Road Test: 2020 Kia Soul X-Line

No Turbo Needed

I have never been disappointed when I get the chance to drive a Kia Soul. Nimble, quick, sharp handling…you know, fun! My time recently in the 2020 Kia Soul X-Line only reinforced how much I like this car. The X-Line is one of four trim levels for the Soul with the 2.0-liter non-turbo engine, with the Soul GT-Line the sole model with the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine (and a 2021 Soul EV due next year).

Non-Turbo Smooth

The 2020 Kia Soul X-Line is powered by a 2.0L inline four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque while running on 87 octane gasoline. Power gets to the front wheels through Kia’s Intelligent Variable Transmission, or IVT. Designed and built in-­house, the IVT is Kia’s version of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that delivers both efficiency and peppy driving.

The Kia Soul X-Line has an EPA rating of 27 mpg city/33 highway/30 combined. Clean Fleet Report averaged 31.1 mpg over 257 miles of driving throughout Southern California. On a 100-mile all-freeway run with the cruise control set at 65 mph, we got 40.8 mpg!

When we get into car with a naturally aspirated engine, the sensation of smooth, linear acceleration is greatly appreciated. Not that we don’t like turbocharged engines, it’s just that a non-turbo has a completely different feel–a feel we like.

Driving Experience: On the Road

The combination of the 2.0L engine and the IVT were well-suited. The transmission has been programmed to mimic the shift points of a six-speed automatic and goes smoothly through the “gears.” It is a proper match for the engine’s horsepower and torque. Zero-to-60 times were consistently around 8.3 seconds, and we never felt it was underpowered or the IVT wasn’t up to the task. In other words, it does its thing without any fanfare, which is perfect.

The Soul X-Line weighs in at 4,023 pounds, which felt evenly distributed for a well-planted road feel. The boxy shape belies the ease the Soul X-Line takes corners. Taller than most hatchbacks, it didn’t feel top heavy during cornering or quick maneuvers at highway speeds. There was little body roll or leaning that could be expected from a tall-bodied car. Overall, the Soul delivered a smooth and quiet ride, along with low road and wind noise.

The all-season tires, stability and traction control and power steering all delivered a true sense of the road.

Stopping comes from vented front and solid rear disc brakes with ABS and brake assist. The stops were straight and, after repeated stops from 60 mph, there was no pedal fade.

Driving Experience: Exterior

Kia says the all-new third generation 2020 Soul is “funkier than ever and there is a Soul for everyone.” Clean Fleet Report drove the Soul X-Line which is joined by the Soul LX, S, GT-Line, and EX. The redesign smoothed-out the boxy shape, making it sleeker in the process.

Painted in Snow White Pearl, the slim black front grille has a hexagonal pattern, with fog lights set on the lower edges. The narrow headlights, mere slits, sit above the daytime running lights in the lower fascia. The sculpted sides connect with the wraparound boomerang-shaped taillights that frame the manually operated rear lift gate. The X-Line has unique design features of body cladding over fenders, stylized 18-inch chrome wheels with black painted centers and roof rail accents. In all, the Soul X-Line is unique in its design and look.

Driving Experience: Interior

Clean Fleet Report’s X-Line came standard with a leather-wrapped steering wheel that had cruise, audio and Bluetooth controls. The nicely equipped interior also had a tilt and telescopic steering column, power windows, door locks and exterior mirrors, remote keyless entry, sliding visors with vanity lights, LED cargo lighting, door scuff plates and carpeted floor mats.

The cloth front seats with manual adjustments offered good support. An adjustable, high seating position provides panoramic outward front and side visibility. Rear sight lines are a bit compromised by the wide rear pillars, but our Soul had blind spot detection that worked as promised by alerting when a car was in a neighboring lane.

The rear seating area, which can accommodate two adults, three in a pinch, had ample leg and headroom, and was good for up-to six-footers. The rear seats also easily accommodated two child safety seats, and when the rear seat is folded flat, the already ample storage area is impressively increased. A road trip for two, with the seat laid flat, will have few restrictions on what can be packed.

The cockpit design is driver-friendly with the gauges in easy sight, and the controls handy to reach. The 7.0-inch color touchscreen, which thankfully had volume and channel knobs, housed the six-speaker audio system that produced crisp sounds. SiriusXM/FM/CD/AM with MP3 playback capability, plus Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, made-up the entertainment options.

Safety

Kia has equipped the Soul with active and passive safety features including front, side and curtain air bags, rear cross traffic collision warning, lane change assist, a tire pressure monitoring system, hill start assist, and a back-up camera. The 2020 Kia Soul has not been rated by the National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA).

Pricing

The 2020 Kia Soul comes in five trim levels with base prices ranging from $17,490 to $27,490. Clean Fleet Report’s 2020 Soul X-Line had a base price of $21,490; with options of the carpeted floor mats and the Snow White Pearl paint, the MSRP came to $21,965. All prices listed do not include the $995 freight and handling fee.

Warranties

The 2020 Kia Soul comes with these warranties:

Observations: 2020 Kia Soul X-Line

The Soul is unique in its design, offering both urban practicality and open road adventure. Kia calls the Soul an “urban runabout,” a description that fits if far better than crossover, and one that we agree with.

The Soul begins with a boxy style that has been made sleeker for 2020. The looks may grab your attention, but it is far more than that, as it offers excellent passenger and storage space, top build quality, is easy to drive and park, and has the industry’s best warranty.

Clean Fleet Report reviews a lot of cars; sometimes, they can be tough to separate from each other because of their similarities. This is never going to be an issue when we drive a Kia Soul. It is simply a quality-built cool car that over-delivers in many ways, and one that won’t be confused with anything else on the road.

When visiting your Kia dealer, make sure to drive the X-Line with the 2.0L non-turbo and the Soul GT-Line with the 1.6L turbo engine. Compare for yourself to see which one fits your driving lifestyle.

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Whatever you buy, Happy Driving!

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Disclosure:

Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.

Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.