As record-high new-car prices continue to challenge budget-conscious shoppers, the Kia Soul remains one of the most affordable cars you can buy. Shoppers looking for an affordable car won’t have to stretch their budgets too much to get the latest model: The starting price for the base 2023 Soul LX is up just $500 compared to 2022. Despite updated styling and more safety features, however, the 2023 Soul still lacks all-wheel drive and drops the turbocharged engine offered in previous model years.
Related: 2023 Kia Soul: More Safety, Less Turbo
What’s New?
The 2023 Soul’s facelift consists of an updated grille, foglights and daytime running lamps, while the rear gets an updated bumper and new taillights. Other changes include new 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels and two additional two-tone paint combinations.
Inside, the cabin is the same as the outgoing Soul with one key difference: Kia’s suite of safety features is no longer reserved for higher trims. All 2023 Souls include forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection and lane-centering steering, driver attention warning, lane departure warning, high-beam assist and a rear occupant alert.
The Soul will be offered in four trims for 2023: LX, S, GT-Line and EX; the X-Line and Turbo have been discontinued.
Last Powertrain Standing
The outgoing 2022 Soul offered an available turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, but with the Turbo trim gone for 2023, the only remaining engine is a 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission that makes 147 horsepower and 132 pounds-feet of torque. Unlike many of its subcompact competitors, the Soul does not come with an AWD option; all models are front-wheel drive only. The 2023 Soul is EPA-rated at 28/33/30 mpg (city/highway/combined) for the LX, S and GT-Line, and 29/35/31 mpg for the EX.
Trims, Pricing and Release Date
The 2023 Soul LX will start at $21,085 (all prices include a $1,295 destination charge), the S at $23,585, the GT-Line at $24,685 and the EX at $25,385. Starting prices for the LX and EX climb $500 compared to the 2022 Soul, while the S and GT-Line each see a $700 increase.
The base LX comes with an 8-inch touchscreen with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and higher trims offer a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and wireless phone charging. The GT-Line adds sporty elements like 18-inch alloy wheels, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and a combination of black synthetic leather and cloth seats with red stitching. The range-topping EX adds heated front seats with premium cloth material, heated side mirrors and more.
Two new packages are offered on the 2023 Soul LX and GT-Line: The LX Technology Package adds blind spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert and 16-inch alloy wheels to the LX for an additional $500. The $2,400 GT-Line Technology Package, meanwhile, adds a Harman Kardon premium audio system, forward automatic emergency braking with cyclist detection and junction-turning capability, and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. Other upgrades include a power driver seat, heated front seats, LED headlights and taillights, high-gloss cabin trim and a cargo management system.
The 2023 Soul will be available by late summer, according to Kia; the automaker’s website currently allows shoppers to configure the 2023 model.
Versus the Competition
The 2023 Soul will challenge rivals like the Hyundai Venue (named Cars.com Best Value Car of 2022), Ford EcoSport and Nissan Kicks. While 2023 pricing has not been announced for the competition, the 2022 Venue currently starts at $20,295, the EcoSport at $23,335 and the Kicks at $21,285.
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- Research the Kia Soul
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