Kia Soul Forums :: Kia Soul Owners banner

Dislikes about the Soul

13K views 78 replies 32 participants last post by  Tape 
#1 ·
Well I have said all the nice things about my Soul but there are a couple of things I dislike about it, how about you?

I hate how the center console is positioned, it feel like it is behind my elbow, every time I get in it while driving it feels like it is behind me. I also dislike the electric pwr steering, I can tell it isn't hydra-system while driving or I just need to get use to it. I am so use to rack & pinion steering and the electric pwr steering is very new to me.
That is about all that bugs me and I just love everything else.
It just may be that steering becomes heavier as the vehicle’s speed increases and becomes lighter as the vehicle’s speed decreases that I am having a time getting use to.
 
#2 · (Edited)
If it's working properly, the electric steering is much more positive than the old Hydraulic system and less prone to slippage and belts squeeling.
Of course, you'll never have to worry about fluid leaking down on to the exhaust manifold and catching on fire. :culpability:

But yes, it does take a while to get used to it. I think it took me all of ten minutes.....that's how long my test drive took.
It's much quicker and more responsive than hydraulic power steering and works just as well with the engine idling as when it's revved up.

Center console? Well, it IS in the center. Right? Did your Soul come with some kind of a Center Arm Rest?
Mine didn't, and I didn't like the looks of what was being sold, either by Kia or 'After Market'.
Both were too low and too far back to be of any real use on a trip.

So calling on my experience as a Design Engineer (lone time ago) I made my own.
All out of spare materials I had laying around the shop.

This is what it looked like, sitting out on the work bench.....(upside down, of course)

The turned dowell (post) sits in the junk tray and is the main support for the rest.
The arm rest is wide enough for both the driver and passenger to use at the same time.
My passengers have really liked that.

And this is what it looks like installed in the car.


I recommend the arm rest and the seat belt extenders.... but the Dunkin Donuts coffee, is optional.

It only took one screw, at the bottom of the back brace, into the console, to affix the arm rest to the car, and it will be a snap to remove it.
The padded portion, is on a hinge so I can raise it up, for easy access to my Emergency Brake handle and to get into the little junk tray.
The padded portion, is also adjustable for height.

Well that took care of the right arm! To also provide a nice comfortable rest for the left arm, a made a nice little padded arm rest which I stuck down with two-sided tape.

Left Kia Soul Arm Rest: (too low and too hard to be comfortable.)


I cut a pattern out of 1/4" plywood.


Then glued down some carpet padding.


Then covered that with some scrap material I had laying around.


And VOILA! A nice soft, fuzzy, comfortable arm rest, that I can remove in an instant, any time I want to change it.

In both my center and left arm rests, I did not have to buy one single part. Everything was just scrap, that I had laying around my shop.

Cheers Mates!
TechnoMage :cool:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tape
#3 ·
1. Fuel economy. I was expecting better but I blame Kia for overstating it.
2. Driver seat armrest. Too small to be of any use.
3. Power Steering. Before, when making U Turns, I would let the steering return to straighten the car. But not this one. Almost hit the car in the other lane.
4. Bone jarring ride on rough pavement.
 
#7 ·
His Gertrude has a wild side. Grrrrrr..........
 
#5 ·
My whines are minor, and are true of just about every single new car on the market. All in all, I absolutely love my 2015 Soul+, which is incredibly better in every way than my 2010 was.

(1) Over boosted steering, at least with the setting my wife leaves it in.

(2) The continued rise in belt lines and declines in rear visibility.

(3) The disappearance of manual transmissions in higher trim cars.

That's about it, really. A new turbo engine is a mixed bag - yea more power and economy, but at the cost of more complexity and more heavily stressed system (the 2.0 is pretty durable based on the 90,000 we put on our first Soul).
 
#6 ·
Hey Tape,

This is my first car with electric power steering too. My Acura had amazing old school power assist steering. I first set my Soul at Sport, because in my mind, well I'm a sport. Haha. Turns out the "comfort" mode is what I love now for mixed driving, which is mostly what I do. I consider it on par with my old Acura. On turns, it straightens itself back out effortlessly. Amazing.

For long highway trips I use Sport.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tape
#8 ·
Most of them have been hit here already.

1. Seats - hard as a rock especially if you are of any size or in them for a while.
2. Electric steering - hydraulic power steering is much better at self centering, at least compared to Kia's electric setup.
3. Lags in the manual transmission setup.
4. Hard driver's armrest.
5. Bone jarring ride on anything but the smoothest roads.

