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Used 2018 Kia Soul Consumer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
38 reviews

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4 out of 5 stars

Great Bang For The Buck

Dana, 02/06/2018
updated 02/10/2020
2018 Kia Soul 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 6M)
73 of 76 people found this review helpful

This car is a great value for the money. When Kia introduced this car, they seemed to be marketing it toward the younger crowd, but most of them I see on the road are driven by more mature folks, like myself. The reasons are simple: ease of entry, upright driving position, good headroom, comfortable seats, lots of standard features (even in the base model,) decent acceleration, decent gas mileage, decent cargo area, the ability to carry a large cargo load with the rear seats folded, the ability to easily install a roof rack, and the handy, large tailgate. Sure, it's an a no-nonsense econobox, and it certainly isn't flashy, but if it's an economical, comfortable, practical car, (that's fun to drive,) with a good warranty, that you're looking for, this may be your ticket. After a 2+ years of driving, my only complaint with this car has been in the quality of the seat material. The fabric began showing some wear on the side of the driver's seat, where I enter. The dealer has since remedied the problem, and installed new covers on the seat. Aside from this, the vehicle has continued to be quite superior, and exactly meets my needs.

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5 out of 5 stars

2018 Kia Soul Plus is an A Plus Plus

Jerry Ingalls, 03/06/2019
2018 Kia Soul + 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
54 of 56 people found this review helpful

The many positive reviews of this vehicle are absolutely true. When one purchases and owns a car you want it to satisfy many of your specific needs. I am 73 years old, kind of vehicle and tech savvy, and needed something versatile, not too large, fun to drive, and safe. This thing has blown my mind it is so awesomely cool. My wife loves it too. With regard to safety: wrap around side airbags, excellent visibility, amazing brakes, back-up camera, very positive firm suspension, awesome light steering feel. It is just a hoot to drive with eco/normal/sport mode. Regulates shifts.......sometimes 6 spd automatic seems busy......but now understand it and is perfect......car really always feels relaxed not stressed. Can use manual sport shifting that works great.......but not needed, perhaps some downhills? The Plus has 17" wheels so all kinds of grip and road feel....yet so quiet in the cabin. The interior is surprisingly roomy, very comfortable front seats, and yes the back seat with cup holder down and super leg room gives passengers a very comfortable nice ride. Storage for a water bottle in all four doors. The back 60/40 seat folds nearly flat for nice storage room. Also, a subtle fairly large storage tray is located under the back area.......a great touch that helps items be out of view. Upper back concealment tray folds in half and is also easily removable when not needed. The infotainment eUVO 7" diagonal touchscreen and voice control is the best. You must use, learn and practice with it while NOT DRIVING........., but once learned it is ridiculously cool. Bluetooth hands free phone, and voice radio tuning, XM etc. With phone using USB Apple Car Play is awesome........navigation on screen wicked, voice siri texting, using the eUVO app. diagnostics, Parking Minder, Roadside Assist, or My Car Zone info is nice. Auto Climate control Wow. Nice high visibility in parking lots and awesome turning radius. Short wheel base, ride on certain surfaces a little choppy........but so perfect in most all conditions........freeway wonderful. Kia has a small package winner, with all the standard features one could ever imagine. I have owned for a month now and highly recommend as a vehicle to drive and give consideration to. You are likely in for a wonderful surprise.

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4 out of 5 stars

Great & comfortable small crossover

TLNH, 05/26/2019
updated 12/16/2024
2018 Kia Soul ! 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
21 of 21 people found this review helpful

