[Hammerhead]

The Kia soul was great.
I do like the seltos better.

 

[sams63]

I hope Kia keeps the Soul around.
I'm not a totally new member here, but have lurked since 2021 when we bought daughter a used 2018 Soul +.
Fast forward to the other day and wife and I bought ourselves a 2025 Soul LX with a few options.

When we were at the dealer the sales guy said:
"You know, this will be the last year for the Soul. "

Which is why we bought now rather than wait and find there will not be another year for Soul.
I truly hope not.
I was glad to see in 2020-21 or so, Kia went back to the 2.0L MPFI engine.
Yes, the 1.6L turbo and previous 2.0L Gasoline Direct Injection engine had a bit more power . . . but I favor the Multi Port Fuel Injection for better long term reliability and less probability of oil consumption due to engine oil fuel dilution from GDI.
I just hope the IVT in the past model couple years has good long term life.

Sales boy told us same thing last year when Wife bought her 2024 S. "This is the last year for Soul, that's why we're doing "market pricing", their's a shortage of them"
Then, tge 2025's came out, on schedule.

 

[Colt]

There are many new '25 KIA Souls on dealer lots . Don't look to be moving as much . When the 2 '25 LXs' were bought they were disappearing at a fast pace . 1 was purchased in the fall of '24 and the other in early spring of this year .

 

[sams63]

That was my worry about if our hamster cars would live on. From this Forum, we have a loyal repeat customer base. What really hurt the Souls was that disastrous GDI experiment, trashing motors, cats. Add to that the theft problem. Bad publicity is bad publicity, despite what Bette Davis said 60 plus years ago.
Look at the continuous Toyota (excuse my language) recalls. Recently, Chevy/ GMC trucks for motor & transmissions. 9 months back ordered for replacement engines. Every vehicle brand has problems, except maybe Volvo (?). Our grass. cutting man just had to tow in his new $15,000 mower in after 2.8 clock hours.
Kia should continue the Soul.as an entry level car, bring new customers on board. They will trade up later for another Kia model. An introduction to Kia brand.

 

[Colt]

The SELTOS will take its place . Passed on the SELTOS due to poor IIHS crash tests .

 

[Boxy1]

The SELTOS will take its place . Passed on the SELTOS due to poor IIHS crash tests .

By the numbers you seem to be correct. The customer is going to take a $4-$5000 hit because of it. The only Seltos available in my area are:
1. 2026 model year
2. AWD in the 2 highest trim levels
3. Almost no LX levels, and no front drive only.

The sister company Hyundai has a model called the Venue. Very similar by the numbers to the Seltos.. The Venue uses a 1.6L 4 cylinder non turbo charged engine, available only FWD. Base price of the Venue for 2025 is the same as the current Kia Soul, and the Hyundai website doesn't say a peep about the 2026 models, even though it is a certainty they will have one.

Hyundai/Kia news releases are crowing about a 12% increase in sales year over year. Given most dealerships are part of a larger "group", my dealer Bob Rohrman has 30 dealerships, including multiple Kia and Hyundai franchises, the parent company will just tell the dealer to take them next door to Hyundai and sell them a Venue.

 

[Flatsole]

Bob Rohrman

 

[GeoSoul]

By the numbers you seem to be correct. The customer is going to take a $4-$5000 hit because of it. The only Seltos available in my area are:
1. 2026 model year
2. AWD in the 2 highest trim levels
3. Almost no LX levels, and no front drive only.

The sister company Hyundai has a model called the Venue. Very similar by the numbers to the Seltos.. The Venue uses a 1.6L 4 cylinder non turbo charged engine, available only FWD. Base price of the Venue for 2025 is the same as the current Kia Soul, and the Hyundai website doesn't say a peep about the 2026 models, even though it is a certainty they will have one.

Hyundai/Kia news releases are crowing about a 12% increase in sales year over year. Given most dealerships are part of a larger "group", my dealer Bob Rohrman has 30 dealerships, including multiple Kia and Hyundai franchises, the parent company will just tell the dealer to take them next door to Hyundai and sell them a Venue.

Good point on the Venue Boxy. If they refresh in 2026 and make it larger, it could be a contender to replace the Soul & compete more with the Seltos. It's just too small IMHO.

 

[KaptainRandom]

There are not any midels upcoming which will replace the Kia Soul.
Kia Soul lovers will just regrettably accept they cannot get another Soul type (xB, Cube).
They will move on to wide variety of other types of cars.

 

[nightwatch2000]

I never understood why they discontinued the Element. I could honestly see them having success bringing it back as an EV. Kinda of like the new VW ID Buzz (retro + new).

From some research I did years ago the element was built alongside the original CRV and they even share some traits. Unfortunately the market preferred the CRV to the element and Honda decided to continue the CRV and mothball the element. I had a 2007 automatic all wheel drive it was the best vehicle I've ever had so far.

