Used 2020 Kia Soul for Sale near California

How much does the 2020 Kia Soul cost?

Prices have softened 6.26% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,559 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2020 Kia Soul a good car?

Yes — the 2020 Kia Soul earns a 4.67/5 user rating and an 8.5/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Form and function at 10/10.

Owners consistently praise the spacious interior, stylish design, and easy-to-use technology. The review summary also points to strong value for the price, good gas mileage, and a generally fun driving experience.

The trade-offs are that some drivers want more engine power and note a few comfort quirks. The expert notes also point to fairly pedestrian performance and the lack of standard advanced safety features.

If you want something affordable, useful, and a little more distinctive than a typical small car, the Soul fits that brief well. With 30.7% of listings marked as good or great deals, there’s still room to shop selectively.

Is the 2020 Kia Soul reliable?

Owners rate it 4.67/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner summary points to a dependable-feeling ownership experience, with praise for the car’s trouble-free everyday usefulness, long-term value, and easy-to-live-with nature. The expert notes also emphasize refined driving behavior and solid acceleration from the base engine, which supports the sense that the Soul is built to handle daily use without drama.

The cost-effectiveness notes also highlight that the Soul delivers useful space and efficiency without pushing you into a larger vehicle. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is making sure the specific car has been maintained well and hasn’t accumulated hidden wear.

What should I look for when buying a used 2020 Kia Soul?

At 65.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a close inspection of body panels, paint consistency, and signs of prior repair. It also makes sense to focus on interior condition and the operation of the tech and driver-assistance features, since those are part of the Soul’s appeal.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The LX is pretty basic, with steel wheels, manual front-seat adjustments, one USB input, Bluetooth, power windows, and not much else, but it does include a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The S adds alloy wheels, premium cloth seats, remote keyless entry, and more driver-assistance features, while the EX adds more comfort and convenience equipment plus the larger screen. CarGurus recommends the S trim as the best-value choice because it adds meaningful equipment without the higher price of the upper trims.
• Powertrain: Most trims use a 2-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The base LX can also be had with a 6-speed manual. The GT-Line Turbo uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The base engine is described as refined and surprisingly capable, and the CVT manages power well.
• Safety package: The S trim adds forward-collision warning and avoidance, lane-keep assist, lane-change assist, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-path detection. The X-Line loses forward-collision warning, while the EX brings it back. The GT-Line Turbo adds adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and pedestrian detection for the forward-collision warning and avoidance system.
• Infotainment: The LX, S, X-Line, and GT-Line use a 7-inch screen, while the EX and GT Turbo trims get a 10.25-inch screen. All trims include Kia’s UVO infotainment system, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen is a major upgrade if you want a more modern-feeling cabin.
• Fuel efficiency: The 2-liter engine with automatic transmission returns 27 mpg city, 33 highway, and 30 combined. The base LX with a manual returns 25 mpg city, 31 highway, and 27 combined. The turbo returns 27 city, 32 highway, and 29 combined.

Which 2020 Kia Soul trim should I buy?

The 2020 Kia Soul is offered in 6 trim levels: LX, S, X-Line, EX, GT-Line, and GT-Line Turbo.

Here's the short version:

• LX: This is the cheapest way into the Soul, and it gives you the basics plus a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It makes sense if you want the lowest entry price and are comfortable with a very simple feature set.
• S: This is the best-value trim because it adds alloy wheels, premium cloth seats, remote keyless entry, and a much stronger safety package. It also keeps the Soul affordable while giving you the equipment most shoppers will actually notice every day.
• X-Line: This trim adds 18-inch wheels, fog lights, body cladding, and a more adventurous look, along with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. It suits you if style matters more than value, but it loses forward-collision warning.
• EX: This is the comfort-focused step up, with heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8-way power driver’s seat, and the larger 10.25-inch screen. It’s a good pick if you want a more upscale cabin and don’t mind paying more.
• GT-Line: This trim adds unique exterior styling and 18-inch alloy wheels, making it the sportiest-looking non-turbo model. It’s mainly for buyers who want appearance upgrades rather than a major mechanical change.
• GT-Line Turbo: This is the performance and feature flagship, with the turbocharged engine, upgraded audio, a heated steering wheel, and more advanced safety tech. It’s the right choice if you want the most power and the most equipment.

The safety-package sweet spot is the S trim, since it adds the most useful driver-assistance features without the X-Line’s safety trade-off.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2020 Kia Soul?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 30.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,559 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.26% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 65.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $12,586, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2020 Kia Soul's resale value?

The current average of $12,750 sits slightly below last year's $13,601.

That price movement suggests the Soul has already absorbed some of its near-term depreciation, which can help future sellers if they buy at the right price. A lower current average also means you may have less room for appreciation, so condition and trim choice matter more when you eventually resell.

The trims with stronger equipment and broader appeal should be easier to market later, especially if they’re well maintained. Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.67/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2020 Kia Soul safe?

The 2020 Kia Soul earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

Standard safety features include front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, hill-start assist, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The S trim adds forward-collision warning and avoidance, lane-keep assist, lane-change assist, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-path detection.

One important caveat is that advanced safety features are not standard across the lineup, and the X-Line loses forward-collision warning before it returns on the EX. That makes trim choice especially important if safety tech is a priority for you.

Should I buy a 2020 Kia Soul or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2020 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2020 if:

• 30.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 65.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.26% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.67/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2020 brings a redesigned, more futuristic look and a strong mix of utility, refinement, and value.

Consider the 2021 if:

• At $13,931, the 2021 costs more than the current year's $12,750 average.
• It adds a standard rear occupant alert and updated suspension tuning for the X-Line and GT-Line.

The bottom line: If you want the better value, the 2020 is the smarter buy because it already delivers the Soul’s core strengths at a lower average price. If you’re willing to pay more for a slightly newer model with a few practical updates, the 2021 is worth a look, but price-sensitive buyers should focus on the 2020.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 13, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.