I now have 21K miles on my 2018. Only fault thus far was the driver's heated seat failed this past winter. Fixed quickly by the dealer. Only wish it came with AWD. The Turbo coupled to the Dual Clutch Transmission performs great. Get 33mpg if I am conservative. 28mpg enjoying the turbo performance! Would have 5 stars if offered with AWD. Hard to use all the power with just FWD. Comfortable for this 6'2" driver... 30k update:. Still very happy with car. 1 accident with Camry. Shocked I had less damage. Soul more sturdy than expected! Over 2 years & 34Kmi update: No new issues & test drove a 2020, still like my 2018! better. More comfortable & spacious than the current mode. Hope to keep it for many more years! UPDATE: 36Kmi, no new issues, very pleased with my 2018! 6/4/21, 39Kmi update, Still very pleased with my Soul! Only issue occurred in march when the vacuum booster caused a CAN bus problem, Car ran OK, yet all dash displays, including speedometer useless. Took 3 weeks (3 separate occurrences) to resolve. Dealer provided 3 loaners. (seltos, sportage & encore) preferred my Soul over all 3 newer crossover/SUVs. 12/8/22, 55Kmi update: Very pleased overall with the turbo. Never expected to take this car cross country. Relocated over 2Kmi west. Took a very indirect rout accumulating over 5.5Kmi. Car was surprisingly comfortable throughout the trip. Car had no difficulty with the 80+ speed limits in the west. Rocky mountains not an issue for this car. Hoping for many more years with this car! 2023 update: no change, still prefer my 2018 to the new generation of the car. More comfortable, better drive train, (turbo & DCT no longer available) hope to have it for many more years. 2024, 63Kmi update, still pleased with the car, no repairs needed. 67Kmi update, only change is I bought winter tires & wheels, much improved in the snow, still pleased with the car, no repairs needed.

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4 out of 5 stars

Great Value

deanariddle, 12/30/2017
2018 Kia Soul + 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
52 of 56 people found this review helpful

The car is inexpensive but doesn't look inexpensive -- especially on the inside! I have the Kia Soul Plus which has the larger nav system, Hardon Kardon stereo, and upgraded trim. I'm very pleased, thus far. It, overall, handles well. The only real complaint I have is that you have blind spots towards the rear of the car. You have to be really careful when changing lanes. I was initially looking at Jeep Renegades because of its unique body styling -- but -- when I saw the Kia (which also has a unique body style) -- I loved it and forgot all about the Jeep.

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4 out of 5 stars

Soul Turbo Value and Fun!

Randy, 12/14/2018
2018 Kia Soul ! 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
30 of 32 people found this review helpful

My wife wanted the Soul and I was like "OK I won't be the one driving it". But I went with her to test drive and after driving a couple of Plus models we liked the looks of a red Turbo model. She drove it around and then had me get behind the seat and WOW, the little hamster wagon had some punch. The car feels and rides so much bigger than it is, and I enjoy driving it myself to the point that we have used it for a couple of long road trips. I have become a fan, but all is not perfect. The breaks seem weak for a more sporty, performance model. The interior quality looks better than the cars price range but seriously the piano black trim is a dust magnet and I don't understand the car mfg's being so enamored with the stuff. We have only put about 15K miles on it so far and there has been no mechanical issues or problems at all, and with the amazing warranty Kia has there is not much to worry about. All in all the Kia is a great value.

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5 out of 5 stars

Love this car so much, I bought another one!

Chris F-F, 12/25/2018
2018 Kia Soul + 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
20 of 21 people found this review helpful

The first time I test drove the Kia Soul, it only took about two blocks of driving before I fell in love with it. The ride is very comfortable, it’s zippy, fairly fuel efficient, and all around fun to drive. I had my first one for about 2 1/2 years when, in a brief case of insanity, I offered the let my husband use it as a trade-in for a car for him. I missed it so much, I began looking for a replacement Kia Soul. Six weeks later, I am the owner of a low-mileage 2018 which has so many new bells and whistles I’ve almost forgotten my first one. I love my 2018 Kia Soul+ even more than the 2014 I had before. This one is here to stay!

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5 out of 5 stars

WOW !!!

Mark, 03/25/2018
updated 04/04/2019
2018 Kia Soul 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
27 of 30 people found this review helpful

So far I am impressed. I have had mine for a year now. I purchased a mini spare for this vehicle. Not comfortable with the inflator they provide. Good MPG, still averaging 32 MPG all around driving. Good visibility. Reasonably quiet for ride and engine noise. I would recommend.

