No Comments

2018 Kia Soul Overview

Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page Send by Email

The Kia Soul is known for being a sporty, quirky vehicle that provides drivers with a nimble ride for city streets. The 2018 Soul is the fifth model year of the second generation and it arrives with just a few enhancements in the form of convenience and safety. While it’s certainly not know for high-end luxury, the Kia Soul appeals to drivers looking for advanced tech in a small, yet versatile vehicle.

[wptab name= “What’s New”]

What’s New for the 2018 Kia Soul?

New for the 2018 Kia Soul Base trim is the addition of a Convenience Package that includes automatic climate control and UVO3 with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ smartphone integration.

The Soul Plus trim will add UVO3 standard and will offer two add-on packages. The first is the Plus Primo Package, which includes Smart Cruise Control (SCC) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). The second, Plus “Lit” Package, replaces the Primo option and adds HID headlights with LED positioning lights and a new Wild Orange paint.

2018 Kia Soul Photos:

[/wptab]

[wptab name= “Exterior”]

2018 Kia Soul Exterior

The exterior of the 2018 Kia Soul remains mostly the same, including a chrome and matte black front upper grille, dual body-color power mirrors, and multi-reflector headlights on the Base trim.

Moving up to the Plus (+) trim, you’ll find fog lights and heated exterior mirrors, making it easier to get through wintery days. An available panoramic sunroof with power sunshade is an available option for this trim and the higher Exclaim as well.

The Exclaim (!) trim exterior feature upgrades are mostly aesthetic, with gloss black with red accent front/rear bumper inserts, chrome twin exhaust tips, and 10-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels all standard.

2018 Kia Soul Exterior Photos:

Exterior features on the 2018 Kia Soul Base

Chrome and matte black front upper grille, Matte black front and rear bumper inserts, Dual body-color power mirrors, Locking fuel-filler door, Multi-reflector headlights, Privacy and solar glass, Heated rear glass with timer, Variable intermittent windshield wipers, Rear wiper/washer, 16-inch alloy wheels, 205/60R16 tires

Exterior features on the 2018 Kia Soul + (Plus)
-Adds to or replaces features on Base-

Available Soul+ Designer Collection exterior colors, Body color front and rear bumper inserts, Heated outside mirrors, Auto Light Control, Available LED interior lighting, Available High-Intensity Discharge (HID) projector beam headlights, Available jewel type LED positioning lights, Available LED rear lamps & center high mounted stop light, Front fog lights, Available power folding outside mirrors, Available panoramic sunroof with power sunshade, 17-inch alloy wheels, 215/55R17 tires

Exterior features on the 2018 Kia Soul ! (Exclaim)
-Adds to or replaces features on + (Plus)-

Available LED front fog lights, Mirror-mounted LED turn-signal indicators, Lower body molding with red accents, Gloss black with red accent front/rear bumper inserts, Chrome twin exhaust tips, 10-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels, 235/45R18 tires

[/wptab]

[wptab name= “Performance”]

2018 Kia Soul Performance

The 2018 Kia Soul offers three engine options and three different transmissions across its three trims. The Base trim features a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine paired to a six-speed manual transmission, pumping out 130 horsepower and 118 lb-ft of torque.

Move up to the Plus trim and you’ll find a larger 2.0-liter engine under the hood that is partnered with an electronically controlled six-speed automatic, allowing the Soul to reach 161 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque.

The most power you’ll get in the 2018 Kia Soul is on the Exclaim trim, which features a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine paired to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. This powerful combination exudes 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque.

[/wptab]

[wptab name= “Efficiency”]

2018 Kia Soul Efficiency

Across all three trims, fuel economy is almost identical. For maximum efficiency though, you’ll want to go with the highest Exclaim trim, which gets 26 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined. The Base and Plus trims aren’t far behind. The Base gets 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined, while the Plus trim gets 25 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined.

Base: 24/30/27 MPG City/Highway/Combined
Plus: 25/30/27 MPG City/Highway/Combined
Exclaim: 26/31/28 MPG City/Highway/Combined

[/wptab]

[wptab name= “Interior”]

2018 Kia Soul Interior

The sporty exterior of the Kia Soul extends to its cabin, with soft-touch dash panels, woven and tricot cloth upholstery, and a six-way adjustable driver’s seat on the Base trim. More comforts are added on the Plus trim, where you’ll find an automatic temperature control system with cluster ionizer and a rear seat folding armrest with a cup holder. On the highest Exclaim trim, the interior features a Sport leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, Piano black accents, and black leather seat trim with orange contrast stitching.

Technology features like Bluetooth® hands-free connectivity, USB/auxiliary input jacks, and an AM/FM/MP3/SiriusXM® audio system are all standard on the Base trim. Everything gets even more advanced on the Plus and Exclaim trims, where a 7-inch touchscreen with UVO eServices is readily available, as well as a rear camera display, Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto™, and an available Harman/Kardon® audio system.

2018 Kia Soul Interior Photos:

Interior features on the 2018 Kia Soul Base

Soft-touch dash and upper door panels, Day/night interior rearview mirror, Dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors, Woven and tricot cloth upholstery, Six-way adjustable driver’s seat, Interior lighting with delay, Overhead sunglasses holder, Cargo undertray, Height-adjustable front seat-belt anchors, 60/40 split-folding rear seat, Rear seat adjustable headrests

Interior features on the 2018 Kia Soul + (Plus)
-Adds to or replaces features on Base-

Woven cloth upholstery, Available 10-way power driver’s seat (including lumbar support), Available eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, Automatic temperature control with cluster ionizer, Front-seat center console with armrest, Rear seat folding armrest with cup holder, Available leather seat trim, Available ventilated front seats, Available heated front/rear seats, Available heated steering wheel, Cargo cover

Interior features on the 2018 Kia Soul ! (Exclaim)
-Adds to or replaces features on + (Plus)-

Leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob; Sport leather steering wheel; Black cloth/leather seat trim with orange contrast stitching; Piano black accents; Satin chrome interior door handles; Leatherette meter hood, door center trim inserts, and door armrest

[/wptab]

[wptab name= “Safety”]

2018 Kia Soul Safety

When equipped with HID headlights, the 2018 Kia Soul is an IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus award winner. This feature—high-intensity discharge headlights—becomes available on the Plus trim. There’s no doubt the 2018 Soul is safe in other regards as well, with a large collection of standard safety features, including Electronic Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, and Vehicle Stability Management, among others.

Standard Safety Features:

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD)
Four-Wheel Disc Brakes with Antilock Braking System (ABS)
Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)
Hill Start Assist Control (HAC)
Side-Impact Door Beams
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
Rear Child-Safety Door Locks
Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

[/wptab]

[end_wptabset]

Related: Car camping in a Kia Sorento

The News Wheel

The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.