Don't take all that to mean I don't like the car; it is exactly what I expected it to be when I bought it so cheap.
 
#9 ·
The main things that bug me every time I get in my car are;
1 The poor gas mileage
2 The small gas tank
3 The rough ride (on 18s and 15 winters)
4 The very uncomfortable seats (never sat in the cloth one, just leather. Cloth might be better?)
The back cup holder in the center console is set too far back and really annoying to actually grab a cup or bottle from it while driving.
That's pretty much it. I can see the annoyance of the center console sitting back a little further than most cars, but that doesn't bug me too much and I also can't really tell a difference between this power steering and anything else I've driven.
 
#13 ·
It sounds like some of the Gen 1 complaints have been mitigated in the Gen 2 models.

Soft touch armrest surfaces
Better on center power steering (with options)
More comfortable seats

I think Techno is right about mileage. It's more a function of the driver.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tape and mattmc
#14 ·
My HHR has electric steering, so it was easy to adjust to the Soul. Armrest is OK. Better than some cars, and not as good as others.
The seats are a lot more comfortable with real sheepskin covers. I got mine from Amazon. The thicker, the better.
The ride is what it is. Tire pressure makes a difference. I usually go 33-35. Anything more and I lose the fillings in my teeth on rough roads. I found handling is still safe at those pressures.
 
#20 ·
My ONLY issue with my Soul is body roll, besides that I have no complaints. I wish the roof was lower and it was a little more hatchbacky..that's because I like to drift and race though so not a big thing for most people but it is for me.

I sit all the way back in my seat so the arm rest is right at my elbow/arm to rest it on, I love how bumpy the ride is because I like to feel exactly what I'm driving I don't like smooth rides, I just love the steering, oh I do hate the traction control so it's always off for me (the way I drive it disengages all the time anyway), my fuel economy is pretty dang good I don't know what you guys are getting but I get 26-28 regularly and if I'm just driving freeways I make a good 32-34mpg...
 
#25 ·
n reading these concerns, I had to stop and think about what some of you were discussing. I came to the conclusion that the 2015 + must have corrected most of these concerns. So, GeoSoul's comment above, is spot on as far as I am concerned. Having owned the new style of Sportage for almost 2 years, I can tell you that this Soul provides a much better ride and the seats and arm rests are way softer and more comfortable. In terms of someone not liking the looks especially from the back, well to each their own....anything like that is very subjective. This is our 3rd KIA and we couldn't be happier. Yes, the new 2015 Sorento may have provided a bit smoother ride but not by much and since it was a "lemon" it really didn't matter since you never knew when it was going to start. I for one, hope they just continue to improve these cars and the EV looks quite promising..
 
#28 ·
^^^^ Does Gertrude have a sister?
 
#49 ·
OMG YES!!! This is/was my first dislike. (I live in Michigan; 'nuff said.) You open the door and half the snow falls into the car. I wanted to get those...ummm, don't know what they're called, but the sort of angle shields...haven't done so yet (four years later) but yeah...it's the worst thing for me.
 
#35 ·
I drove 30 miles to my Kia dealer today, to apply for my next Mileage Reimbursement Debit card, and then after a little lunch, I drove another 90 miles just for the pleasure of it. It was near 100 degrees F, out on the road today, but Gertrude kept me nice and cool.
I'm still looking for something I don't like about my darlin' little Gertrude.
I'll get back to y'all on that.:wink:

:cool:
 
#39 ·
Most of my dislikes appear to be have been mostly solved with G2
They are: (remember this is Canadian info)
- no armrest for the passenger (G2 armrest/console now standard)
- no wiper de-icer, which I had on my '08 Rondo (G2 now standard)
- more comfort in the seats and ride
- better fuel economy (everyone always wants that)
- would like a copper colour
- fold-flat passengers seat for carrying long items
- larger screen for the basic UVO system
- self-holding hood prop (G2 now standard)
- quieter interior

Could be more but that's all I can think of at present.
 
#42 ·
After owning Tomato for 4 years now and no problems at all. There are a few dislikes.
1. Seats are quite hard. Love the logo. But hard on my back on long trips.
2. Suspension is WAY to bumpy. I was thinking it pass after a few months. But after driving a 2012 and 2013. Nope..... None at all.
3. Transmission. I know they are rock solid. But the 4 speed auto gears are too long. There are situations that gets you thinking. Is this really 2nd gear?. Then it downshifts violently into 1st and it gets going...... Fast.

Other than that. 50.5k miles without any problems and maintenance up to date.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top