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5 out of 5 stars

JUST WHAT I WANTED

Diana, 09/26/2018
2018 Kia Soul 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful

My new Kia Soul has much going for it. It has no wind noise & drives smoothly. To be a small vehicle, it has very comfortable seating that my older Kia Soul lacked in the front seats. I love the extra cargo room. I am impressed with the extra rear end stop lights. I like the Kia Soul also for its safety features it has always had.

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5 out of 5 stars

Love My Kia Soul Plus!!

A. C., 01/24/2019
2018 Kia Soul + 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful

I had a Jeep Patriot for 4 years. As soon as I bought it, I knew I was gonna have issues with it and I did. I just recently purchased a 2018 Kia Soul Plus and I have never loved a car so much right out of the gate! So much fun to drive! Great on gas as I travel extensively. Love the interior and feel of how it handles. My only complaint is how it handles in the snow. It's not fabulous but gets the job done. Overall, I highly recommend this vehicle!

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5 out of 5 stars

Kia Soul plus red roof

Andria Ayers, 04/08/2019
2018 Kia Soul + 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful

I have had my Kia for little over a year now and love it. No problems with anything. My husband hit a major pot hole and got a huge bubble in the sidewall and had to take to the dealership to get it replaced at no fault of the car. The only other thing I’ve had to do is regular maintenance. Everyone is shocked at the amount of space in it. It is a great on road trips . I would highly recommend this car. Loving the gas mileage.

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5 out of 5 stars

Love my Soul!

audioSoulproject, 08/30/2019
2018 Kia Soul + 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful

I drove a 4 other use Kia Souls between 2015 and 2018 models before buying mine. I ended up getting the 2018 + model and am loving it. It's roomier than I thought a car this size would be, it's responsive and handles really well, it has one of the cleanest implementations of Apple Car Play that I've seen in a car in this price range, it looks great, and I love that I can park easily in smaller spots (something I couldn't do with my previous car that was a Chevy Malibu). The standard speaker system sounds pretty great too. Loving this purchase so far.

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5 out of 5 stars

Soul ! turbo

Robert Pinion, 10/22/2018
updated 04/28/2025
2018 Kia Soul ! 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
13 of 14 people found this review helpful

Don't believe the complaints regarding Android synchronization! My Samsung Galaxy S9 syncs up seamlessly and provides a full extension of my Google home environment. It seriously does EVERYTHING that I ask. There is plenty of room for 4 adults and the noise levels are acceptable. Midrange torque is amazing and in sport mode handling is above average. I get 29 MPG in mixed driving and I am more than satisfied with my purchase. After almost two years and 30,000 miles my Soul! continues to fulfill every need for which it was purchased. While it is not the perfect highway vehicle (I drive my Optima for extended trips) I still have no complaints, no problems, and no regrets. ** UPDATE ** I succumbed to temptation and traded my gray/black Soul Turbo for a 2020 Soul GT-Line. It has a bit more space and a lot more convenience features. They shaed the 1.6L turbo motor and 7-speed transmission so driving the new car is very similar. This is a perfect vehicle for specific professions offering comfort, brisk driving capabilities, and plenty of storage. PLUS - you get Kia's near bullet-proof reliability. A win/win...

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5 out of 5 stars

Lots of fun while being practical

Gary H., 04/21/2018
updated 04/26/2023
2018 Kia Soul ! 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
27 of 31 people found this review helpful

We bought the ! (Exclaim) in Wild Orange (Special Edition) that has the 7 speed Turbo. It is equipped with the Tech Package and the panoramic sunroof. It's worth the extra money ($4,000). Certain Youtube professional reviewers said to get the Sunroof and I am glad we did. The sport drive mode makes getting on the expressway a cinch. It has nice pickup and go! Gas mileage comes better than advertised. The seating in this car is very comfortable, especially oolong road trips. We took a road trip of 10 hours each way. My 68year old legs felt great after long day of driving. On prior road trips of driving more than 2 hours in our Camry, my legs would require me to take ibuprofen for the discomfort. The sound system is really good in the Tech upgrade along with an 8" screen. Handling is above average with the wide 18" tires. I really like this car (especially in Wild Orange). Bought new in mid February 2018. Ee have had virtually no issues. We get oil changes at the recommended times (3750 miles) for turbo engines and rotate the tires every other oil change. There are 75,100 miles on the car. We replaced the tires at 49,0000 miles either Continentals. They ride quite well. Also replaced the 50 month old battery. No other issues. We are very satisfied with the car. Our panoramic sunroof stopped working. It needed to have maintenance performed. We paid $200 to be cleaned (track/gear). Works fine now. Also, we had 75K maintenance performed (flush transmission and coolant fluids) and replaced front brakes. Car runs great. Still love it.

