2020 Kia Soul GT-Line: Wow. Just wow!

2 Jan 2020 | 201 views | No Comment
  2020 Kia Soul GT-Line 1.6 Turbo Price as tested: $29,055 Performance: Sparkling!  Acceleration is instant, and with only six or so seconds required to hit 60 miles per hour, you'll want to keep a close eye on the speedometer. You can get carried away in  a flash--seriously. The steering was so crisp and responsive, and the brakes so powerful that you'll think you're driving a bonafide sports car around town.  Handling was just about flawless with sure footed stick-like-glue behavior around corners.  Altogether--Bravo! Kia. Fuel economy: The Soul only needs 3.4 gallons of gasoline to drive 100 miles.  You save $500 in fuel costs over five years compared to other new vehicles.  Annual fuel cost is about $1,400  based on gasoline costing $2.70 a gallon. Total annual costs over five years is about $7,500, according to the federal government. The car: Kia apparently is making a major bid for the sales from performance minded enthusiasts who still want a car that, while fast, still is chock full of practicality, and that pretty much sums up this car. For 2020, Kia did a major overhaul of its popular, "go its own way" styled subcompact sedan, giving it an updated, ahead of the pack look with a redesigned roof, rear end, front end, and different character lines and profile from its predecessors. Technology:
         If you decide that you don't want the GT-Line Turbo, have no fear.  Kia has a wealth of options for you and you're sure to find something that suits you and only you. Kia Soul, a four door, front wheel drive subcompact,  comes in LX, S, X-Line, GT-Line, Ex, and GT-Line Turbo versions. For starters, unless you get the GT-Line Turbo, which has the feisty turbocharged 1.6 liter four cylinder engine that puts out 201 horsepower, your Soul will come with a 2.0 liter four which produces 147 horsepower.  The  LX base model has a standard  six speed manual transmission, and a CVT automatic comes with all the other Souls ,except the Gt-Line Turbo, which gets a seven speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Most Souls are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (147 hp, 132 lb-ft). The LX comes with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. A CVT automatic is optional on the LX and standard on all other trims with the 2.0-liter engine. The GT-Line Turbo has a powertrain unique to this model: a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder (201 hp, 195 lb-ft) paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All Souls are front-wheel-drive, and all-wheel drive isn't available.
    If you get the base LX, you can expect the following standard features:  16-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, rear privacy glass, a height-adjustable driver's seat, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, Bluetooth, a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and a six-speaker audio system. Standard safety features include a rearview camera and hill start assist. The LX model with the CVT automatic also adds an engine stop-start feature, body-colored mirrors and door handles, remote locking/unlocking, cruise control, selectable driving modes, and a storage console under the armrest. Want to spring for the S? Standard features include alloy wheels, upgraded cloth upholstery and a pretty decent selection of driver aid equipment that includes a lengthy list of advanced driver aids.  Included are  forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, and a drowsy driver attention warning system. The X-Line model has as standard equipment  its own  18-inch wheels, special exterior body cladding, foglights, silver mirror caps, roof rails, the LX's cloth upholstery, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It lacks a few of the S trim's driving aids, however, and only has the blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. Buying the GT-Line adds sporty exterior accents, different 18-inch wheels, foglights, gloss-black mirrors, a triangle-pattern grille, and the leather-wrapped steering wheel. The forward collision warning, lane departure warning and drowsy driver warning systems are standard here. A sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, a wireless charging pad, and the blind-spot monitor can also be had if you order the GT-Line Sunroof package. The EX model has as standard equipment, the following:  17-inch wheels, upgraded headlights, LED daytime running lights, foglights, a triangle-pattern grille, heated mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a wireless charging pad, a second USB port, a rear center armrest, adjustable rear headrests, a removable cargo floor and a cargo cover. The infotainment system also gets an upgrade, with a 10.3-inch screen, HD and satellite radio, voice recognition and a navigation system. All of the advanced safety features are standard as well. The GT-Line Turbo gets basically the same equipment as the EX--except that lovely, lovely turbocharged four which is worth every penny. But the GT-Line Turbo also adds some goodies that are all its own and still standard.  Of course, it also gets the the previously mentioned more powerful turbocharged engine. Feature content is identical to the EX, with the exception of the GT-Line's 18-inch wheels, LED exterior lighting (head-, tail- and foglights), a chrome exhaust, a sunroof, LED interior lighting, cloth and faux leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat, a heated steering wheel, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The GT-Line Turbo also has pedestrian detection for the forward collision system, adaptive cruise control and a head-up display. Safety: Safety features include lane keep assist, blind-spot collision warning system and foreword collision avoidance system. Aesthetics and Styling:
Kia definitely did a terrific job of updating the Soul this year.  It is unmistakably a Soul, but a thoroughly futuristic looking one inside and out.   It stands out enough that it adds to the joy of owning the car. And speaking of inside and out, the interior of the Soul is pulled together beautifully with top notch materials, plenty of room all around, and a dashboard that is artistic looking, practical and easy to use in terms of its controls and display. Warranty: 5 year/60,000 overall warranty and 10 year, 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

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