2018 Kia Soul Turbo // Comfy, Practical, Turbolicious...

This week the Kia Soul Turbo SX Turbo Tech reminded me why I like boxy cars. But while it's practical, has some good features and is fairly quick, it does lack in certain performance areas...
Also Since it didn't make it into the video, I managed around 9.8 l/100km in mostly city driving for the week.
Other features not mentioned in the Review:
Autonomous Emergency Braking System (AEB)
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
Blind Spot Detection System (BSD)
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[@denny-menny]

I bought a 2018 Soul Turbo with the Technology package last year. It has been a fun car to drive and people are surprised at how roomy it actually is inside. The turbo comes in very handy for passing and merging. The sound system sounds amazing and having both Android Auto & Apple Carplay available is great. I haven't taken it on any long road trips yet, but I would imagine it would be comfortable on a long drive. The gas mileage isn't great, but that isn't a huge factor for me.

[@W-2Forms]

I'm over 6' and I've been In the back of one of these and it was pretty comfy

[@SilverScarletSpider]

This has great interior design like a Honda. Exterior is a small car, but interior is a big car for tall people. With 200 hp, it is fun enough

[@levanceland]

2018 model is best version of the Soul, period!

[@mixedraceable]

I recently bought a 2018 Kia Soul Plus Titanium Gray in color. The 2.0 engine

[@brcc8208]

That's what Hyundai specializes in, they make sure their automobiles are user-friendly. They spend a great deal of time and money doing research and development just on ergonomics and comfortability alone. Great video! Thanks

[@Kamukix]

The ONLY review I've ever heard to mention the importance of the heel position when driving a car for a longer distance! I've had some cars that definitely made me have to use the cruise control or do some work to find a comfy position without hurting my heel. A large part of that of course comes from the footwear you have on, and I'm a big fan of barefoot style running shoes like the Nike Free lineup. I only wear my Frees for performance driving in most cars now because there just isn't any real cushion at all for the heel to be comfortable when you have to hold it in one spot for long periods of time. I have another pair of shoes that suck for driving (you can't feel the pedals as well as the Frees), but has excellent heel support. Great job as usual Thomas :)

[@derekaspila428]

Easy to get in and out, easy to drive, and practical. that is precisely why my 82 year old grandfather bought one lol:). He only uses it to drive from Montreal to Ottawa

[@stephenhendricks103]

Kudos to Kia once again. Adding the turbo to what was already a major seller for the brand was a much needed option, primarily for freeway merging, passing, etc. Of course it's not an an enthusiast's car. And one can hardly blame Kia for not loading it with features to make it one, especially considering the price sensitivity of that segment. For moving stuff and people, especially for short to medium distances, it's hard to beat.

[@DaveCM]

My wife has one but with the optional, more powerful, naturally aspirated motor as I bought her one a year before the Turbo came out. It is equipped just as the one you tested. She absolutely loves that thing! I could have easily afforded something more expensive, but this is what she chose. She fell in love with the style and fell in love with it when we drove it. (She loves quirky vehicles.) I even enjoy the car. It is very comfortable and great for just driving to work, on errands, and even a highway trip. I put it in sport because the slower shifts irritate me and she prefers comfort as she likes the lighter steering and doesn't care about quicker shifts and throttle response.

[@erichaynes7502]

I'd love to drive this for a week just to see how much I like it. I have to admit it is a very intriguing car!

[@karrigirl]

Eric Haynes I bought mine last week and absolutely love it. Unfortunately the second day I drove it one of my dear coworkers accidentally hit my car while she was parking next to it. It’s been in the shop, and I’m going through withdrawals. The sound system is wonderful. Apple CarPlay is more than I’d ever thought it could be. So many features this car has to the point I REALLY need to check the car manual out. Seriously it wasn’t until I started watching videos of my car (because I miss it so much) that I realized I have rear heated seats. I’m never gonna enjoy them, but my passengers will.

[@caedom21]

Yuri from the Straight Pipes loves the rewinding sat radio because Jakob has done the Nuremberg, twice.

[@mleekahh]

Stephen Y Thats where I can from too xD

[@chosenideahandle]

Nürburgring?

[@WhitieWu]

Great review! Love the Straight Pipes reference. 😀 I believe the Turbo Tech version comes with ventilated seats.

[@chosenideahandle]

Only in the 2019 Turbo Tech version (excluded up to 2018).