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5 out of 5 stars

Love this car!

Happy Soul Owner, 03/08/2018
2018 Kia Soul 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 6M)
22 of 25 people found this review helpful

(Kia Soul base model, auto, tinted windows, convenience package) I've only had the car for a few weeks but I really love it. Fun to drive, comfortable, good gas mileage, handles great. Very happy.

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5 out of 5 stars

Put a little soul in your life

Mike Munro, 07/24/2018
updated 07/24/2019
2018 Kia Soul + 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
12 of 13 people found this review helpful

Great car easy to get into . Rides great has a lot of features that come standard . In love with my new Kia Soul plus . It’s not just for young people I’m 54 with a family perfect car for us .

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5 out of 5 stars

~23,000 miles - no issues to date and good mileage

Larry Webber , 06/29/2019
updated 07/25/2023
2018 Kia Soul 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Great little car that replaced and bests a totaled Nissan Cube. Driven conservatively (my middle name) I consistently beat the EPA ratings for both city and highway. It was just serviced recently at a Kia dealership and no issues were found during the inspections nor did I report any. For the money I think this is a great little car. Update 2023: All is still well - so glad I got the 1.6 engine and 6 spd auto - no 2.0 engine and CVT issues that I read so much about on newer models. I love driving this little car.

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5 out of 5 stars

Awesome Zippy and Fun

Koelsch3, 03/17/2018
2018 Kia Soul ! 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
14 of 17 people found this review helpful

I absolutely love this car!! I have the exclaim, and its loaded with all the extras, including panoramic sunroof. It's so zippy and fun, and looks super cute and sporty. The turbo makes a huge difference!! So far ive only had it a few months, and my only 2 drawbacks are that the tech package doesnt offer EVERYTHING for Android phones that it does for iPhones. For instance, it won't read text messages or allow me to respond. But it would with an iPhone. Also, the seats aren't very comfortable for long distance driving.

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5 out of 5 stars

2018 KIA soul

Geoff, 01/02/2018
2018 Kia Soul 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful

So far me and my wife have loved this car!! It gets 30 mpg city for me idk about other areas other then AZ. The few things I don't like are, power I had a built 02 wrx, i was at 450 whp this was a adjustment to say the least as far as a day to day driver I find it just a normal car. Its clean, good on gas, and just a good looking normal car. It gets to speed with barley any lag.

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5 out of 5 stars

Mileage so so....

Clifford Fatt/Debra Fatt, 07/27/2018
2018 Kia Soul + 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful

Love the style and love the drive. In a day and age of little cars getting 30 mpg and more, my Kia Soul Plus gets exactly what the sticker says: 25 in the city, 27 combined and 30 on the expressway. Wish I could get 33 city like my friend does in her Honda Fit. But couldn't pass up the quirky style. Cutest thing ever won over so so gas mileage...

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5 out of 5 stars

My Caribbean Blue Boy.

Carolyn Jones, 01/03/2019
2018 Kia Soul 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful

IT'S a fun little ride.I bought mine last year,best thing I have done in awhile.I love him to death.My husband passed away in April 2018 so I went out and bought my new guy and he is everything I expected him to be.Besides my son the two of them are the only guys I will ever have in my life.I could never be more happy with my choice of a car. HE IS JUST AWESOME.THANK YOU KIA OF AUGUSTA,GA.FOR MY WONDERFUL CAR.

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5 out of 5 stars

Why did I wait so long?

andrew betancourt, 01/15/2019
2018 Kia Soul 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 6M)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful

I was in need of another Scion, however the company stopped making them. I went to a Kia dealer and he gave me the keys to a car parked near the office and said to try it with a test run. I did for 10 minutes and knew that this was. I returned to the office and said, 'let's do it.' I paid cash for the car, the price was great and I am truly satisfied. As good as and much better than my Scion XB, I am glad I bought the Kia Soul.

