The All-New 2020 Kia Soul Brings the Goods

Those well informed in the auto industry like to talk about the best times to shop for a car and how to get a good deal. Many like the joke that the best time is after Halloween – just like vendors and grocery stores that discount candy after the event is over, the last quarter of the year is also when new vehicles start coming out – like the newly redesigned 2020 Kia Soul, one of the first vehicles we’ll see from Kia Motors new GT lineup. With the arrival of the 2020 model in dealerships in late 2019, consumers can grab a deal on the outgoing 2019 model, but we’re not sure if someone can really pass up the all-new 2020 Kia Soul.

All-New Kia Soul

In late October 2018, Kia Motors let the news slip, and during the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, the 2020 Kia Soul was revealed alongside its electric variant, the 2020 Kia Soul EV . The two shared some aesthetics and features, including a new wrap around windshield that gives the entire front fascia a slick look, but only the 2020 Kia Soul has any mentions of a new lineup from Kia Motors. Undisclosed as much as their new GT lineup, the 2020 Kia Soul also features an X-line trim, suggesting Kia Motors has many plans bubbling up.

In October 2018 (hint), Kia Motors announced the new direction they’re taking the business in. The 2018 Kia Stinger sports car had a larger impact on the automaker than we may have thought because after the Kia Stinger GT, Kia Motors decided to open an exclusive GT line and produce more GT models. Think sports car, but with high-end premium features that could land it in the luxury car segment. After all, the Kia Stinger is faster than many high-end luxury vehicles in a race, why not up the ante?

The 2020 Kia Soul also brings with it the new X-Line, as mentioned above. Shown off at the 2018 LA Auto Show were a 2020 Soul GT model and X model. The 2020 Soul GT is defined by a sportier exterior featuring black side mirrors, fog lights, red accents. It also affects the look of the vehicle, primarily the front fascia, with narrow headlights that span across the front of the car, primarily the nose, and a grille that has a more angular design, lending itself to the look of the new GT-Line.

For the X-line, consumers will find a more rugged look with fog lights, a rounded grille, unique wheels, a roof rail, off-road inspired accents, and optional two-tone paint. The taillights on the 2020 are vertical, and depending on the style (GT or X), they’ll wrap around the back window or dominate the rear pillar.

That’s all the new 2020 Kia Soul brings to the table. With the new GT and X-line, the new 2020 Kia Soul lineup comes in six trim levels: LX, S, X-Line, GT-Line, EX, and EX Designer Collection. Hmm, haven’t heard much about the Designer Collection yet. The exterior also isn’t the only one getting changes. Inside, Kia describes the cabin as a unique sensory experience to the user that is more upscale than the previous model year. Some highlights include the upgraded standard tech features, including a 7-inch touch-screen display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth that can connect to two devices simultaneously.

The powertrain also gets a shock, with the discontinuation of the 1.6-liter, replaced with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It’s nothing fancy, generating 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, but consumers can get an upgraded turbocharged 1.6-liter engine that generates 201 horsepower and 195 with the GT trim. Just be sure to look into Kia’s Drive Wise safety technology package that includes forward collision avoidance, forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, lane change assist, driver attention warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and high beam assist.

Word is the 2020 Kia Soul could be here as early as mid-2019. The 2019 Kia Soul has a starting MSRP of $16,490 (plus destination fee); with all the upgrades, expect the 2020 model to be a little higher. No pricing has been announced yet, but if you follow us on Miami Lakes Kia social media , we’ll be sure to let you know. If the 2020 model does arrive soon, then grab a deal on the 2019 Kia Soul sooner than you thought.

Photo Source/Copyright: Kia

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