2020 Kia Soul vs 2021 Kia Soul

Buying a car blends pragmatic and emotional factors. You know you need a car to do certain things, but you also have preferences about how your car looks and perhaps how its brand's image is generally perceived. You used to have to make sacrifices if you wanted something affordable and economical. Look at small, affordable cars of the past; it's a depressing set of subpar cars.

Automakers have ensured that, with a few exceptions, there are no more truly bad cars, and that extends to the economy-car segment. But even in this competent segment of vehicles, one car stands out from the rest with refined driving dynamics, a lower starting price than most of its competitors, and form and function delivered in equal quantities.

Meet the 2020 Kia Soul. You've probably seen the hamster ads, and you’ve definitely seen this boxy little hatchback on the road. Its particular combination of boxy design and compact size makes it something of a rarity. On the one hand, it competes with small hatchbacks like the Honda Fit and Volkswagen Golf. And on the other hand, you could legitimately cross-shop it against subcompact SUVs like the Subaru Crosstrek and Jeep Renegade.

To top it all off, its latest redesign makes the Soul look more futuristic than anything you’ll find from Tesla; it's truly one of a kind. Take a closer look at the 2020 Kia Soul, because few cars do form and function any better.

Crossover SUVs are serious business in the United States, so much so that many automakers’ entire lineups are composed of various sizes of utility vehicles. Beyond the world of enthusiast autos dying a slow, painful death, there’s nothing really wrong with an auto market full of crossovers, as long as they’re executed well and offer good value and features. Nobody does those things better than Kia, and few subcompact SUVs are as surprisingly stout across the board as the Kia Soul.

The Soul is now in its third generation after its initial debut in 2008 and subsequent updates in 2014 and 2020. The details have shifted over time, but the Soul’s basic shape and attitude remain. What's new for 2021? Not a lot. Updates are limited to a standard rear occupant alert and new suspension configurations for the X-Line and GT-Line trims.

Kia offers several Soul trims for the 2021 model year: LX, S, X-Line, GT-Line, EX, and Turbo. Two powertrains and two transmissions are on offer, but the Soul’s usefulness and fun-loving attitude are included no matter which configuration is chosen. The Kia's MSRP ranges from $18,765 to $28,825. Competitors include the Hyundai Kona, Toyota C-HR, Honda HR-V, and Nissan Kicks. Buyers may also shop the Kia Seltos and Mazda CX-30.