 

[GeoSoul]

From some research I did years ago the element was built alongside the original CRV and they even share some traits. Unfortunately the market preferred the CRV to the element and Honda decided to continue the CRV and mothball the element. I had a 2007 automatic all wheel drive it was the best vehicle I've ever had so far.

Every Element owner I've met has loved them. It's too bad the bland & mundane CRV won out.

 

[GeoSoul]

There are not any midels upcoming which will replace the Kia Soul.
Kia Soul lovers will just regrettably accept they cannot get another Soul type (xB, Cube).
They will move on to wide variety of other types of cars.

Yeah, I am getting the feeling the Souls days are numbered. Still hoping for a fall debut....?

 

[Boxy1]

By the numbers, the 3 closest vehicles made by Hyundai/Kia are:

Hyundai Venue: 2025 Hyundai VENUE | Urban Compact SUV
Which also has not been announced for 2026.

Kia Seltos: 2026 Kia Seltos Compact SUV: Available AWD & 1.6L Turbocharged Engine with 195 Horsepower | MSRP & Features | Kia
2026's are out, cost $3000 more MSRP

Kia K4 Hatchback: All-New 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback: Available Turbo Engine, Spacious Interior with Class-Leading Rear Legroom | Features & Photos | Kia
2026's are supposed to be in showrooms now, but delayed. Also will cost at least $4000 more than the current Kia Soul.

I think the Seltos and the K4 uses the same powertrain as the present Soul.
The Venue uses a 1.6L 4 cylinder.
There is still plenty of Soul inventory, some of which is still indicated as "not at dealer, arriving soon"
Here is the press release with production numbers for 2025 YTD:

https://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/media/pressreleases/23604/kia-america-posts-highest-monthly-sales-in-company-history

 

[Colt]

The KONA will likely take the place of the VENUE as the SELTOS took the SOUL's spot for a C.U.V.. The K4 is a hatchback . Hard to find a car under $20,000 these days . Preferred them to under $17,000 .

 

[Flatsole]

Venue seems too small. Kona has the right size but man is it fugly! Looks like a Pontiac Aztec

 

[GeoSoul]

By the numbers, the 3 closest vehicles made by Hyundai/Kia are:

Hyundai Venue: 2025 Hyundai VENUE | Urban Compact SUV
Which also has not been announced for 2026.

Kia Seltos: 2026 Kia Seltos Compact SUV: Available AWD & 1.6L Turbocharged Engine with 195 Horsepower | MSRP & Features | Kia
2026's are out, cost $3000 more MSRP

Kia K4 Hatchback: All-New 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback: Available Turbo Engine, Spacious Interior with Class-Leading Rear Legroom | Features & Photos | Kia
2026's are supposed to be in showrooms now, but delayed. Also will cost at least $4000 more than the current Kia Soul.

I think the Seltos and the K4 uses the same powertrain as the present Soul.
The Venue uses a 1.6L 4 cylinder.
There is still plenty of Soul inventory, some of which is still indicated as "not at dealer, arriving soon"
Here is the press release with production numbers for 2025 YTD:

https://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/media/pressreleases/23604/kia-america-posts-highest-monthly-sales-in-company-history

And if you wanted to stay with South Korean made small SUVs, the Chevy Trax and Buick Envista.

 

[MrMonksKia]

And if you wanted to stay with South Korean made small SUVs, the Chevy Trax and Buick Envoy.

I think I'd still stick with Kia for South Korean cars.

We looked at Seltos w_2.0L MPI engine and would be a 2nd choice if no Soul is available.

We also looked at Trax and could have bought a Trax LT back in February for about +400 more than the Soul LX. We would have had to buy that trim to get at least what our LX has for standard features along with the included Technology Package ours had and Homelink/Dimming Mirror.

But the Trax has less passenger volume (98cu/ft vs 120cu/ft in Soul) and felt a bit cramped.

I like that it had a regular automatic transmission . . . but just didn't want a turbo 3 cylinder 1.2L engine.
The Trax has a nice design and appears bigger than it is in certain ways so I can see the appeal and why the sales are good for it. Attractive to a lot of new buyers for the price.

We actually liked the 2025 Kia Soul because it is more practical for us, ease of entry and exit, the 2.0L MPI engine, and more interior passenger and cargo room for the most part.

 

[rhysoul]

And if you wanted to stay with South Korean made small SUVs, the Chevy Trax and Buick Envoy.

If they weren’t GMs (Daewoo) with that god awful 3 cylinder turbo, then maybe, they’re not bad looking cars.

 

[GeoSoul]

If they weren’t GMs (Daewoo) with that god awful 3 cylinder turbo, then maybe, they’re not bad looking cars.

I totally agree. It's like they really nailed the design and features, but then dropped the ball on the power plants. Missed it by that much......

 

[Boxy1]

And if you wanted to stay with South Korean made small SUVs, the Chevy Trax and Buick Envoy.

I believe you mean the Buick Envista. But both of them have a 1.2.L 3 cylinder turbocharged engine. We are talking Chevrolet Vega style engine longevity here...