According to Kia, the manufacturer’s cars have “The Power to Surprise.” However, the “New Soul” isn't surprising anyone because a) it isn’t all that new; b) it is a minor facelift that focuses on equipment rather than styling.
The second-gen Kia Soul went into production at the Gwangju Plant in South Korea. This here is the 2017 Kia Soul, as in the mid-cycle facelift for the subcompact crossover sport utility vehicle. Nevertheless, Kia did its best to keep the box-shaped model fresh and funky. So, what’s what?
Slated to debut in European flavor at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, the big news regarding the 2017 Kia Soul is that engineers have improved the six-speed automatic transmission. Minor changes to the suspension and steering have been operated as well. A button on the steering wheel that reads “Drive Mode” is also on the menu. Press that and the MY 2017 Kia Soul will alternate between three driving modes: Sport, Normal, and Eco.
Another addition that is worthy of being mentioned comes in the form of rollover sensing curtain airbags. As standard, the revised Soul gets run-of-the-mill headlights with LED accents. Optionally, the South Korean model can be equipped with HID headlamps adorned with LED daytime running lights, as well as power folding exterior mirrors. In the case of the rear end, the Soul boasts LED rear combination lights.
For those who want a little more zest from this thing, the Style Package Up integrates a thin red-painted strip into the front and rear bumpers. It also adds a white roof, big alloy wheels, as well as a flat-bottom steering wheel. Interestingly enough, the 2017 Kia Soul for South Korea can’t be had with a manual transmission. The only cog swappers available are a traditional six-speed automatic and a seven-speed DCT dual-clutch unit.
The six-speeder is conjoined with the Gamma 1.6 GDI, which churns out 132 PS (130 horsepower) and 161 Nm (119 lb-ft). The only other engine available is the U2 1.6VGT Euro 6 turbo diesel, which prides itself with 136 PS (134 horsepower) and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque. Retail pricing for the 2017 Kia Soul in South Korea starts from 17,500,000 won, which works at around $15,670 / €13,810 according to current exchange rates.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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