2018 Kia Soul Named by KBB on Coolest Cars Under $20K List

Lately, it seems if people aren’t talking about the 2018 Kia Stinger , still an amazing sports car by Kia Motors that wins tons of awards , then people are talking about the hip 2018 Kia Soul . Recently, the Kia Soul sold its millionth unit, a new sales Kia Soul record , and was named the best budget vehicle not too long ago. Coming around the corner of mid-2018, the 2018 Kia Soul was just named on Kelley Blue Book’s “10 Coolest New Cars Under $20,000” list (starting MSRP at $16,200*). Said to be an “alluring combination of bold style, SUV-like versatility, and practicality, with a roster of standard and available features that add to the Soul’s value,” the 2018 Kia Soul is both functional and fashionable for today’s youth drivers.

“Unmistakable styling, with a youthful demeanor, makes the Kia Soul a standout … The Soul’s long list of standard features and practical utility are sure to please, while its excitement factor is increased by a rainbow of available exterior colors – check out bright green Alien 2. This is how you do automotive coolness.” – Michael Harley, executive editor for Kelley Blue Book.

Quite a statement, and to think the 2018 Kia Soul is only in its fifth model year. Known as an iconic urban passenger vehicle offers a fun, funky, and functional approach to everyday driving, the 2018 model focuses on expanding the availability of UVO across the model range by adding the innovative infotainment system to the Base Convenience Package as well as to Soul Plus (+) trim as standard equipment. Other packages include the Soul Plus Primo Package that adds Smart Cruise Control (SCC) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), and the new Soul Plus Primo “Lit” (groan) Package includes HID headlights and LED positioning lights to enhance Soul’s on-road presence.

“Soul’s fun and funky personality continues to shine as reflected by being named to Kelley Blue Book’s Coolest Cars list for the seventh consecutive year … The versatile hatchback continues to provide consumers with a fun-to-own vehicle equipped with many convenience features.” – Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning, Kia Motors America.

The 2018 Kia Soul is available in three trims, the Kia Soul Base trim, the Kia Soul Plus (+), and Kia Soul Exclaim (!). Each comes with its own engine and powertrain setup, including the new Soul turbocharged engine that got a lot of attention with the newborn hamster commercial. The Kia Soul Base is powered by a 130-horsepower 1.6-liter DOHC I4 engine, the Soul Plus is powered by a 161-horsepower 2.0-liter DOHC I4 engine, and the Kia Soul Exclaim has the 201-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter DOHC I4 engine. In their respective order, the transmission lineup is a six-speed manual on the Soul base trim (with a fuel economy of 24 mpg in the city), a six-speed automatic transmission on the Soul Plus (optional for the base, both getting 25 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway with automatic), and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission on the Soul Exclaim trim with a fuel economy of 26/31 mpg city/highway.

In terms of expanding technology availability, not much sounds like it’s changing, actually. As the 2018 Kia Soul currently stands the only standard features are SiriusXM Radio with a six-speaker system and dash-mounted tweeters, Bluetooth wireless technology with steering wheel-mounted buttons for audio, and Siri Eyes Free. UVO eServices only comes standard on a 7-inch touchscreen for the Soul Plus and Exclaim trims (slated as an option for the Soul Base). The Kia Soul Plus and Exclaim trims can upgrade to an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and HD Radio, and buyers have the option to upgrade to a Harman/Kardon audio system with center speaker and subwoofer – the Soul Plus and Exclaim trims also come with Google Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, voice recognition and Drive Mode Select, all optional features we assume will be available on the Soul Base as well with its new upcoming package.

The Kia Soul is still doing wonders for the automaker and is still a top selling vehicle out of the lineup. That may soon change with the 2018 Kia Stinger now on the playground, but if looking for something a little more tame, there’s always the 2018 Kia Soul . We also recently did a comparison of the 2018 Kia Stinger and Kia Optima , for another friendly option, or check out some more vehicles under $20,000 at Miami Lakes Automall.

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* Photo Source/Copyright: Kia.com *

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