Kia Updates the 2023 Soul - Here Are the Notable Changes

Kia’s Soul is a fun, affordable, “boxy small car” to use Kia’s own words as a descriptor. We’ve tested almost every version of the Kia Soul over the years, including the EV and turbo, but we’ve always felt the Soul’s best trims were its conventionally-powered ones. The Soul works great in its comfort zone, but it’s not a sports car, and it’s not built from the ground up as an EV. Which works for this story since the EV and turbo are now no longer part of the Soul line.

“The Soul defined a whole new segment of small cars when it first entered the Kia lineup and it continues into the 2023 model year with as much fun, practicality and style as ever,” said Steve Center, COO & EVP, Kia America. “The basic form remains, which is what more than 75,000 happy Soul owners loved so much about the funky runabout last year, representing a nearly 5 percent increase over sales in 2020. The new 2023 Soul is set to continue that trend with its refreshed design inside and out, advanced technology and feature-packed trims.”

The trims for 2023 include LX, S, EX, and GT-Line. All of which are front-wheel drive and powered by the Soul’s well-matched 2.0-liter gas engine. The Kia Soul earns an EPA-Estimated 31 MPG Combined rating. The engine works with Kia’s Intelligent Variable Transmission, and if you want to know the horsepower and 0-60 MPH numbers, maybe you’re barking up the wrong tree?

Want to read about all the cool stuff the GT-Line with the Technology Package includes? Here you go in bullet form:
Harman/Kardon premium audio
10.25-inch color touchscreen
External amplifier, subwoofer, and door-mounted tweeters
Multi-colored LED pulsing speaker lights
Heated front seats
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Junction Turning capability (radar + camera type)
Highway Drive Assist
Navigation based Smart Cruise Control
Electronic Parking Brake
Power driver seat
High-gloss interior trim
LED headlights and taillights
Cargo Cover
Dual-level cargo floor

If you opt for a lower trim, you still get a very long list of driver-assist safety tech.

Check back in a few weeks for updated 2023 Kia Soul pricing and possibly a full review here at Torque News.

Image of 2023 Soul courtesy of Kia

John Goreham is a long-time New England Motor Press Association member and recovering engineer. John's interest in EVs goes back to 1990, when he designed the thermal control system for an EV battery as part of an academic team. After earning his mechanical engineering degree, John completed a marketing program at Northeastern University and worked with automotive component manufacturers, in the semiconductor industry, and in biotech. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American news outlets and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on TikTok @ToknCars, on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin

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