U.S. News & World Report Names Kia Soul Best Compact Car for the Money
Photo: Kia Motors
The Kia Soul has earned the distinction of “Best Compact Car for the Money” from U.S. News & World Report. The publication deemed the Kia Soul’s “class-leading initial quality” as one reason for it besting the competition.
“The U.S. News & World Report rankings compare cars on the basis of safety, reliability and a consensus of industry experts’ opinions, along with value — which is measured by a combination of a vehicle’s five-year total cost of ownership and the average price paid for the vehicle at the time the awards are published,” explains Kia.
This is the second year in a row that the Kia Soul has grabbed the attention and earned the praise of the U.S. News & World Report awards. “As the ‘Best Compact Car for the Money,’ the iconic 2018 Kia Soul urban passenger vehicle offers a fun, funky and functional approach to everyday driving,” said Kia.
2018 Kia Soul details
The 2018 Kia Soul is available in three trim levels: Base, + (Plus), and ! (Exclaim). The base trim is equipped with a 1.6-liter DOHC 16-valve I-4 engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission; this powertrain generates 130 horsepower and 118 lb-ft of torque. The base trim earns an EPA-estimated fuel efficiency of 24 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and a 27 mpg combined.
The + (Plus) trim is equipped with a 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve I-4 engine mated to an electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmission; this powertrain generates 161 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque. The + trim earns an EPA-estimated fuel efficiency rating of 25 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined.
The ! trim is equipped with a 1.6 liter DOHC 16-valve I-4 engine w/Turbocharger mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission; this powertrain generates 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The ! earns an EPA-estimated fuel efficiency rating of 26 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined.
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