Used 2016 Kia Soul Consumer Reviews
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This little car is amazing
Andre, 01/15/2016
2016 Kia Soul ! 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
22 of 22 people found this review helpful
I was looking for a Honda CR-Vibrations but decided to get the Kia Soul. No regrets. - The best infotainment in the market. - 10 way power - very comfortable - heated and cooled front seats. Heated rear seats. - Cooled glovebox - Panoramic moonroof. Spectacular! - Best warranty 10 years - Great design. Unique. - Smooth ride - Easy to get in and out
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Fun car and a great value!
Tim Parker, 11/25/2015
updated 06/01/2021
2016 Kia Soul + 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
35 of 36 people found this review helpful
I shopped for a Soul a year ago and ended up buying a Honda Civic instead. No knock on the Civic, but it just wasn't the right car for me, and I found myself still looking. I came back around to the Soul. Kia had special financing, and the dealer was offering a better deal than I could find a year ago, so I took the plunge and bought the 2016 Soul+ with the Audio/Nav package. Wow! I'm so glad I bought it! I love the extra driving height and extra headroom. There's more room in the back seat. There's more cargo room. It's fun to drive. Acceleration is good with the 2.0 liter engine. Handling is good. Pro reviewers talk about "numb" steering but I don't notice it. It drives and handles fine. That said, it's not a sports car so don't buy this if that's what you want. It has lots of creature comforts like a great audio system that thumps you in the chest if you want it to, but can be tamed if desired. The nav system works well. I didn't think I wanted it, but now that I have it I use it often. I like the climate control system. I have it set and never need to touch it. It keeps the cabin comfortable no matter what the outside temp is. It has a large touch screen that is easy to use and pretty intuitive. You can check Kia's site for a full breakdown of features. For me the important thing is the features it has all work together to create a fun and comfortable driving experience. I've only had it a month so I can't comment on long term durability, but so far there's not a squeak, not a rattle, everything works flawlessly, and the materials and workmanship are first rate, especially for a vehicle in this price range. A+ for the Soul! Update May, 2018: After 2 1/2 years this Soul+ still looks and runs like new. No squeaks or rattles, the interior and exterior still look like new (except for a scrape on rear bumper from a hit & run in a parking lot - not even a note - very classy) and it starts and runs perfectly. The build quality is outstanding! I highly recommend the Soul+ to anyone who's looking. I'll update again in a couple more years! Update May 2021: I sold the Soul in November 2020. At the time it still ran like new. The only reason I sold it was to get a larger vehicle. In retrospect I kinda miss that fun Soul! If you decide to buy one my only advice would be to check out recalls for that particular vehicle. I see in the news that there are some issues that may affect some Souls so it's worth looking into. I never had any issues with mine.
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2016 Kia Soul for sale near you
3 of 116 listings
- Wagon 4DMSRP: $12,2909 mi away
- Base WagonMSRP: $13,9909 mi away
- Base WagonMSRP: $14,2909 mi away
See all 116 listings
Versatility, practicality and value
Bucki, 02/29/2016
updated 08/30/2017
2016 Kia Soul 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
32 of 33 people found this review helpful
I purchased a 2016 KIA Soul Base automatic. I paid $14.5k before taxes and registration. At this price point the Soul represents an excellent value and I would recommend it. Strong points: Versatility, practicality and excellent warranty. The wagon/hatchback layout is much more versatile than a traditional sedan, at a significantly lower price than a comparably-sized SUV/crossover. KIA’s 5y/60k miles bumper-to-bumper and 10y/100k miles powertrain warranty offers excellent protection for budget-minded buyers. Weak points: Lackluster performance and comfort. Performance from the stock 1.6L engine is adequate but the Soul is definitely not a fast vehicle. Very smooth transmission with relatively low gearing helps to maintain car dynamics, but at the expense of fuel economy and engine noise. Comfort is good for short drives, but long road trips are tiresome. And don’t mistake the Soul for a “real” SUV/crossover – if you want higher ground clearance, AWD or even minimal towing capability, look elsewhere. Performance: The Base 1.6L engine delivers adequate power for city driving and reasonable highway performance, but the Soul isn’t fast. The transmission gearing keeps the engine relatively revved-up (compared to other modern cars), helping to improve driving dynamics, but at the expense of fuel