2023 Kia Soul Drops Turbo Engine, Barely Changes Price – CNET [CNET]
Available in LX, S, GT-Line and EX trims, every 2023 Soul will be powered by a 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated inline-4. This engine produces 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, and drives the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission. Official Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy ratings for the 2023 Soul aren’t yet available, but a 2022 Soul with this same engine was expected to return 28 mpg city, 33 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined.
Obviously, I’m lamenting the death of the Soul’s 1.6-liter, turbo I4 engine, which made 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. No, it didn’t turn the Soul into any kind of hot hatch, but it was still a super compelling powertrain, and with fuel economy ratings of 27 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined, the added power didn’t come with a major consumption penalty.
I won’t miss Soul’s tough-guy X-Line styling treatment quite as much, however, especially since it didn’t actually improve off-road capability. Instead, I’m digging the 2023 Soul’s updated nose and tail, and like that Kia is keeping two-tone color options alive. The base Soul LX rides on 16-inch wheels, but higher-end models get 17- and 18-inch options.
Inside, the 2023 Soul isn’t much different than before. The base LX trim has an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, but every other Soul gets a larger, 10.3-inch display. Standard driver-assistance technologies include forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning and a driver attention monitor. The top-end trim adds Kia’s Highway Drive Assist tech, which combines the Soul’s adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems.
Some refreshes command extra coin from consumers, but Kia isn’t asking for much here. A 2023 Soul starts at $21,085 including $1,295 for destination, which is just $500 more than the 2022 Soul. The next trim up, the Soul S, rises by $700 to $23,585. The GT-Line also gets a $700 price hike, settling at $24,685. At the top of the food chain is the Soul EX, which mirrors the base model with its $500 window-sticker enlargement, and that one will set you back $25,385. The 2023 Soul lands at dealerships later this summer.