2016 Kia Soul Base

The meteoric rise of the subcompact and compact crossover has sounded the death knell for tall, boxy wagons. The 2016 Kia Soul is now the sole carrier of the squared torch passed on by the departed Scion xB and Nissan Cube. It's a funky car that is hard to categorize, possessing qualities of a tall hatchback and compact crossover, but it has styling and a personality that few cars in those segments can match.
As befitting a car of its dimensions, the 2016 Kia Soul is immensely practical. The interior is spacious, with plenty of headroom for front row occupants, and even rear seat passengers will find ample legroom. The cargo area is rather modest in size, but folding the rear seats reveals the true benefit of the boxy shape by tripling the amount of carrying capacity. Also generous is the sheer volume of options available on the Soul. The Soul can get pricey as features such as premium leather and ventilated front seats are added, but these aren't even available on most cars in this class.

The boxy design of the 2016 Kia Soul affords more usable cargo space than some hatchbacks and small crossovers.

The Soul does have some downsides, though. While undeniably practical, the Soul's boxy shape creates invasive wind noise at speed that's hard to ignore. There's also the possibility of a rather harsh ride in Souls equipped with the 18-inch wheels that come bundled with some of the more desirable option packages. Fuel economy is unexceptional, coming in somewhere between subcompact and compact crossovers. Small hatchbacks are typically even more fuel efficient.
Some of those hatchbacks are also more fun to drive, such as the 2016 Ford Focus and 2016 Mazda 3. And it's probably worth your time to check out a few of the latest subcompact crossovers, particularly if you want all-wheel drive; the 2016 Honda HR-V and 2016 Jeep Renegade are desirable picks. For those considering the Soul in its more expensive forms, the 2016 Volkswagen SportWagen offers a higher-quality interior and more cargo room. But overall we're still glad to see the Soul carrying the fun-and-funky wagon torch. It's a solid choice for a budget-friendly runabout that does most things well.

Summary Body Styles

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Read Review Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options Performance

The 2016 Kia Soul is a five passenger wagon available in three trim levels: base, + and ! (the latter two trims are also known as Plus and Exclaim).
The base model's standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, full power accessories, driver-selectable steering settings, air-conditioning, a height-adjustable driver seat, cloth upholstery, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and a USB port. A Convenience package is available for models equipped with the automatic transmission, and it includes automatic headlights, a rearview camera and a 4.3-inch touchscreen. Cruise control and keyless entry are optional.
The Soul+ adds a more powerful engine, 17-inch wheels, foglights, a gloss black grille, keyless entry, cruise control, a 12-volt power outlet in the cargo area, a cargo cover, upgraded cloth upholstery, a fold-down rear-seat armrest, a front seat center armrest with storage, and all the features from the Convenience package.
Upgrading to the Soul+ opens the door to several options packages. The Audio package adds automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, simulated leather cabin trim, upgraded interior accents, an 8-inch touchscreen display, a navigation system, HD radio and a premium eight-speaker Infinity audio system. Kia's Uvo eServices infotainment service is also included.
Two packages independent of each other build upon the Audio package. The Signature 2.0 Special Edition includes 18-inch wheels, two-tone exterior paint, LED daytime running lights and taillights, xenon headlights and leather upholstery. The Primo package adds a panoramic sunroof, keyless ignition and entry, leather upholstery, an eight-way power driver seat (with power lumbar support), heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, LED interior lighting and a heated steering wheel.
Two more packages are available but cannot be ordered with any other options. The new Designer Collection package adds unique 18-inch wheels, two-tone exterior paint and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The Eco package adds fuel-saving features like an automatic stop-start system and low-rolling-resistance 16-inch tires.

The 2016 Kia Soul's 8-inch touchscreen is available on the + and ! trim levels.

The range-topping Soul! adds body-colored fascia accents and bumpers, power-folding side mirrors with integrated LED turn signal indicators, an eight-way power driver seat with two-way power lumbar support, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather upholstery and chrome interior accents.
The Soul!'s optional Premium package includes xenon headlights, LED taillights, a lane-departure warning system, forward collision warning and the features from the Soul+'s Audio and Primo packages. The Umber package adds special leather upholstery.

Read Review Performance

Body Styles Powertrains and Performance Safety

The front-wheel-drive 2016 Kia Soul is offered with two different engines. The base Soul gets a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 130 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard (including a hill-start assist function) and a six-speed automatic is optional. The EPA's estimated fuel economy for the base Soul comes in at 26 mpg combined (24 city/30 highway) with either transmission.
Soul+ and ! models have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that puts out 164 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic is the only available transmission. Fuel economy with the 2.0-liter engine is an EPA-estimated 27 mpg combined (24/31). On our Edmunds driving evaluation route, a Soul! returned 27.9 mpg, which is much lower than other compact cars we've tested and actually on par with compact SUVs.
In Edmunds performance testing, a Soul! went from zero to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds, which is average for a small wagon or hatchback with an upgraded engine.

