Kia Motors, South Korea’s second largest automobile manufacturer right after the Hyundai Motor Company brought us a lovable little boxy crossover that now pretty much became unforgettable. It has been in production since 2008, and this is the second gen Kia Soul now looking as good as it gets with a “small” addition.
This very nice little boxy crossover has won us over before, and we think the same scenario is going to happen with this model year. It has received a very tasty and hot looking visual update combined with the addition to engine department and interior. Since the previous models have been somewhat sluggish regarding performance, eight years later thankfully help is on the way with the Hyundai Motor Group’s 1.6-liter turbocharged engine.
Apparently, the new engine is supposed to offer sturdy 201 HP to the driver and propel this car from stop to 60 MPH in 7.8 seconds. The top speed is also increasing, and the 2017 Soul is supposed to top out at 124 MPH. All of this will be available in combination with the corporate seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. The marking for the new engine is SX, and the X badge is justified with some visual updates for the Soul and those include a slightly more aggressive front bumper, double piped exhaust at the back, sportier side sills, and model-exclusive 10-spoke, 18-inch wheels. One more thing that should set apart regular Soul and the turbo version for you and everybody else is the Soul badge painted in red.
To add to the sportiness of the new model, you will be offered with a flat-bottomed steering wheel and a new upholstery option, the Orange Design package which contains orange/gray upholstery, gray stitching, and orange accents. It will also be offered with the Urban Active pack which brings you gloss-black wheel arches and a bumpers-and-sills body kit while the Red Zone pack adds a red roof, grille accents, sills, and a red rear spoiler.
Not every update is design oriented; some tech features are to be added such as infotainment units with 5, 7, and 8.0-inch touchscreens, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while rear passengers will get their very own USB port, neat ha? Rain sensor wipers are a new thing in Soul and are definitely on the tech list as well as blind spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert. Something new, something old something sporty. That is all that makes the 2017 Kia Soul, and as it is, it looks pretty good, and we can’t wait to give it a go!
