autoevolution
 

2017 Kia Soul Facelift Gives Us a Closer Look As It Prepares for Cold Weather Testing in Sweden

Kia is trying to keep things fresh for one of its most successful models worldwide, the almost impossible to categorize Soul (is it a crossover, a beefed up hatchback, a minivan, or all of the above?), and so it’s already preparing a facelift for the second generation that’s only been with us for two years now.
2017 Kia Soul facelift 24 photos
Photo: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift2017 Kia Soul Facelift
The car was first spotted less than a week ago, but in the meantime, it has been traveling North and has now shown up in front of our photographer’s lenses in Sweden, where its smaller sibling, the Picanto, is also being put to the test.

If we’re to judge by the extent the car is being covered, we’d say that Kia is preparing a pretty serious update for the car that sold nearly 150,000 units in the US last year, accounting for almost a quarter of the Korean company’s total sales there.

However, it’s doubtful that exterior changes will go further than the front and rear bumpers, the radiator grille, head and taillights graphics and other details such as new wheel designs and so on. And even though the cameras came very close to the car, it’s still too early to try and issue any sort of judgment on what the final car will actually end up looking like.

But what’s abundantly obvious is that the new Kia Soul will keep its funky presence that’s probably also the main reason it’s doing so well in some markets, and so poorly on others - opposed to the close to 150,000 units in the US are the 178 Souls sold in Australia, for example. It has always been a love it or hate it type of vehicle, and that’s certainly not going to change.

The interior was also covered up, which means Kia is preparing something new there as well - probably in the infotainment department, most of all. Some new trims might also be on the cards, but we’re stabbing in the dark here.

Since it’s only the second spotting of the new Soul, it’s still too soon to predict when the new model will be shown to the public. What we do know is that it should happen soon, as it is said that Kia is keen on introducing the third generation as quickly as possible.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Vlad Mitrache
Vlad Mitrache profile photo

"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories