2023 Kia Soul Gets Fresh Looks, Makes Safety a Bigger Priority
With the Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue now firmly established as the best-selling urban crossovers on the market, the Kia Soul needs to make up lost ground. That’s the goal for 2023 with refreshed design elements, among other things.
For starters, the front end sports redesigned headlights and fog lights along with a new signature for the LED daytime running lights. The strip connecting them is where you’ll now find the Kia logo. Below, the large grille gets a different look and the bumper has cleaner surfaces, resulting in a more modern and techier appearance overall.
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On the sides, new 17- and 18-inch wheel designs are in store, while in the rear the bumper is revised and accompanied by new tailpipes. Kia also mentions new two-tone paint combinations including Clear White with a Fusion Black roof and Surf Blue with a Fusion Black roof—but their availability in Canada remains to be confirmed.
The interior is pretty much the same, highlighted by an 8- or 10.25-inch centre touchscreen depending on the trim level. However, the company has made previously optional safety features more accessible. These include Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with pedestrian detection, Lane Keeping Assist and Driver Attention Warning. Rear Occupant Alert, which helps prevent a child or pet from being left in the car, is added to the list.
Unsurprisingly, there are no changes under the hood. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine returns with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission. In the U.S., the turbo engine has been eliminated. As for the Soul EV which we have here but our neighbours don’t, expect the same specs including a range of 248 or 383 kilometres depending on the battery.
The 2023 Kia Soul will arrive in dealerships this summer. Pricing will be announced closer to launch along with full equipment details. The Canadian lineup will continue to offer five trim levels—LX, EX, EX+, EX Premium and GT-Line. Don't miss our photo gallery up top!