2020 Kia Soul Review

Name: 2020 Kia Soul
Brand: Kia

Price Range: $8,990 - $20,990

2020 Kia Soul GT-Line Turbo Wagon Exterior Shown

The redesigned 2020 Kia Soul has a lot going for it. Its boxy shape gives it a seriously roomy passenger cabin and tons of cargo space. It's also quite fun to drive, with above-average handling abilities and an intuitive CVT automatic. Minor grievances aside, this small SUV is one of the best out there.

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122 cars

$15,885 avg. price

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Appraise My 2020 Kia Soul

Kia Soul model years

Kia Soul for Sale

2020 Kia Soul Review

Pros

Lots of features for the price
Roomier than other subcompact crossovers
Surprisingly fun to drive
Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Cons

Excessive wind and tire noise at freeway speeds
Clunky response from turbocharged engine's transmission

What's new

The 2020 Kia Soul is totally redesigned
Restyled exterior and new base powertrain
Part of the third Soul generation introduced for 2020

Overview

Written by automotive expert Cameron Rogers

3/29/2019

A decade ago, before "subcompact crossover" entered the public lexicon, a handful of unusual imports defied traditional classification. Were the Honda Element, Kia Soul, Nissan Cube, Scion xB hatchbacks, wagons or SUVs? It's still hard to say. But we do know that the Soul, which is the only vehicle of the batch still around, shows that Kia has a successful formula on its hands.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

122 listings

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2020 Kia Soul
LX Wagon
$8,999
great price
$2,171 below market
- 100,857 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 5 Seats, 27 City / 33 Hwy MPG
- Alpha Motorsports Manassas (19 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
- Apple Carplay/Androi...
Close
Located in Manassas, VA
** SALE ** SALE ** SALE ** YOUR FIRST PAYMENT ON US AND NO PAYMENT FOR UP TO 90 DAYS ** OVER 30,000 VEHICLES SOLD, TWO LOCATION TO SERVE YOU, 400+ VEH...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
30 Combined MPG (27 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: KNDJ23AU8L7057267
Stock: S057267
Certified Pre-Owned: No
2020 Kia Soul
LX Wagon
$12,980
fair price
$483 above market
- 77,132 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 5 Seats, 27 City / 33 Hwy MPG
- VINS (18 mi away)
- Home delivery*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
- Apple Carplay/Androi...
Close
Located in Manassas Park, VA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
30 Combined MPG (27 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: KNDJ23AU2L7704066
Stock: 23258A
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 09-12-2025

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The 2020 Kia Soul, which is fully redesigned this year, has a lot going for it. Drivers in congested urban areas will enjoy its nimble size, responsive engine and controlled ride over bumpy pavement. Outside the city, the Soul shines with crisp handling and responsive steering. You can up the Soul's fun factor even more by equipping it with a punchy turbocharged engine and a sport-tuned suspension.

No matter where you live, the Soul's roomy cabin and useful cargo space make it a perfect everyday car. We also like its competitive pricing, which undercuts most rivals without sacrificing interior materials quality or feature content.

As with any budget-priced small car, there are a few drawbacks. All-wheel drive is not available, which might be a deal-breaker for buyers in places that experience icy or snowy road conditions. And that sport-tuned Soul, the GT-Line Turbo, suffers from a clunky-shifting transmission and a harsh ride quality. But overall we think the 2020 Kia Soul rises above other subcompact crossovers thanks to its blend of practicality, affordability and emphasis on fun.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Good

7.8

out of 10

We drove the 2020 Kia Soul on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

8/10

How does the Soul drive? Maximum acceleration from the 2.0-liter engine is a little lacking, but the Soul feels perfectly spry around town. The steering is natural, and cornering abilities are better than expected. In most cases, the CVT automatic feels like a traditional automatic. In Edmunds track testing, the Soul posted a 0-60 mph time of 8.8 seconds, which is a respectable time for a little SUV.