[@houseof3dits]

Thank you for this video. I own a Kia Soul and I have to say this "Kia gives you all the extra stuff for a decent price, you get heated seats, top of the line entertainment system, sun roof and comfort". It's an amazing car for the price.

[@jaredshelton4718]

Beautiful car

[@fry.master]

Good on Kia for at least trying to make the car a bit more fun. This thing was a good idea from marketing. Looks like a decent little car, and kinda fun too

[@ThrottleHouse]

Yea. Their attitude seemed like “why not?” And I agree with that.

[@MrDarndak]

The wife has a 2019 Soul Turbo; and it’s actually a hoot! I showed her this video before she traded in her 2012 Soul Exclaim.

[@quikgt]

Excellent review.....subscribed.

[@swanblake]

Wished this had a manual option with the turbo engine. I do love everything else about this car. Would take this all day over a traditional cuv all day. Fantastic review as always!

[@MstangMch4]

I wish they had added the turbo to the 2.0, not the 1.6L motor. I know in the 2014 model Kia Optima the 2.0L Turbo motor made 245hp!! That in a Soul would make it Sporty!!!

[@AMan-he9sz]

The point of rewinding sat radio isn't to repeat a song - it's to catch the beginning of a song you tuned into.

[@Billthesheepdog]

I have had 2014 2015 and now 2019 Souls with the new one being Turbo. I love the car. It does seem to lag a little when taking off. Is that a turbo thing? I would buy Soul again. They are just easy and comfy to be in and drive.

[@MstangMch4]

You should try a 2012 or 2013 too. I like mine as it handles better, more sporty than the newer ones. My mother liking the seating & ride height of mine got a 2016 Soul. To me, it handles too softly in comparison.

[@K03sport]

Looked at the Soul+ (2L) in '17 and really liked all that it offered, kinda like a modern mk4 golf/gti (space, ease of use, beam axle, etc)...we alomst bought it, but it ended up being our #2; lost to a CX-5...It must be good, they sell 100k+/yr; decent price, good warranty, and like you said - easy to live with daily...My only issue is a true manual is only available in the base model (US) and it doesn't really stir the soul...ironic isn't it

[@cashonly6117]

In 2010 I bought my Kia Soul 2.0L (stick shift). Yes, a true stick shift. I want a new one so bad but this no longer seems to be an option or truely hard to find. I have 118,000 miles on it, I guess I will just go for some tweeking to the looks and drive the hell out of it. The best thing about my stick shift is not that it's a fast mover or that it takes off really fast or anything like that, but the kids or grandkids can't drive it. hahahahaha. Seriously though I just cannot bring myself to buy an automatic. I almost went over to the Suburu Crosstrek but, well I just can't do it. If they would just come out with that 2 door concept Track'ster or the Soul'ster, I would buy it tomorrow..

[@roadtrip2943]

Spacious front row seating. Japanese cars seem narrow on inside. Im 5 11 and 245 so room matters

[@michaelfishburn192]

toaster was the honda element!!!!

[@chosenideahandle]

The Scion Xb and Nissan Cube even moreso.

[@mrgizmo7975]

But I don't know how to hold my heel, like this or like this, because video was cut out around 11:30, lol.

[@ThrottleHouse]

Lol it was just me talking in the car. Never got a clip of my feet.

[@MarkRangel]

Just found your channel today. Looking through your vids .. have you done the Elantra GT Sport yet?

[@ThrottleHouse]

Just the Elantra sport. Not the GT. It’s on the list for the future though!

[@Scotty_in_Ohio]

keep in mind that because it has the 7 speed DCT it shifts more like a manual - if you are used to a traditional auto or a CVT you probably won't like this transmission. If you put it in sport mode and use the manual shift (I wish it had paddles) it's a bit more "fun" to drive. I think we also often forget that handling compared to cars just a decade ago has come a long way. If they were to mate a manual 6-speed with the 1.6l and add IRS we'd be all set. If you don't like the looks and want something that has a manual option along with IRS look at the Elantra GT Sport (not sure what they call it up in Canada but that's what it's called down here in the USA).

[@lezzbmm]

7:59 ya the shape helps a lot w the acoustics

[@lezzbmm]

i'll always be insanely salty that manufacturers dont prioritize cabin shape/space more in more models ;-;

[@lezzbmm]

love the soul, the xb (r.i.p), the fit (r.i.p), the element (r.i.p), wagons, minivans, etc

[@edkelly145]

Great review. But,no mention of safety features at all? Twenty extra seconds of the list would help your viewers.