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5 out of 5 stars

"A Little Bit of Soul"

Tedibearjeff, 08/28/2020
2018 Kia Soul + 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

The Soul model I purchased was a used rental car in the "plus" variety. The two-liter engine has plenty of pick-up, and a firm but, also, smooth ride. There is a button to select eco, normal, or sport mode driving, that, I believe, changes the engine response and efficiency. I'm using the 'normal' drive mode right now for around town. The non-electric fabric seats in my vehicle are comfortable and mult adjustable, and cargo room with the rear seats folded is spacious. The basics of the entertainment system with UVO, apple car play, android auto, and satellite radio provide enough sound volume and options (except for vehicle security system) , for most drivers even if the audio is of more average quality. It has an auto headlight feature, as well. You will want to have two keys (or two keyfobs) in case one is lost. Being a rental car, only one key with fob is included. An additional keyfob, as I understand it, needs to be programmed by either a dealer or a locksmith (a $150-$300.00 additional cost) which is a 'negative' compared with my '01 Frontier SC with full security system, where one working keyfob was all that was needed to program an additional one (I lost one in a karaoke bar one night). I like that Kia put an AGM battery in the engine compartment (vs typical lead-acid), so that the vehicle can withstand longer periods of non-use without needing a charge or jump-start. All-in-all, it seems to do everything well for around town driving, and I could see that doing an occasional two hundred mile one-way trip in a Kia Soul + would not be a problem.

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5 out of 5 stars

Awesome Kia Soul EX (2.0L)

Kia Soul 2018, 06/16/2021
2018 Kia Soul + 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Hi Everyone, I personally read a lot of reviews for many different cars on edmonds.com and really appreciate all the people who shared their experiences. The Kia Soul 2018 EX model year I have now is my second Kia Soul and my 4th car. The one before was a Kia Soul 2014 Base. Both of those Kia Souls I bought 1 year used. In 2012, one friend of mine helped me move a normal size Fridge, yes Fridge, in his Kia Soul. That was crazy because this car doesn't look big from the outside. I really liked the option of having a small car but being able to move something big like a Fridge. But I wouldn't say I liked the ride and comfort on those 1st generation Kia Souls (production 2008-2013). I ended up buying year used Kia Soul Base 1.6L engine in 2015 (2nd generation). I drove that car all the way to 2019 (4 years). I loved everything in that car, but...1.6L engine was not my favourite, and I wanted things like a panorama moonroof, harman/kardon stereo system, ventilated seats and safety futures of the 2018 model year. Both models (2014 with 1.6L engine and 2018 with 2.0L engine) have the same fuel consumption. I am not taking the consumption readings from the trip computer (which is usually off by 0.5l. I am using an application to track all the things happening with the car, and the average fuel consumption after 44,800km (28,000 miles) is 8.8L/100km (or 26.7MPG). I had to say that 70 to 80% of my driving is in Toronto (yes, Canada, that is why the metric system used). I have friends admitting that even if they are amazed at how much good stuff Kia put inside this 2018 Soul, they will never buy one, just because the brand does not show that they cool. That is fine by me; I hope that will keep the Kia price down for current and future products. One of my friends bought a 2020 VW, which is more than 2 times expensive than my Soul and every time he sat in my car and listened to music, he became upset that he could not add a premium stereo system to his car; the price was going crazy.

