We've lost count of how many generations the Kia Soul has, but the all-new 2020 model still feels fresh somehow. This car doesn't tick all the boxes by any means, but it just forces you to pay attention to it.
One good example of this is the new Soul GT-Line, which has a cool body kit and, most importantly, twin exhaust pipes in the middle of the bumper. It also makes you wonder why they couldn't just call it the Soul GT, since it's available with the 201-hp 1.6-liter turbo. It's not like MINI has a Cooper S Line.
Another thing that separates this from the old model is the Soul X-Line, which looks more rugged than usual, thanks to body cladding, two-tone paint, different 18-inch wheels, and some off-road-inspired fog lights. Weirdly, Kia made it very clear that AWD will never be available.
No matter which version you go for, the 2020 Soul is full of character. The front is dominated by these long, LED-infused headlights. The gaping lower grille just makes this box car design work where it failed for Scion, while at the back, the long taillights seem to wrap around most of the bodywork and look like lit devil's horns.
The interior seems like it belongs to an Audi, thanks to the modern look and ambient light infusion. The 2020 Soul will be available with a 10.25-inch HD color touchscreen with split screen function and a rearview monitor with parking guidance. It's a Kia, so the Android and Apple connectivity is great, while the 8-inch head-up display and 10-speaker sound system ensure you don't run out of toys.
The range of engines is similar to the Forte sedan. The base unit is a 2-liter four-banger making 147-hp and 132 lb-ft (178 Nm) of torque, which is coupled to either a manual or a CVT. Furthermore, a 1.6-liter turbo with the specs mentioned earlier can be ordered with a seven-speed dual-clutch.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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