economy and increased cabin noise. Even with 4 adults the Soul does not feel underpowered at normal highway speeds and typical interstate inclines, but acceleration is only adequate, at best. Fuel economy isn’t what one would expect from a vehicle of this size. The 6-speed automatic transmission is very smooth and usually picks the right gears for the driving conditions, helping to make the most of the little engine. But it also keeps the rpm’s relatively high (close to 3,000 at interstate speeds), resulting in more engine noise. Comfort: The Soul offers a lot of space for the money and there is enough room for 4 fully grown adults to ride in relative comfort. Sitting position is very good with generous leg, head and elbow room, both in the front and the rear. However, the seats are not all that comfortable for long rides. Front seats offer good lateral support, but lumbar support is nonexistent, and there are a few “hard spots” in the seatbacks making prolonged rides somewhat tiring. Rear seats are very flat bench-like, and the seatback angle does not help to adopt a relaxed position for a long ride. Access is excellent thanks to the low floor, tall roof and large doors. The ride is stiff but adequate for the size and class of vehicle, and not overwhelmingly harsh. Cabin sound level is good during city driving and adequate at highway speeds. Both engine and road noise are kept down to reasonable levels. Quality and fit-and-finish: Interior materials are good for vehicle class and price. All panels fit nicely and everything seems solid and well made. There are no squeaks or rattles when driving over uneven road surfaces, and in general the vehicle feels very solid. Cargo space and versatility: The wagon/hatchback layout offers a lot of versatility. The cargo space is adequate and the trunk layout is very clever. There is a cargo organizer tray under the trunk floor, allowing to keep valuable out-of-sight and organized, at the expense of some cargo space above. This tray can be removed, and the trunk floor can be lowered increasing the cargo space by about 30% to accommodate large suitcases. And of course the back seats can be folded, providing plenty of space for large objects. Equipment: As all KIAs, the Soul comes well equipped even in the most basic trim, with a good audio system that includes satellite radio, Bluetooth and voice commands. Pairing-up a phone is quick and easy, and voice commands work generally well. The basic A/C-heater performance is adequate and it is not as noisy as in other economy vehicles. Privacy glass is a nice detail that helps to keep your stuff out-of-sight and the interior cool. Soul comes without a spare tire, but you can buy a tire-jack kit for under $200. Safety: Passive safety is very good with a 5-star rating from NHTSA and Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. The Base model lacks some of the modern active safety features such as lane departure, blind spot monitoring or front collision warning/avoidance, but for the price it is a very safe choice. Visibility is very good all-around. Controls are simple, intuitive and very ergonomic. Handling and steering are adequate considering that the Soul is pretty high. Braking is adequate with good pedal feel. Headlights are average with good low-beams. High beams have good reach but provide little illumination to the road surface. Final verdict: For less than $15k the Soul is a strong value and an excellent choice for anybody who wants a versatile, practical vehicle on a budget. KIA’s excellent warranty provides extra protection that otherwise is only available through a pricey extended warranty.
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My "Soul" mate!
Janice, 01/25/2016
2016 Kia Soul 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 6M)
17 of 17 people found this review helpful
I was tired of the low seating of sports cars and sedans. Driving my Soul feels like a small SUV, solid, smooth, quiet, roomy, no blind spots. Love it!
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I'd never even considered a Kia Soul !
Alec Little, 03/21/2016
2016 Kia Soul ! 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
25 of 26 people found this review helpful
I bought my Kia Soul ! about a month ago. My wife has always driven larger SUVs and I've driven a 4-door Pickup truck for the past 10-years. I fully expected the Soul to have sluggish pickup and I expected to be bounced around like in any lightweight economy vehicle. Let me tell you, this car is comfortable, it has plenty of pep (2.0L) and is fun to drive. I'm particularly pleased with the quality of the materials and workmanship in the car. Plus this Soul! has more electronics than I have ever had in my previous luxury vehicles. I was so impressed that I purchased the extended bumper-to-bumper warranty which I have never done before. I had driven my pickup for 10-years and if my impressions prove correct, I'll be driving this just as long.
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