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2 out of 5 stars

Great Size—Poor Reliability

AmbassadorSoval, 03/26/2023
2018 Kia Soul + 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful

I bought my Kia Soul+ brand new in 2018 with 300 miles in the odometer. I wanted something cheap and roomy; this car fits the bill. You can transport a surprising amount of things with the rear seats down. There is also plenty of headspace in both the front and back seat. I’m very happy with the practicality of the car. It drives like crap. The engine is not refined, and I can definitely feel the transmission shifts. It has to go into 5th gear to go up even small hills and drives even worse if it’s windy. I realize that is because it is not aerodynamic, but I still hoped for a better driving experience. Be prepared to get 22mpg and drive in 5th gear if driving into a strong headwind at freeway speeds. I have a long, mostly highway commute, and I’ve come to realize this car does not excel at freeway driving. It feels much more at home in city driving. There is quite a bit of road and wind noise too although I found the stereo system to be quite good. Gas mileage is poor for a small car like this. I average 27mpg on the highway in the summer and 25mph on the highway in the winter. My biggest issue is the reliability of this engine. I believe the engine was poorly designed. I reached 145,000 miles, and it started using copious amounts of oil. I have to add about 1.5 quarts every 1,000 miles. When I asked the dealership what can be done about it, they said it would require an engine replacement. Now, I am the original owner and have taken care of it pursuant to the recommendations in the owner’s manual. Almost all my driving is done on the freeway. While I have put a lot of miles on the engine, I expected it to last longer than this. In my ownership of the car, I have replaced the tires twice at about 70,000 miles and 140,000 miles. I replaced a failed wheel bearing at 150,000 miles. I replaced a brake caliper at 125,000 miles and all four rotors and pads at about 95,000 miles. There were two recalls so far, one relating to an engine knocking system and one for the brake system. I replaced the original battery at 75,000 miles. Besides the poor driving experience, the other thing that drives me bonkers is the rattling noise in the dash. That started in 2020. The dash rattles when going over bumps or rough roads. The dealer wanted $600 to replace some sort of plastic part in the dash that would have required removing the dash. I elected not to do that, and turning up the music loud enough will drown out the rattling noise.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
3 out of 5 stars
Reliability
1 out of 5 stars
Value
3 out of 5 stars
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1 out of 5 stars

Decent car, horrible manufacturer support

Old Engineer, 11/25/2023
2018 Kia Soul ! 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
7 of 11 people found this review helpful

