The 2023 Kia Soul is still the smallest vehicle in the crossover/SUV lineup in its family. Also, this model is available for less than $20,000. There are no too many crossovers you can find so cheap. Unfortunately, for the new season, Soul is not bringing the EV model to the US. In other markets, this version is still available. A hybrid version should be there, although bosses didn’t confirm it yet. Well, all those electric and hybrid configurations are available for the Kia Niro, if you are looking strictly for the EV or PHEV.
Since the new generation debuted in 2019, buyers can find a 1.6 or a 2.0 displacement under the hood. In some countries, the e-Soul is also available. The new model for the US market is not getting manual transmission. But, the 2023 Kia Soul hybrid is possible. Maybe more important – the company is thinking about the update of the look. The redesign is close, that is for sure, but rumors are speaking about radical changes. According to speculations, the next Soul is going to drop a boxy look.
Engine Specifications
The main drivetrain for the 2023 Kia Soul will be a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine with 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. The US version comes with a six-speed automatic CVT gearbox. A manual transmission is not there anymore. Front-wheel drive is the only option for this engine. In other markets, a 1.6-liter is also there. A smaller displacement is not potent as a 2.0 and delivers 120 hp and 110 lb-ft of torque, while a stick is the only transmission.
2023 Kia Soul Turbo
The 2023 Kia Soul Turbo is one of my favorite configurations. Well, it is available only for the single trim level and you need to add at least $8,000 over the base price. But, buyers are also getting more features and options in the cockpit. The specs sheet says a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine is producing 200 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. A subcompact crossover doesn’t need more juice. With this configuration, Soul Turbo sprints to 60 mph under 8 seconds. The gas mileage is around 30 mpg combined. Again, all-wheel drive is not an option here.
Besides the engine, the 2023 Soul Turbo also features cool upgrades that make it top of the range version. Inferno Red, Gravity Gray and Neptune Blue are color options, while premium paintjobs are Chery Black and Snow White Pearl. A power sunroof and 18-inch wheels are notable upgrades for the Turbo edition. SynTex front seats are coming with a heating option.
2023 Kia Soul EV (e-Soul) and Hybrid
The 2023 Kia Soul EV is still questionable for the US market. Well, you can buy Niro electric from the same company, so it will be a competition within the same automotive house. The e-Soul features a battery that can create 200 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. The range of the electric model is 243 miles. It is 4 miles more than the Niro EV can do.
Instead of an electric crossover, the Korean company is preparing a hybrid version. This one is going to improve both power output and gas mileage. Again, we can compare it to the Niro hybrid, which features a 1.6-liter petrol engine and electric motor to deliver 140 horsepower. The 2023 Kia Soul Hybrid might mix up a 2.0-liter engine with batteries and get even more power. Those are just speculations, but the Korean carmaker is definitely up to something.
Changes
According to multiple sources, the company is working on the new version of the Soul crossover. However, it seems that the vehicle will get a new generation with a radically changed look, but in 2024. Meanwhile, the 2023 Kia Soul will probably be unchanged. There are no details about the redesign, but the vehicle will drop its most recognizable feature – boxy look. Well, in past few years, Kia is changing the lineup. Now, we have Niro as the flagship model for the subcompact class and Seltos as the all-new vehicle. The boxy design looks old, so Soul should do something about it to remain competitive. Nevertheless, three models in the subcompact crossover segment look too much and even dropping some of the mentioned models is not excluded.
Release Date
We will know more about the 2023 Kia Soul and the vehicle’s future by the end of 2022. For now, the model for the upcoming season is not under a question mark. Unchanged, you can expect it again under $20,000. The GT-Line and X-Line add $3,500, no matter which of those you pick. The EX is a premium option with the base engine, while the most expensive configuration is Turbo. It costs nearly $28,000. AA hybrid is not going to beat this for sure, even if it is built on a 2.0-l engine.