2026 Kia Soul

Name: 2026 Kia Soul Review
Brand: Kia

Release Date: Fall 2025

Estimated Price: Starting around $22,500

A roomy cabin and better-than-average handling make the 2026 Kia Soul one of today's best compact SUV-hatchback mashups. The Soul's boxy shape makes for plenty of passenger and cargo space, while sharp steering and responsive powertrain make it a delight to drive around town. Minor grievances aside (so-so fuel economy, sluggish acceleration), the Soul offers excellent value for the money.Read full review

Contact your local dealers about upcoming availability and pricing details.

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Kia Soul for Sale

2026 Kia Soul Review

by Dan Frio

rating written by Kurt Niebuhr

Pros

Lots of features for the price
Roomier than many other extra-small SUVs
Excessive wind and road noise at highway speeds
Just one engine available

What's new

No significant updates expected
Part of the third Soul generation introduced in 2020

Overview

Truly affordable cars are rarer than ever, but the Kia Soul both fits the bill and doesn't skimp on features. The Soul is Kia's most affordable crossover as it's positioned below the Seltos and Niro in terms of price and size. This funky hatch/SUV crossover is roomier than it looks thanks to its distinctive boxy shape and it's pretty fuel-efficient. It doesn't offer all-wheel drive and doesn't have a traditional SUV look, but it's worth checking out if you're looking for a small car with a lot of room. With the possible exception of a new styling package, we don't expect many changes for 2026.

Edmunds spotlight: The tiny king of value and size

The Kia Soul is shorter in length than the Mazda CX-30, Chevrolet Trax, Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos, but it offers a similar amount of front and rear passenger space and cargo room. That's the beauty of its boxy design. It also has similar fuel efficiency to these rivals, but thanks to the Soul's larger gas tank, it can drive a little farther than those other crossovers. The Soul's low price tag might make you think it's lightly equipped, but even the base LX trim comes equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, a digital instrument panel and a few advanced driver aids. Upper trims come with luxury features that include a sunroof and a premium audio system.

Competitors to consider

Although we like the Soul, there are plenty of solid subcompact crossovers worth checking out. The Chevrolet Trax is similar in price, size and value, but like the Soul, it doesn't offer all-wheel drive. If you want all-wheel drive, consider the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Kona. Both have a lot to offer but are a little more expensive. For more style and power, check out the Mazda CX-30. It provides less cargo space and is pricier still, but it boasts a premium interior, sporty handling and standard all-wheel drive.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict

Good

7.9

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

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 8.5 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-30 and Mini Countryman. While the Soul stops well in panic situations, the only true downside is the touchy brake pedal at low speeds, which takes some getting used to. Unlike some other subcompacts, the Soul doesn't offer all-wheel drive.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the Soul? The front seats are reasonably comfortable 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 bigger bumps.

At highway speeds, 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 like some 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 make it easy to get into 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-quarter view.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? The Soul comes with a lot of standard and available technology, and it all works well. Most trim levels feature a large, integrated 10.2-inch touchscreen that dominates the dashboard. We also like the available Harman Kardon stereo system that provides plenty of bass response and good sound quality across a lot of musical genres. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is standard. Wireless charging is available.

The Soul's driver assist systems are consistently accurate and didn't trigger false alarms in our time with the vehicle. We were especially impressed with the optional adaptive cruise control and lane keeping system.

Storage

8/10

How’s the storage? The Soul has a deep cargo well that gives it more cargo room than other small SUVs. 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 for larger items.

Storage space is decent for the class, with a good number of bins and cubbies for front occupants. Installing a car seat is tough despite a roomy back seat — the anchors are inset deeply and can be difficult to access quickly. Also, access to the tethers on the back of the rear seatbacks is hampered on the base Soul trim because of its nonadjustable rear headrests.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

Fuel Economy

7/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the Soul gets 30-31 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That's on par with most competitors. However, we found it difficult to replicate these numbers in our real-world driving evaluation tests.

Value

8/10

Is the Soul a good value? The Soul is inexpensive even for a subcompact SUV. There's not much soft-touch plastic, yet it doesn't feel cheap. There's synthetic leather on the door rest where you put your elbow, and the leather-wrapped wheel feels nice. There's also lots of textured trim to break up the monotony of an all-black cabin. The Soul's value is also improved by the long list of standard and optional equipment, which is a pleasant surprise on a vehicle that even when fully loaded isn't much over $25K.

As usual, Kia's warranty is excellent. Bumper-to-bumper coverage is five years/60,000 miles and Kia stands behind the Soul's powertrain for 10 years/100,000 miles. For extra peace of mind, Kia offers roadside assistance for five years/60,000 miles.

Wildcard

8/10

The Soul uses its boxy shape to its advantage by providing lots of interior and cargo room. Styling is distinct and unmistakable and the Soul proves that inexpensive can still be fun, funky, well equipped and practical. Acceleration is lackluster, but the Soul is fun to toss around corners and has a pleasant ride to boot.

Which Soul does Edmunds recommend?

Kia hasn't released official information on the 2026 Soul as of this writing. We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's Soul, we like the midrange EX. Heated front seats, upgraded upholstery and a sunroof are nice included touches that don't cost much more than the lower trims, while larger 17-inch wheels give the EX extra style.

2026 Kia Soul video

These Are the Cheapest New Cars, Trucks & SUVs on Sale Today | Best Affordable Cars for 2024

NOTE: This video is about the 2024 Kia Soul, but since the 2026 Kia Soul is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.

The average price of a new car may be at a record high, but that doesn't mean there aren't a few solid and affordable vehicles left on the market. In this video, Edmunds' Nick Yekikian dives into the cheapest new cars, trucks and SUVs on sale today.

2026 Kia Soul

2026 Kia Soul Review

Pros

What's new

Overview

Edmunds spotlight: The tiny king of value and size

Competitors to consider

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Soul does Edmunds recommend?

2026 Kia Soul video

These Are the Cheapest New Cars, Trucks & SUVs on Sale Today | Best Affordable Cars for 2024

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