Used 2021 Kia Soul for Sale near California

How much does the 2021 Kia Soul cost?

Prices have softened 6.22% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,680 listings available, which suggests you should have a workable selection to compare.

Is the 2021 Kia Soul a good car?

Generally — you’re looking at a 4.33/5 user rating and a 7.00/10 expert rating, which points to broad appeal. The model scores 8/10 across Cost effectiveness and Safety.

Owners consistently praise the Soul’s unique design, comfortable interior, and practical features. The review summary also highlights its reliability and ease of entry, which can matter a lot if you want something easy to live with day to day.

The trade-offs are familiar: the Soul’s all-wheel drive is not available, the design can be polarizing, and it can be noisy. That said, the overview frames it as a strong fit if you want a small vehicle with style, space, and everyday practicality rather than a conventional crossover.

Only 29.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so the better examples may require quicker action.

Is the 2021 Kia Soul reliable?

Owners rate it 4.33/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback points to a vehicle people feel good about keeping, with repeated praise for its reliability and practicality. It also suggests the Soul is a car many owners can count on, especially if you value easy entry and everyday usability.

From the expert side, the Soul is described as surprisingly stout across the board, with a quiet and refined ride and a suspension that helps it stay planted and confident. Kia’s warranty coverage also helps ownership confidence, with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about the basic formula and more about finding a well-kept example with the right equipment and maintenance history.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Kia Soul?

At 72.3% 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 pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re comparing multiple trims or higher-mileage examples. Focus on condition, equipment completeness, and whether the car has the features you actually want, since some desirable safety and convenience items were not standard on every version.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The cabin is intuitive and comfortable, with a standard 7-inch touchscreen and an available 10.3-inch touchscreen. Higher trims add upscale standard features such as keyless entry, automatic climate controls, remote start, and a sunroof, while the base model is simpler and more basic.
• Powertrain: You get a 2.0-liter inline-four with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual or a CVT. A turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft is also available, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is not offered.
• Safety package: The available safety equipment includes forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, lane change assist, driver attention monitoring, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert/rear collision avoidance assist, adaptive cruise control, and a head-up display. Most driver-assistance features are held back in added-cost options.
• Infotainment: The base model gets a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus six speakers, USB ports, Bluetooth, two 12-volt outlets, steering wheel-mounted controls, and power windows/door locks. A 10.25-inch touchscreen is available, along with HD radio, voice recognition, and a Harman Kardon audio system.
• Fuel efficiency: The base 2.0-liter engine with the manual transmission is rated at 26/31/27 mpg city/highway/combined. With the CVT, it improves to 28/33/30 mpg. The turbocharged engine returns 27/32/29 mpg.

Which 2021 Kia Soul trim should I buy?

The 2021 Kia Soul is offered in 6 trim levels: LX, S, X-Line, GT-Line, EX, Turbo.

Here's the short version:

• LX: This is the entry point, and it gives you the Soul’s core strengths at the lowest price. It comes with the 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the basic everyday usability that makes the Soul appealing. If you want the best value and don’t need many extras, this is the trim to start with.
• S: This trim sits above the LX and is the better choice if you want a little more equipment without jumping too far in price. It keeps the Soul’s practical formula while moving you closer to the more comfortable, better-equipped versions.
• X-Line: This trim adds a more distinctive look and gets new suspension tuning for 2021. It suits you if you want a more styled-up Soul with a slightly different character.
• GT-Line: This trim also gets new suspension tuning for 2021 and leans into a sportier appearance and feel. It makes sense if you want the Soul’s personality with a more expressive setup.
• EX: This is the comfort-focused choice, with upscale standard features such as keyless entry, automatic climate controls, remote start, and a sunroof. If you want the best blend of everyday comfort and equipment, this is the trim to target.
• Turbo: This is the performance-oriented version, pairing the turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and the strongest output in the lineup. Choose it if you want the most power and the quickest-feeling drivetrain.

The base LX can be paired with a $900 Technology Package that adds a long list of advanced safety features and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Kia Soul?

The market looks moderate, so you can shop selectively without expecting every listing to be a bargain.

• Deal availability: 29.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,680 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.22% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 72.3% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $13,632, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Kia Soul's resale value?

The current average of $13,831 sits slightly below last year's $14,749.

That downward move suggests the Soul has become more affordable for buyers, but it also means a future seller may face a softer pricing environment than owners saw a year ago. If you buy at today’s average, your resale upside will depend heavily on condition, mileage, and trim desirability.

The good news is that the Soul’s broad appeal can help support demand, especially because shoppers value its space, easy-to-use tech, and distinctive personality. Well-kept examples with the right equipment should remain easier to move than neglected ones.

Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.33/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Kia Soul safe?

The Kia Soul earns a Top Safety Pick award from IIHS, with Good scores in all crash test areas and Superior ratings for both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention systems. It also earns four-star ratings in frontal crash and rollover, and five-star ratings in side crash from NHTSA.

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

The available driver-assistance suite includes forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, lane change assist, driver attention monitoring, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert/rear collision avoidance assist, adaptive cruise control, and a head-up display.

One caveat is that headlight performance varies by trim level, with a Good or Poor result depending on configuration. Most driver-assistance features are also held back in added-cost options, so you’ll want to verify exactly what’s installed on any used example you’re considering.

Should I buy a 2021 Kia Soul or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 29.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 72.3% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.22% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.33/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 adds a standard rear occupant alert and updated suspension tuning for the X-Line and GT-Line.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $12,580, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $13,831 average.
• It offers a lower starting price than most rivals.

The bottom line: If you want the stronger all-around value proposition, the 2021 is the better target because it combines solid pricing, strong owner satisfaction, and useful updates. If your priority is spending less up front, the 2020 is the more budget-friendly path and still delivers the Soul’s core space-and-style appeal.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 11, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.