Body Styles Safety

Performance Safety Special Features

Standard safety equipment for all 2016 Kia Soul models includes four-wheel antilock disc brakes, hill-start assist, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. A rearview camera is standard on the Soul+ and ! and included on the base trim with the optional Convenience package. For the Soul!, lane departure warning and forward collision warning are optional. The available Uvo service provides emergency and roadside assistance, stolen vehicle tracking, geo-fencing and speed tracking (allowing parents to set limits for teen drivers) and other smartphone-enabled features accessible via the Uvo app.
In Edmunds brake testing, the Soul came to a stop from 60 mph in 110 feet. While this is a very short distance for the segment, it's noteworthy that our Soul! test car had large, 18-inch tires. Kia Souls with smaller tires may not perform the same.
In government crash tests, the Soul received a top five-star rating overall, with five stars for total frontal impact safety and total side-impact crash safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has also awarded the Soul top marks, giving it a "Good" score in the moderate-overlap and small-overlap frontal-offset impact tests as well as a "Good" score for the side-impact, roof-strength and seat/head restraint (whiplash protection) tests.

Performance Special Features

Safety Interior Design and Special Features Driving Impressions

With its modern look and expressive styling details, the 2016 Kia Soul's cabin offers a nice balance between form and function. Interior materials are of a higher quality than you might expect from a car in this price range.
Gauges and controls are logically located and intuitive to use, and using the Uvo interface to control your smartphone is a snap. In addition to upgrading the sound quality, the optional Infinity audio system includes illuminated trim rings for the speakers that flash to the beat of your music. It's a little gimmicky, but we have a feeling some Soul buyers will find it kind of fun.
One of the benefits of the Soul's boxy design is an abundance of head- and legroom, even in the backseat. Behind the rear seatbacks you'll find 19 cubic feet of cargo room, which grows to 61 cubic feet with both sections of the 60/40-split rear seatbacks folded down. This is greater than compact hatchbacks and on par with some SUVs.

Safety Driving Impressions

Special Features Driving Impressions

With respectable power on tap from the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the 2016 Kia Soul is enjoyable around town and feels satisfyingly quick when merging onto a highway. The engine gets a bit raspy-sounding during hard acceleration, but the automatic transmission shifts smartly and does a good job of holding gears on uphill grades to help the car maintain a consistent speed. We've yet to drive the 1.6-liter base Soul, but we think most buyers will be happier with the gutsier 2.0-liter, especially since it's slightly more fuel-efficient.

The 2016 Kia Soul is a fun car to drive but suffers from an overly firm ride quality.

Although the Soul doesn't feel especially sporty, it handles better than you might expect. The steering has a reassuring weightiness to its effort level at highway speeds, and it feels precise when you're driving around turns. Unfortunately, the Soul! model loses some of its appeal on long highway trips. Particularly with the available 18-inch wheels, the ride quality can be rough, even on relatively smooth pavement. In addition, the Soul's boxy shape results in excessive wind noise at highway speeds.

2017 Kia Sportage

Van Griffith Kia Proudly presents the all new 2017 Kia Sportage. The fourth-generation Kia Sportage has an all-new look wrapping a stronger chassis filled with more connectivity than the previous models. Kia hopes these changes will make the Sportage nameplate stick out in a field of compact crossover utility vehicles that are outselling it by almost seven to one. Consider that the biggest seller in the class is the Honda CR-V, of which Honda moved 345,647 units out the doors of its dealerships in 2015. In the same time frame, Toyota sold 315,412 RAV4s and Ford sold 306,492 Escapes. Kia, meanwhile, sold just 53,739 Sportages, good enough for eighth place in a field of … eight. So Kia really needed to do something to get its $23,885 Sportage on the Google searches of potential buyers typing “CUVs under $25,000” into their laptops.

Let’s start on the outside: The new Sportage is wrapped in a more rounded shape, penned in Kia’s Frankfurt design studio. It’s a more pedestrian-friendly exterior, particularly on the front end, one that is perhaps reminiscent of something like an Infiniti QX50.

The exterior is 1.6 inches longer than the previous model, which helps give front and rear seat passengers more room and helps increase rear cargo area by 18 percent. There’s a ginormous sunroof available that opens up the inside like a mini observatory.

The chassis is 39 percent stiffer, with a five-fold increase in the use of bonding adhesives throughout. There is also more high-strength steel; over half the steel in the body-in-white is made of the stuff.

