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Thinking about buying a Kia Soul? Kia has been having an excellent year for reliable cars and SUVs. The 2021 Kia Soul fits into that category. Check out some of the specs and the awards this subcompact SUV has won. With room for five and a sporty design, this is a fun SUV for any driver.

Is the Kia Soul a good car?

A Kis Soul on display with a hamster friend
A KIA Soul on display at the Annual Chicago Auto Show | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

U.S. News gave the Kia Soul third place on the list of best subcompact SUVs. The 2021 Hyundai Kona and 2021 Mazda CX-30 beat out the Soul. The Soul has room for five passengers and room for suitcases in the cargo area.

It gets between 25 and 29 miles per gallon in the city and 31 to 35 miles on the highway. The 2.0L four-cylinder engine gets 147 horsepower. It comes with a standard six-speed transmission or continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

There is also a 1.6L four-cylinder engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with the Turbo trim level. This engine gets an estimated 27 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on the highway.

As far as reliability, U.S. News and J.D. Power gave the Soul 3.5 stars. U.S. News gave the SUV a safety rating of 9.5 out of 10.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated most of the crash testing “good.” This includes the side impact, rear crash, roof strength, and front crash prevention safety features.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the side crash rating five stars. The frontal crash, overall, and rollover sections all ranked at four out of five stars. Currently, it does not have any recalls issued.

How long will a Kia Soul last?

The Kia Soul needs proper maintenance like any other car. With regular oil changes and dealership services, your Kia Soul should last up to about 200,000 miles.

This means you should get the oil changed regularly and regularly have your SUV checked over for fluids and other issues. Proper-fitting tires are also important.

Some of the safety features on the Soul should help keep your Kia running. These include airbags, anti-lock brakes, brake assist, and electronic stability control.

The Soul also has user-friendly technology to make long drivers easier. It might not handle the best compared to some similar cars, but it will get you from point A to point B safely.

U.S. News ranked the soul number three in subcompact SUVs, number 15 in crossover SUVs, and number 11 in SUVs with two rows. It also won the award for best 2021 subcompact SUV for the money.

What about Kia’s warranty?

The Kia brand has a pretty good warranty. With 10-years and 1000,000 miles, it will protect you for a while. The 10-year, 100,000 miles covered the powertrain.

Also, there is a five-year, 60,000-mile limited basic warranty. A 5-year, 100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty, and a 5-year, 60,000-mile roadside assistance plan also protect your new Kia.

This is definitely an added feature that some similar cars and SUVs cannot compete with. This also means that even if you find a used Soul, it could likely have some time left on the warranty. That will keep the cost of repairs down should you need any down the line.

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