Kia soul xline 2020 driver#
Kia soul xline 2020 android#

It's perfectly capable for a segment filled with weaklings, but I wouldn't complain if Kia offered the 1.6-liter turbo engine on something other than the range-topping GT-Line. The X-Line is stuck with the base Soul engine: a 2.0-liter inline-four good for 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. Actually, it's awfully similar to the Hyundai Kona, which shouldn't be surprising given their common platform. Hood, Soul proved to be responsive, with adept handling enabled by ably tuned suspension and steering. On the winding portions of Highway 26 around Mt.

Conversations were easily had and the meh stereo had no problem being heard. This is an upright, inexpensive car and yet the cabin wasn't booming with road or wind noise.

Kia soul xline 2020 driver#

There's also no way to add the forward collision or driver inattention warning systems standard on the S, EX and GT-Line trim levels.ĭuring the three-hour drive out to Redmond, the Soul impressed with its highway performance.

You can't get creature comforts like heated seats, power driver seat adjustment, dual-zone automatic climate control, multiple USB ports, wireless smartphone charging, Kia's snazzy 10.25 touchscreen, or proximity entry and push-button start. There's also only one version of the X-Line available, so if you want more equipment, you have to ditch the rugged stuff and go for the urban-intended EX or sporty GT.

Kia soul xline 2020 android#

Does brown plastic cost more than black? Somehow I doubt it.Įquipment is pretty generous with standard 18-inch wheels, automatic headlights, blind-spot warning, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 7-inch touchscreen, a USB port, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a six-speaker sound system that's pretty underwhelming (although, to be fair, the base Crosstrek's is worse). That's certainly not a problem, but perhaps offering a more earth-tone interior color option would step things up a bit. There are no Jeep-like rugged details or decals. There's handsome, textured silver plastic trim on the doors and it comes with 'Black Woven Cloth' that's actually quite nice for a car that costs $21,000. The interior, by contrast, isn’t any more special than the base trim. In total, it does indeed make the Soul look like a little SUV – and an attractive one at that, especially when painted Undercover Green. The halogen headlights are in the same place as they are on lower Soul trim levels, but the alloy-look trim draws more attention to them – they look a bit like big, old-school driving lights. The grille has a more rugged mesh insert accented by foglights and tasteful alloy-look trim, which is also used on the rocker panels, mirror caps and roof rails that are only available from the factory on the X-Line. Outside, the Subaru playbook was consulted and the requisite black plastic body cladding applied to the fascias, rocker and doors. I even brought a current Crosstrek owner along for the ride. It’s a trek made daily by countless Subaru Crosstreks, a vehicle Kia almost certainly hopes to poach some customers from. To find out how it does at satisfying its mission, I set out on a road trip from Portland into Central Oregon toward the towns of Redmond and Bend. That’s why the 2020 Kia Soul X-Line was hatched. That’s part of the appeal of the segment, to enable an Instagram-friendly lifestyle. Nevertheless, all of these vehicles are supposed to be able to leave town once in a while, to perhaps get dirty (or carry things that might, like a mountain bike or kayak). It still doesn't offer all-wheel drive, but then, neither does the Nissan Kicks or Toyota C-HR. The previous Soul competed very well with them, and the new version for 2020 does even better, offering a compelling recipe of value, space and style. The JDM boxes are gone, succeeded by a variety of sub-compact SUVs like the Honda HR-V, Jeep Renegade and Hyundai Kona. The 2020 Kia Soul may be an evolution in terms style and size from that original version, but the market has changed to frame it in a different light. It had funky styling, bright colors, and speakers with lights that pulsed to your music. When it was launched a decade ago, it was an answer to weird city cars like the Scion xB and Nissan Cube. The Kia Soul was always intended to be a city creature.