The new Sportage is still propelled by last year’s powertrains, however, changes not having come in leaps and bounds but only bounds. The base engine is a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder making 181 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. The upscale powerplant is the 2.0-liter turbo, making 240 hp and 260 lb-ft. Both are mated to six-speed automatics, the only choice available. Stop by Van Griffith Kia and come check out the all new 2017 Kia Sportage today and take it for a test drive!

2017 Kia Optima Hybrid

Van Giffith Kia proudly presents the all new 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid. Kia dealers will soon stock the automaker's revamped Optima Hybrid mid-size sedan, and although its base price is the same as it was last year, the story isn't quite as simple once you start adding options. All told, the cheapest 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid stickers for $26,845 including a mandatory $850 destination charge.

That's for the Optima Hybrid Premium. Just one option package is available on that model, a $1,795 Convenience Package that includes a 12-way power driver's seat with memory, a rear park assist system, blind spot monitors, rear cross traffic alert, additional USB ports, and laminated front door windows. Two colors on the Optima Hybrid are included, while special white and black shades add $395.

The range-topping Optima Hybrid EX, meanwhile, runs $31,840 without any options. That's more than $1,000 less than last year, but that price climbs fast when the one available option package is added.

At $5,000, the Technology Package exclusively optional on EX models isn't cheap, but it's comprehensive. You'll get a panoramic moonroof, rear park assist, blind spot monitors, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, air conditioned front seats, heated rear seats, LED headlamps and a few other items.

That package is more than double the price of a less comprehensive package offered on last year's Optima Hybrid since it now includes automatic emergency braking and a few other important safety items. The Optima Hybrid significantly undercuts the Honda Accord Hybrid, which runs $29,605 to start, but it's a little more than the base Ford Fusion Hybrid at $26,060.  Kia hasn't yet released pricing for the new Optima Hybrid plug-in, however. Stop by Van Griffith Kia today and come check out the all new 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid and take it for a test drive.

2017 Kia Soul Receives TurboCharged Option

Van Griffith Kia proudly presents all new new 2017 Kia TurboCharged Soul. For 2017, the Soul officially receives a turbocharged engine option that ups the ante by a significant 40 horsepower. Finally, a powertrain to match the Soul’s entertaining personality. The new model, named the SX overseas, is technically called the Kia Soul !, but for the purposes of normalcy, consider it the “Exclaim.” As before, it’s the top model in the range above the Soul Base, which has a 130-hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder, and the Soul + (Plus), which has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 161 horsepower. The Exclaim, which uses a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, gets a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that pumps out a much-welcomed 201 horsepower and 196 lb-ft of torque. Because the extra power comes from forced induction, the fuel economy actually goes up slightly, to a claimed 28 mpg combined.

To complement the engine update, Kia gave the Exclaim a bit of extra physical ‘tude. There are new 18-inch wheels, red body trim, chrome around the grille, and a chrome dual-exhaust tip. That’s in addition to the redesigned headlights, fog lamps, and front and rear fascias seen on 2017 models. Inside, the Exclaim cabin is sweetened with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, push-button start, an 8.0-inch display with UVO3 and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a couple of USB ports. Rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot detection are new options.

The base Soul with a manual transmission starts at $16,840, or $18,400 with an automatic. The Plus comes in at $20,500, and the newly turbocharged Exclaim is a still-cheap $23,500. Stop by Van Griffith Kia today and come check out the all new TurboCharged Kia Soul today and take it for a test drive!

Kia Forte sales on the rise as 2017 tweaks arrive

Kia Forte set a sales record last year hitting 78,919 units and already has surpassed that number this year as the 2017 model year brings numerous improvements to the compact sedan. It’s not surprising, since Forte has become a top choice in its class. You can see the all new 2017 Kia Forte at Van Griffith Kia Today!

The little Kia has come a long way from its shaky U.S. entry in the mid-1990s. Forte debuted as a 2010 model, raising the bar over its predecessor Spectra, which had started staking a claim on U.S. driveways, including in my friend Kat’s. She still loves hers as it nears 150,000-mile mark. The 2017 refresh follows just three years after a complete makeover. The Forte gets new taillights and a smoother look up front with two designs, including the new sporty S model. The S also comes with a sport-tuned suspension and 16-inch alloy wheels. A new engine replaces last year’s 1.8, but fuel economy still lags many competitors. The 2.0-liter mill cranks out 147 horsepower and gets up to 38 miles per gallon on the highway. The uplevel EX sticks with the old 164-hp 2-liter mill, which is a littler perkier but drops highway miles to 33.

The LX starts at $17,340, the S at $20,050 and the EX at $22,050, including destination. That’s at the bottom of the pack.

Inside, however, the Kia looks sharp with attractive materials and standard leather and heated front seats in the EX. Stop by Van Griffith Kia today and come check out the all new 2017 Kia Forte and take it for a test drive today!