2021 KIA SOUL
The Kia Soul is the funky fresh hatchback of the youth and college students. Always returning with something new to add, the Soul comes back for 2021 and a whole new year. Read more about the 2021 Kia Soul below.
201
Max. Horsepower
1.6L DOHC Turbo
Avail. Engine Type
UVO Link
Avail. Infotainment System
Performance
Engine Types
The 2021 Kia Soul lineup comes in a nice, tight package. With six trims making up the lineup, all very budget-friendly, consumers won’t need to settle. The entire lineup consists of the LX, S, GT-Line, X-Line, EX, and Turbo trims. Under the hood of all but the Turbo trims is a 2.0-liter DOHC engine, optimized with dual continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) for better performance and fuel efficiency. Able to generate 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, it’s a great start. The Turbo trim comes with a 201hp 1.6-liter DOHC engine with a turbocharger.
Engineering
All trims come with front-wheel drive, but the transmission changes between them. A six-speed manual transmission can only be found on the base (LX) trim, but it can be upgraded for the Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), found on the rest of the lineup except for the Turbo. This trim comes with its own 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) to keep the power of a turbocharger under control. If tied to a manual transmission, the 2021 Kia Soul gets 25 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. The IVT transmission can stretch that up to 28/33 mpg city/highway, whereas the Turbo trim with the 7-speed DCT gets a combined fuel economy of 29 mpg.
Style
Exterior Features
The Kia Soul has always been one cool looking vehicle, and with the GT-Line and X-Line, it’ll look even better. There are a number of features already standard across the lineup, such as power-adjustable mirrors, automatic headlamps, privacy glass and solar glass, a rear wiper/washer, and heated rear glass with a timer. Heated exterior mirrors can only be found on the EX and Turbo trim, and turn signal indicators on the mirrors can only be found on the Turbo trim. Depending on the trim, the 2021 Kia Soul rides on 16-, 17-, or 18-inch wheels.
GT-Line and X-Line
If getting the GT-Line or the Gt-Line appearance package (for the Turbo trim), the exterior comes with a unique front and rear bumper fascia with a more sporty appearance, side sills with red accents, a silver rear skid plate, a hot stamping grille and a GT-Line or Turbo badge on the tailgate, respective of the trim. The X-Line is more rugged, made for a little adventure with 18-inch alloy wheels, fender cladding, and roof rails.
Interior Features
The inside is a little different, with the high-end trims getting more glory. Consumers will find cloth and premium cloth upholstery on all trims but the Turbo with synthetic leather, a 6-way or 10-way (S, Ex, and Turbo trim) adjustable driver’s seat, a 4-way adjustable passenger’s seat, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat. Convenient amenities like automatic a/c control, remote start and Smart Key push-button start/stop can only be found on the EX and Turbo trims. The Turbo trim also comes with a heated steering wheel, LED interior lighting, and a heads-up display. All trims come with Drive Mode Select (DMS) to configure parts of the engine, transmission, and air conditioning system based on personal driving style.
Technology
Entertainment
Auto tech has come a long way, and nearly every vehicle comes with a touchscreen and some form of HD radio or an infotainment system. The standard for the 2021 Kia Soul is a 7-inch color touchscreen, but on the EX and Turbo trims, consumers will find UVO Link on a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Navigation, SiriusXM, and HD Radio. Regardless, consumers have access to Google Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth wireless technology with steering-wheel-mounted phone call buttons, and steering-wheel-mounted audio control buttons. A six-speaker system is standard across the trim, except for the Turbo, which gets a Harman Kardon audio system with a subwoofer. A rear camera display is also a lineup standard. A wireless phone charger comes with the EX and Turbo trims.
Safety Features and Warranty
Kia Motors has really upgraded the safety features of their vehicles in recent years. It comes with all the basics, including dual-stage front and seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags, ABS, traction and stability management systems, LATCH anchor systems for child seats, and body construction with specific crumple zones. Thanks to Kia Drive Wise, all trims past the base (LX) come with lane keeping assist, a driver attention warning system, blind spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, lane change assist, and forward collision avoidance. The 2021 Kia Soul Turbo comes with forward collision avoidance plus pedestrian detection and smart cruise control.
All Kia models are backed by an industry leading warranty. The Kia Soul is backed by a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, a 5-year or 60,000-mile limited basic warranty, and a 5-year or 100,000-mile limited anti-perforation warranty
