2020 Kia Soul Previewed Again in New Image, Is Coming Soon
Our favorite subcompact crossover "teases" us with nearly a full view of the car.
By Clifford Atiyeh
UPDATE 11/21/18: The latest Soul "teaser" nearly reveals the entire car, showing off the new model's profile in full. The upright shape is familiar but the details are noticeably different, with an interesting C-pillar treatment, an upward-curving window line, and more pronounced side surfacing. Kia also confirmed that the new Soul will offer 2.0-liter and turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines, and a new X-Line trim level that promises more rugged looks.
UPDATE 11/15/18: Kia has posted another teaser image of the 2020 Soul on its Korean website, and it shows a glimpse of the front end. We can see the new Soul's slim LED running light and central light bar, and a contrasting red roof and mirror cap.
Ten model years in, the Kia Soul is approaching its third-generation debut in Los Angeles later this month, still looking like the box it came in from 2010. The taillight shot below and the front-end image above, released by Kia as teasers, belong to the 2020 model.
Kia thinks consistent design and healthy sales—more than 110,000 annually in the U.S. since 2011—make the Soul an "undeniable automotive icon." While we will not ever salute the Soul as if it's a Jeep Wrangler, Ford Mustang, or Porsche 911, the subcompact crossover has twice landed on our 10Best Trucks and SUVs list. We also will not deny the re-emergence of green paint on modern cars, especially how sharp it looks against the new Soul's contrasting black trim on its upper D-pillar and the oversized taillight. However you identify the Soul, it's just a really well-built and fun-to-drive car that can be loaded for under 30 grand. With the new model based on the Hyundai Kona's chassis—so there's finally a potential for all-wheel drive—we expect the 2020 Soul to delight us despite being a legend in its own mind.
We have already seen the rest of the car in spy shots, showing that it features a three-tier light design like the Kona's with a thin LED strip spanning the entire front. Its roofline appears similar, but the light changes should significantly update the crossover's external appearance. The Kona's naturally aspirated 2.0-liter and turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines should report for Soul duty, but likely with higher outputs on top trims and (maybe) a six-speed manual transmission on lower trims. Another Soul EV will make its debut alongside the gasoline-powered models, except that version is currently only sold in 12 states, and Kia says it will stay in limited production. In other words, it's an exotic icon.