The steering features a light effort that builds up naturally when you move from center. The Soul has cornering abilities similar to sportier rivals such as the Mazda CX-3 and Mini Countryman. The only true downside is the touchy brake pedal, which takes some getting used to. The brake response builds too quickly, so you have to be smooth on the brakes to avoid lurching. Unlike some other subcompacts, the Soul doesn't offer all-wheel drive.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the Soul? Despite a lack of adjustments, the front seats don't reveal any pressure points even after you've been sitting for hours. The rear seatback angle is fixed but is set at a comfortable angle. The ride is firm and controlled but never harsh. Unlike some rivals, the Soul doesn't shudder like it's falling apart when it's driven over square-edge bumps.

The X-Line's single-zone manual climate control is basic, and rear passengers might run a bit warm because there are no rear air vents at this trim level. The upright windshield generates a noticeable — but not irritating — level of wind noise, and some tire noise is evident, too. Simulated gearshifts mean the engine doesn't drone at full throttle as with other CVT automatics.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? From an ergonomic standpoint, the simple interior design means there's not much to mess up. Navigating through touchscreen menus is easy thanks to an intuitive interface and physical buttons for high-level functions. A height-adjustable front seat and a generous range of steering wheel adjustment help accommodate drivers of all sizes.

The tall roof and wide door openings allow easy access to the front and rear of the deceptively large cabin. There's lots of headroom and legroom in front and back — four adults will have no problem taking road trips. All windows are tall and narrow with the exception of the small, upturned window in the rear three-quarters view.

Technology

7/10

How’s the tech? The X-Line, like most Soul trim levels, has a basic six-speaker audio system. Without a dedicated subwoofer, bassy sounds come out of the speakers but lack punch. At least the speakers don't rattle at high volume. At this trim level, there's only one USB port, but it's illuminated so you can see it at night. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.

A blind-spot monitor is standard on the X-Line. If you can do without the X-Line's styling upgrades, the less expensive S and the 2.0-liter GT-Line both come with automatic emergency braking and lane departure mitigation. More features, such as a second USB port, navigation and voice controls, are available if you pay extra for a different trim.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? The Soul has a deep cargo well that gives it more cargo room than other small SUVs, though it's weird you can't get a cargo cover on X-Line and lower trims. Though this configuration has impressive volume (24.2 cubic feet), there's a large hump at the base of the rear seats when you fold them, which limits utility.

Storage space is decent for the class, with front-seat occupants receiving a good number of bins and cubbies. Installing a car seat is tough despite a roomy back seat — the anchors are inset quite far and access to the tethers is hampered by this trim's non-adjustable headrests.

Fuel Economy

7/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA rates the CVT automatic-equipped Soul at 30 mpg combined (27 city/33 highway), which is slightly better than most competitors. However, we weren't able to replicate these numbers in real life. Over 350 miles of driving (100 of which were on the highway at a reasonable pace), we averaged just 26.8 mpg.

Value

8/10

Is the Soul a good value? The Soul is quite inexpensive for a subcompact SUV. A midtrim model especially comes with a bunch of features but is missing a few key amenities such as adjustable rear headrests. Most buyers would be better served by the slightly more expensive but much more feature-rich EX trim. As usual, Kia's warranty is class-leading.

Wildcard

8/10

The continuously variable automatic transmission isn't exactly fun to use, but it is well-tuned and a bit more responsive than other CVT automatics. There's also not much power aboard — get the GT-Line Turbo for a peppier engine. Still, even the midtier Soul is fun to toss around corners and has a pleasant ride.

The Soul uses its boxy shape to its advantage by providing lots of interior and cargo room. Styling is distinct and unmistakable as a Soul. Upper trims get beat-synced speaker lights and ambient lighting, which are unique selling points in a homogenous class.

2020 Kia Soul trim level differences

The 2020 Kia Soul is available in LX, S, X-Line, GT-Line, EX, and GT-Line Turbo models. The trim structure is surprisingly confusing, with the X-Line, GT-Line and EX models all building off the S trim rather than each other. The LX is rather basic, but selecting the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) adds a few extra features. The S primarily adds advanced driver safety aids. The X-Line is the rugged-looking variant, while the GT-Line gives off a sporty vibe. Finally, the EX adds extra luxury features, and the GT-Line Turbo is a combination of the GT-Line and EX trims plus a more powerful engine.

Which Soul trim does Edmunds recommend?

