2024 Kia Soul review

What We Like 

• Roomy cabin: Though the Soul is a subcompact car, it has a surprisingly spacious interior. There is plenty of leg- and headroom in the front and rear. Four adults should have no problem taking trips in this car. While the middle seat is narrow, the center passenger's legs should be relatively comfortable since the transmission tunnel does not intrude on the floor. 

• Cargo space: The Soul's cargo area measures 24.2 cubic feet without its false floor, which is class-leading. However, it does create a large hump at the base of the rear seats when folded. Using the false floor creates a nearly flat load surface with the seats folded, but the space behind the second row decreases to 18.7 cubic feet. 

• Drivability: Maximum acceleration from the 2.0-liter engine is a bit lacking, but its power feels perfectly adequate around town. The Soul's steering feels responsive and its cornering abilities are better than you might expect. In most cases, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) feels like a traditional automatic, which means smooth shifts and acceleration. 

What Needs Improvement  

• Fuel economy: The EPA estimates the Soul gets 30-31 mpg in combined city and highway driving. While these numbers are on par with most competitors, the Soul's mileage figures came up short during Edmunds' real-world driving evaluation test.