[@garbage854]

Nice :)

[@diydrivenGA]

But to give credit where it is due....with this car, Kia did what people have been begging Honda to do (put the 1.5t in a fit) for years.....Kia should have invested a little more into the chasis sport though: a rear sway bar to tighten the torsion beam or IRD from the Elantra, and some additional bracing throughout and lower the car an inch or so....Honestly I am on the lookout to pick one of these up in the used market once the DCT transmission kinks are sorted....

[@JT-fq2bl]

If you want those upgrades, wait for the next generation Kia Soul. It's base on the Hyundai Kona.

[@quikgt]

Exactly, this is for people that like/want utility and don’t much care about image, but DO want a bit of performance. I did drive one and loved it; mostly because of the power and interior, but also thought the ride and handling were good enough. I actually was very surprised about that level of performance as imo it’s an overachiever! The dct works ok, possibly not the right transmission for this vehicle, but it is getting better yearly-not sure why the op mentioned Mazda as they don’t use dct’s; but they do have certain characteristics that users should be aware of. I would buy one but like awd too much so currently looking at Kona

[@blammod]

I wonder if the aftermarket could help with that maybe have some bracing or whatnot. I mean the fiesta st is almost the same and everybody says it handles like a go kart.

[@swanblake]

blammod they do. It was a huge help on the Veloster Turbos rear hop

[@ardalla535]

I like boxy. So I'm weighing the Soul, the mini, and the Jeep Renegade. Almost certainly will go with the soul primarily because of price and reliability. Have to admit I like the looks of the Renegade though. As for the Mini, they dropped some of the options this year, and without those options the car is not worth it to me. If I'm going to pay $50k for a JCW, I want exactly the colors I want and all the b&ws.

[@freedomlifemake2579]

I would love to see a video of you coparing the bmw z4 (e85) to the e46, both having identical suspension, nut the z4 haz shorter wheelbase, its lightere and stiffer chassis

[@parky4373]

Turbo? I want to get this but I never get this at korea...

[@BiloxiBlues07]

This car makes me wish Toyota had kept the Scion Xb alive. It would've been great if they had kept it, and put a V4 turbo in it. It was a nicer looking, roomier version of the Kia Soul.P.S. I enjoyed the Straight Pipes reference! 😄

[@BiloxiBlues07]

4 cylinder engine. You know what I meant. Also, there is such a thing as a V4 engine. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/V4_engine

[@bholaoates1542]

I just bought a 2017 Kia Soul Plus and I can't seem to get Android Auto to work in it. The USB icon stays greyed out on the infotainment display even when the phone is plugged in. I know the USB port works because I can see it charging my phone when I plug it in, but the USB icon still remains grey on the display and Android Auto isn't displayed anywhere even though I've installed AA on my phone. Anyone have any idea why this is happening?

[@billaubin14]

If it's high storage capacity you have to wait around 10 minutes and as you drive it continues to load everything. I have a 3 0 usb with 70 GBS on it and it takes a while to load before it lights up blue on screen.

[@johnfaulkner6776]

I have the electric one! Much better all round.

[@carswithsonduren]

Going to have my girlfriend look at this

[@hawkrider88]

Shessh...at least get the model name correct. It's called the Exclaim and it's been that since 2010.

[@chosenideahandle]

It's a Canadian review, and it's actually not called the Exclaim in Canada. It's called the SX Turbo here.

[@michaelfishburn192]

cube was a fish tank on wheels, very ugly car..

[@reesedaniel5835]

So was the Scion. Ugh. Kia Soul from 2014-2019 was the best looking boxy vehicle ever. Of course Kia has now ruined it. I knew it would happen sooner or later. Some psychopath CEO took over obviously and destroyed it. Just like they do every other good thing.

[@MstangMch4]

@@reesedaniel5835 I'm happier with the 2012-2013 Soul best. An if they had put the Turbo 2.0L motor in the Souls instead of the dinky 1.6L Turbo motor, the there would have been a cult following developing for the Soul!! And Aftermarket Support/Parts would have developed!! The 5 or 6 trims/tech levels of the 2020+ Souls was ugh, but adding the known for grenading CVT style of transmission, has me thinking that when its my 2012's Soul's time to go, I might get a Subaru!!!