If you're typically driving solo or with one passenger, the S model is a perfectly fine way to go. For more family- or friend-oriented duty, the EX is what you want. Along with a ton of extra convenience features, it adds a rear armrest and adjustable headrests (less expensive models come with fixed headrests). You also get a cargo cover and a removable cargo floor, which helps create a flat load space when you lower the rear seats.

Compare 2020 Kia Soul trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$131/mo

$155/mo

Avg. Compact Car

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Reliability

The 2020 Kia Soul has a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic warranty and 1 recall. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #3 out of 8 among Subcompact SUVs. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent

#3 out of 8 among Subcompact SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$401/yr

vs. $435/yr
for Average Subcompact SUV

Frequency

0.73x/yr

vs. 0.69x/yr
for Average Subcompact SUV

Severity

9.6%

vs. 10.7%
for Average Subcompact SUV

Recalls

1 recall found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 21V259000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: SC209
Number of vehicles affected:: 147249
Defect Description:: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
Defect Consequence:: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
Corrective Action:: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall is expected to begin June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC209.

Warranty

5 years / 60,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 10 years / 100,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / 100,000 miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles

Kia Soul Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.1

89 reviews

5(68%)

4(7%)

3(6%)

2(3%)

1(16%)

See all 89 reviews of the Kia Soul

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

The 2020 Soul LX...Rare: Value without Compromise

Happy Wanderer, 07/02/2019

2020 Kia Soul LX 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

Purchased the base model LX w/ the CVT transmission 4 weeks ago, and have already taken it "out west" on a road trip that thoroughly tested it's performance, comfort, and utility. We are pleased with our purchase with no regrets. While previous owners love their older model year Souls, the 2020 Soul is a completely different vehicle. I had previously test driven the first two … generations of the Soul, and opted for other vehicles instead due to the base engine not having enough power for the frame. The current (2020) 2.0 L, 4 banger engine paired with the CVT just work well together. Where the old base model engines struggled at highway speeds, and the old transmissions clunked at key freeway speeds, the new base engine and transmission are smooth and effortless. The only thing that challenged our Soul base box at all was driving the Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park...one of the highest altitude roads in the world. Even then, the Soul did just fine, the engine just had to work a little harder, but the vehicle handled beautifully. Once you add the 2020 base powertrain to the superior engineering of the vehicle, it's probably the best value vehicle on the market. The Soul's fantastic roominess, and cargo capacity engineered into such a small footprint, combined with it's new sleeker and funky style, industry leading infotainment system (included in the base model price!), and best in the business warranty make this purchase a no brainer. Once you consign yourself to considering a value purchase, take a test drive, and the quality, comfort, and pleasure of driving the vehicle will sell itself. My recommendation is not to opt up to the turbo version. The new base model engine and transmission together are adequate to the point of feeling "peppy" in normal driving, and the base model (LX) inside and outside look and feel refined. You may want to opt up to a just slightly higher S trim to gain active driving safety features and alloy wheels. To me, everything after that is cosmetic, adding more money to the price than what you get back in value and options. The LX and S models are finished enough, with enough features and quality driving performance to feel infinitely much more upscale than they actually are. Every time we drive this vehicle, we can't help but feel pleased with the product, and thrilled by the relatively small price paid for it compared to anything comparable on the market.