We’ve had a 2018 Kia Soul Exclaim, purchased Certified Pre Owned from a dealer in San Jose, CA 39 months old, with 10,000 miles. Nice car. Comfortable, capable, was just what my wife of 40 years wanted (we aren’t kids). She didn’t care about the turbo - we’re old, and I’ve owned Shelby Mustangs and Corvettes and Trans Ams and so on while we’ve been married, but are past that now. So far, so good. But on 1 October 2023, when it was 71 months old and had 33k miles on it (and ~40% of the tread still on the factory tires - my wife isn’t a hot rodder), the DCT wouldn’t go into R so she could go to the supermarket. Funny - we had come home from church, parked it in the driveway instead of its usual place in the garage next to my Mercedes, and had lunch. During which we talked about it being nearly three years since we bought it, and how well it had worked. We took it on the long drives, over said Mercedes E-class, because she drives on those and it’s comfortable for both of us. I ended up calling the dealership near us (45 miles away) and they said they had about 20 failed Kias in their holding lot and couldn’t even look at the car for over a week. I called around (this is a smaller dealership in a farming town of about 50k people) - same story. So I said I’d have it towed, and if they could get to it earlier it would be appreciated. My wife still works, and needed it to get to her office. Calling the Kia CPO service phone number, I was told that the road service was unavailable after the car was 36 months old, and it would be $450(!!!) to tow it 45 miles. Methought something may be rotten in the State of Denmark. Or at least Korea. Once the dealer got through their backlog of blown engines and transmissions that had come in before us, I was told that it would be three weeks for Kia CPO to decide whether they would cover it under the 10/100k powertrain “warranty.” Here’s where I found out that Kia don’t warrant their cars - the lay off the risk to a dealership development consultant called JM&A. JM&A work from the premise that all customers are to be fleeced and treated as criminals. They wanted a $300 work order to examine the car for signs of abuse. 33k miles, original tires, always serviced at the dealership, treated like a BMW/Mercedes (change the coolant and brake fluid every 24 months, air filters annually, oil and filter every 3-4 months, at the Hyundai dealer in our town - same company, both dealerships said same engine/trans, no 90 mile round trip for service, JM&A still tried to weasel out. Fast forward three weeks: we’re told they’re going to have the car done on Friday (only 7 weeks at the dealership now). Then, with much fear and trepidation, the sales writer calls to say that Kia America had shipped the WRONG BLOODY TRANSMISSION. The dealership was waiting for the right one to show up. Maybe a week, then they could try to slot it back into their scheduled of failed and recalled Kia vehicles. Such fun. My wife’s father is still with us, but in his middle 80s. Our daughter had surgery scheduled. Family Thanksgiving dinner is in the San Francisco East Bay. Still no firm date for the car to be back. I’m driving a 30 year old GMC pickup (which, ironically, still has its original and unmolested 4L60 transmission) at 12 MPG, and my wife is driving a Mercedes E-class that she dislikes. Such fun. So, the night before Thanksgiving, we solved our Kia problems. We went to the MB dealer in Rocklin, CA, and bought her a CPO GLC 300. She’s on her way to see her Dad and check on our daughter in it, and it gets the same mileage as her Kia. It’s far more comfortable, and I trust it. I’ve driven BMWs and MBs for several years. The Kia Soul replaced a 15 year old BMW X3 with 200k miles on it - only time she was “stranded” was when the starter went out at around 170k, and our independent shop had it running the next day. I’ve yet to hear from anyone at Kia America who seems to think two months is an unacceptable service window. They all sound like this is normal, expected, and I’m unreasonable for wanting the car back Still no firm date to have it back. I’m paying to insure it and the “new” Mercedes, but my experience is that BMW, MB, Saab, Ford, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Honda (all of which we’ve owned over the years) care about their reputations and try to take care of their customers. Kia’s observed business model is to care about their customer’s money, but not give an airborne rodent’s rectum about the people or their needs - like getting to work, shopping, taking care of family… I asked about a loaner or rental, since this was a long-term problem, and the laughter from both Customer (Dis)Service at Kia America and at their dealer still rings in my ears, 8 weeks later. Nicely packaged car, which we would have given five stars to a couple of months ago. Wretched customer service, which matters. If you want better manufacturer support, I recommend a nice, clean, low-mileage 1990 Yugo. One of these days they’ll get the right transmission - I think they’re mining the aluminium for one now - and we’ll be able to replace some of the money spent on the CPO Mercedes-Benz. Fortunately we aren’t poor, and had alternatives. But not everyone can buy a Mercedes to “tide them over” while Kia and their dealer muck about for months. If you get a good one, great! But if not, hang on. If we didn’t have an extra pickup hanging about and I’d had to rent a car on my own, I’d be our about $600 a week (with the recommended CDW and PAI insurances) at a screaming good rate from Avis, accorded to me because I’m retired from a huge multinational and still get Corporate perks. Kia and their dealer’s attitude - well, I could always walk. (I’m old, need a hip replacement, can barely make it across my living room some days, and the literally told me if I didn’t want to pay for a rental car I could always walk, or use Lyft/Uber). Kia - appealing cars that are terrific when they run well, but if you’re that unlucky punter who gets a lemon, saints preserve you.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
1 out of 5 stars
Value
1 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

I've purchased 3, but won't purchase another.

Caroline Ross, 05/14/2018
2018 Kia Soul 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 6M)
20 of 35 people found this review helpful

I have purchased three kia souls and absolutely love this car. However, the 2018 model I just purchased cannot sinc with my android phone as apparently kia made a deal with apple, and it only sincs with the i phone. This causes me much difficulty as I cannot make verbal commands to call people when I need to call them. Very disappointing, and will stop me from purchasing another one, as I have to pull over to make phone calls, or risk my and others safety to look at my phone. Very disappointed!

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

Bless my Soul!

TheFun1, 12/09/2020
2018 Kia Soul ! 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Purchased my 2018 KIA Soul Exclaim with 23,496 miles after hitting a deer with my 2015 Forte and walking away from the accident. This automobile is fully loaded! I test drove new models base and G-Line but they lacked some of the features I have : remote start , upgraded infotainment 8 inch screen Karmen Harmon speakers & Sirius Radio. The price jump to acquire them was too steep. But I couldn't be happier! Purchased an extended warranty 6 years/ 150,000 miles for a 2K well worth the peace of mind, I fully expect her to outlive the warranty if the wildlife doesn't get in the way! I feel safer with the airbag system and love how it drives like an SUV with more trunk space. Great value! Excellent automobile for those who want high end features without the high end price tag!

