectivity isn’t an issue thanks to the Kia Access App with UVO link technology that allows you to control your vehicle from your smartphone. You can use the app to remote start your Soul, control the temperature, and monitor performance with its in-vehicle notification center. The app can also connect to 911, roadside assistance, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. Technology is certainly not lacking in the Soul.
Top Safety Ratings
Speaking of technology, Kia takes pride in offering plenty of technology-based safety features on all their models. We touched a bit on these earlier, but let’s take a little bit of a closer look. First and foremost, Kia drivers appreciate the Soul’s smart cruise control feature designed to adapt to the current driving environment by automatically accelerating or decelerating the car to ensure the vehicle maintains a safe distance from other vehicles. Another impressive feature is forward collision-avoidance assist, which uses a radar system to detect potential collisions. In this event, the radar automatically applies the car’s brakes to prevent a collision.
The blind-spot collision warning feature is standard on all Soul trims and automatically detects objects in the driver’s blind spot using a radar-based detection system. When the radar detects an object, it sends out a visual or auditory signal to the driver. Lane-keeping assist is another standard safety feature and monitors the Soul’s position within the lane, applying steering corrections as needed if it senses the driver is veering out of the lane. Overall, there are many safety features offered both standard and as upgrades for the 2021 Kia Soul, making it a really family-friendly vehicle.
It’s Got Plenty of Soul
As one of the top-ranked compact crossovers on the road today, the 2021 Kia Soul is a great option for drivers looking for a spacious and comfortable vehicle with plenty of safety and technology features without an astronomical price tag. Thanks to Kia, finding your Soul(mate) is easy. So, what are you waiting for? Go check one out! It could very likely be the vehicle for you.