The S model: my perfect car

Desert Rat, 09/10/2019

2020 Kia Soul S 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

Get the S model for safety features. It’s easy to slide in and out. No sinking down into a pit, no climbing up steps. Easy on the back. Neck fusion? The high roof means you don't have to twist neck sideways while tilting down to avoid hitting frame. This is exactly the car I have been looking for. Just a second car, I didn’t want to spend too much, and thought I wouldn’t get a ride as … comfortable or powerful as the departing 2013 Camry for the high teen$. I first insisted the replacement have the basic safety features, blind spot and rear cross traffic monitoring. No other small car has it. I found the Soul did, and even better the S model adds Forward and Rear Collision braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. 5 star safety rating! Next requirement was comfort for bad backs. The Camry wasn’t bad but the Soul is more supportive. Then power. Was very surprised at the pep of this new engine, being significantly below 200 Hp. Totally satisfying and I really like my first CVT. It’s very smooth and you can’t hear that asinine fake shifting noise manufacturers put on CVT cars for no known good reason - Unless you are pushing the engine really hard. Roominess. AMAZED at how cavernous this car feels when you get in. The square design makes it wide and high on the inside. Leg room for rear passengers is a bit better than most larger SUVs. The rear seats just as comfortable as front. They don’t waste space with a big trunk usually never used. Put down the rear seats if you need to carry and you have a box truck to load. Fun to drive. Kind of like a souped up golf cart. You may not like Lane Keeping Assist as it keeps jarring you to get to the center. [Actually it totally steers itself as long as you have white lines defining the lane @ 40 mph+, but it releases after about 12 seconds without human input]. You can elect to use just warning instead or turn it off. Its the same in every car made with this feature so you may be used to it already. It has very little body roll and smooths the bumps out better than the Camry. They’ve come a long way in suspensions since 2013. Nice... it doesn’t have exactly the features I hate! Some of my annoyances that are usually stuck on every car aren't on this including but not limited to: Sunroof- in the hot desert I don't need the sun beating down fighting the AC through cardboard headliners; Automatic Climate Control - you know, the ones that cant get it right so you have to manually adjust them anyhow. This has the good old set your temperature out of the vents (with knobs, by the way, not flat buttons you cant feel) and that’s what the cabin temperature will be. Automatic transmission - I like smooth manuals instead of the shifting feeling of automatics so this smooth CVT is welcome. The ridiculously stupid pretend shift sound/feeling manufacturers put in CVT cars is thankfully barely noticeable in this car. And THANKS for not putting those totally stupid steering wheel shifters in the car. Try shifting in a turn when you can’t find the paddles! Stupid! Moving on, convenience features like two 12v and a USB outlet are nice, I like the Johnson bar parking brake, tire pressure monitoring and digital information center in the instrument cluster, actual knobs for the radio in addition to those controls on the steering wheel and the ultra bright monitor screen even in daylight6. Comes with Apple Play and Android, (a feature BMW charges $80 a year for after purchase). Sad that it doesn’t have Navigation in this model but the Apple map feature is great. Except here in the mountains/desert where its easy to run out of cell service. Keep a GPS handy if you travel into the nowhere lands. If you need Homelink for your garage door, buy the $250 rear view auto dimming mirror accessory that has those buttons. Seats are manual pump up, retro fun! Outside mirrors and windows are electric. No unnecessary repetitive satellite radio. All told, I love this car. It’s exactly what I’ve wanted and takes a lot less work to drive than my wifes computerized everything but heavenly Q5.

2020 is a game changer...

Don, 04/07/2019

2020 Kia Soul S 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

I traded in a 2016 kia soul base for a 2020 kia soul s... My 2016 only had 25000 miles and was in great shape... Absolutely no complaints... Great little car... That being said... This 2020 soul s is world's above the 2016 model in just about every way... Rides better... Handles better... Feels better... Transmission is fantastic... Very smooth exceleration... Much better pick up... This …

2020 Kia Soul LX

techguy, 08/03/2019

2020 Kia Soul LX 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

I went with the LX trim with automatic transmission because I got a great deal on one at my local dealership. I've owned mine for a few weeks now. I was impressed with the space and seat comfort for being such a compact car. It feels way bigger than it is when you are inside the vehicle. I can fit 3 of my best friends in mine without issues and they are big dudes. The smallest one is …

2020 Soul Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$17,490
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	27 MPG
Cost to Drive	$131/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	24.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Soul models:

Forward Collision Avoidance: Warns you of stopped or rapidly slowing vehicles ahead and automatically applies the brakes if you don't respond.
Lane Keep Assist: Warns you as you start to drift from your lane. Automatically applies pressure to the wheel to guide you back into the lane.
Blind-Spot Collision Warning: Alerts you to vehicles either in your blind spot or rapidly approaching in the next lane using lights located in the side mirrors.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover14.7%

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2020 Kia Soul Review

Price & Payment

2020 Kia Soul Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

For sale near Ashburn, VA

2020 Kia SoulLX Wagon

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2020 Kia SoulLX Wagon

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

2020 Kia Soul trim level differences

Which Soul trim does Edmunds recommend?

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Recalls

Warranty

Kia Soul Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

The 2020 Soul LX...Rare: Value without Compromise

The S model: my perfect car

2020 is a game changer...

2020 Kia Soul LX

2020 Soul Highlights

Safety

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