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

Great car .Beyond expectations Love it

EzRider, 12/09/2021
2018 Kia Soul 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Pros: lots of room. Excellent thought out instrument and controls. arrangement. Extremely fast acceleration for passing without the turbosupercharger option! .. Very good braking assist. Very nimble steering but not a sports car on fast curves do to high center of gravity needed for large cargo capacity . Good rear camera. automatic "manual "stick shifting in Sports mode. Good sound system Cons: Headlights not powerful enough Road noise not great.. but to be expected in these smaller cars . gas economy slightly lower than expected (17/30) High Recommended Test drive one!

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
3 out of 5 stars

Lacking options

Shelby, 11/12/2017
2018 Kia Soul ! 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
16 of 32 people found this review helpful

My 2015 ! Has more options than the 2018!! Tho the turbo is a great addition to the 2018. But that’s it Exterior color options limited & boring. Same for interior. The light gray headliner & trim is cheap & ugly. No all Black option for interior. My 2015 had beautiful tan all Napa leather seats! Also had cool ventilated front seats which has been removed from the 2018 model but is an option on the soul+. Which weirdly has more options than the ! We were so disappointed.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
3 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

Love my Soul!

Steven Novakovich, 07/21/2018
2018 Kia Soul ! 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful

Buy one and you will get it

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

LOVE MY 2018 KIA SOUL ! TURBO !!!

Dee Jamison, 10/28/2017
2018 Kia Soul ! 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
6 of 17 people found this review helpful

Bought a WILD ORANGE Kia Soul ! Turbo ! Love it !! Union County Kia Monroe N. C. was great to deal with and salesperson Don Flint was awesome at getting us the deal we needed. Would highly recommend Union County Kia and ask for Don Flint, great salesperson 5 stars !!!

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

Pickles his name!

Pickle, 05/24/2021
updated 11/24/2021
2018 Kia Soul 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Bought my Alien 2 green 2018 soul with 14k. 65 yrs old and am having a blast driving it. 32 mpg, somebody put Michelins on it, 205 55 16. Smooth as silk, no road noise. Only complaint, had to buy a spare tire/jack kit to replace pos tire super glue and inflator. Hope to get many carefree miles out of him.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

Love my 2018 Kia Soul!

Debnie , 02/09/2022
updated 08/09/2022
2018 Kia Soul ! 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Love driving this car. Great for holding golf clubs and having storage below. 18" tires provide great Ride and handling. Heated steering wheel and seats so comfy. Turbo engine allows for great pickup. I now have 58,000 miles of my vehicle and I must say the Kia corporation stands behind the vehicle I have had very few issues but they were all covered under warranty one issue though was my sunroof it would not close properly and they fix that under warranty as well... very very happy with both the car and Kia corporation. Would consider buying another Kia soul exclaim however I've learned they no longer offer the turbo engine. The turbo engine makes the car so much fun to drive and gives me confidence getting on interstate with 70 mph traffic.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

Love it!

Me - Sheila Bocco, 05/09/2022
2018 Kia Soul 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good on gas, bigger than it looks on the inside and drives great

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
4 out of 5 stars

Mama Kia

Judy, 02/20/2024
2018 Kia Soul + 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Love my used Kia. Simple controls. Not a lot of needless electronics. Too bad about that Tim Toc mess

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
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Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

Great Little Car

Robyn Schaeffer , 06/25/2021
2018 Kia Soul 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Everything about the Kia Soul is great. This is my second one. Kia is a way to gonif you are looking for a affordable vehicle.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

Badass Soul Turbo

Bad Dude, 08/03/2023
2018 Kia Soul ! 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Iove my Kia Wild Orange Soul.. No problems..Runs great & Fast Turbo is Great..I get compliments All the time with this car..

Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

Buen auto

AL, 10/11/2023
2018 Kia Soul + 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Fácil de conducir, cómodo y espacioso.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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