2012 Kia Soul Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Kia Soul overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Soul, and includes Kia Soul safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The Kia Soul is open to interpretation. It’s a five-door vehicle that sits tall off the road, but it’s not a crossover SUV. Vehix data classifies two of its closest competitors, the Nissan Cube and Scion xB, as station wagons, so that must be where the Kia Soul fits, right? We’re betting Kia’s marketers, who call the Soul an “urban passenger vehicle,” would prefer to define the car as a hatchback, if it must be defined at all. Hey, why don’t we just call it cool? Do the kids still say that these days?

Power and fuel economy ratings are up for 2012, thanks to a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 164 horsepower and the addition of direct fuel injection to the standard 138-horse 1.6-liter four-cylinder. New six-speed manual and automatic transmissions also contribute to the Soul’s newfound fun factor, and Kia will add Idle Stop and Go (ISG) technology to this box on wheels to produce incremental gains in gas mileage, paired in an Eco Package with low rolling-resistance tires, an automatic transmission, and Active Eco powertrain programming.

To celebrate this year’s significant hardware upgrades, Kia subtly restyles the Soul for 2012. Front and rear styling is tweaked, and the Soul has new headlights, taillights, side mirrors, wheel designs, and a new paint color choice called Moss. The top model, the Soul ! (pronounced “exclaim”) even has projector beam headlights, LED running lights, LED taillights, a UVO infotainment system with an in-dash touchscreen, a reversing camera, a premium Infinity sound system, and a set of good-looking 18-inch alloy wheels. Look out. You might think it’s an Audi.

The Soul’s interior is also upgraded for 2012, with an aim toward reducing noise, vibration and harshness. Stability control, Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel are all standard this year, too, and prices start at less than $15,000.

Oh, and one other thing. If you were planning to buy a Soul Sport, get yourself to the Kia dealer to see if any 2011s are left. That model is cancelled for 2012.

With the departure of the Sport model, the 2012 Kia Soul’s lineup includes Base, + (Plus) and ! (Exclaim) models.

The Base model is decently equipped given a starting price of less than $15,000. Air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, dark tinted rear privacy glass, Bluetooth, and a stereo with a CD/MP3 player, satellite radio with three free months of service, an auxiliary audio input jack, a USB port, and sound system controls on the steering wheel all come standard on this model. Additionally, the Soul includes a rear window defroster and wiper, a driver’s seat-height adjuster, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, an outside temperature indicator, auto-off headlights, a cargo light, and a single 12-volt power outlet.

Kia offers an optional fuel-saving Eco Package when the available automatic transmission is chosen, and the base Soul can be upgraded with power side mirrors, cruise control, floor mats, visor mirrors, tweeter speakers, and a covered upper instrument panel storage bin. Unfortunately, Kia offers no solution for the standard 15-inch steel wheels with plastic wheel covers. Unless you buy the Soul +, that is.

When you spend extra for the Soul +, you get a set of 16-inch alloy wheels and a stronger engine. Many of the optional features on the base model are standard on the Soul +, which also comes with heated power mirrors with turn signal indicators, dual 12-volt power outlets, map lights, a center console armrest with storage, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, graphic seat inserts, and metallic cabin trim.

Options for the Soul + include an Audio Upgrade Package (UVO infotainment system with an in-dash touchscreen and a reversing camera, Infinity premium sound, automatic headlights, ambient speaker lighting) and an Eco Package designed to improve fuel economy. Fog lights, a power sunroof, cruise control, floor mats, and a rear spoiler are also available on this model.

The Soul ! is loaded with features. It comes standard with an automatic transmission, and can be told apart from other Soul models by its 18-inch alloy wheels, body-color bumpers and trim, fog lights, automatic projector beam headlights with LED running lights, LED taillights, and two-tone interior with Houndstooth seat inserts. The Soul ! also gets a standard power sunroof, the UVO infotainment system with in-dash touchscreen, a reversing camera system, premium Infinity sound with HD Radio, cruise control, floor mats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and ambient speaker illumination. Options include a rear spoiler and a Premium Package that adds a navigation system with real-time traffic reports, leather seats, automatic climate control, Smart Key entry and push-button ignition, and heated front seats.

The base versions of the 2012 Kia Soul are equipped with a 138-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that makes additional power and gets better gas mileage thanks to the addition of direct fuel injection. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, with a new six-speed automatic transmission optional.

Buyers of the Soul + and the Soul ! receive a brand-new, direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 164 horsepower. The manual gearbox is standard and the automatic is optional on the Soul +, but Soul ! models have the six-speed automatic baked right in.

The standard Soul and the Soul + are available with an optional Eco Package designed to improve fuel economy. In addition to an automatic transmission, the Eco Package includes Idle Stop and Go (ISG) technology that shuts the engine off when the Soul is sitting at an intersection or in traffic. As soon as the driver releases the brake pedal, the engine fires back up. The Eco Package pairs this technology with low rolling-resistance tires and Active Eco powertrain software programming in an effort to eke out additional miles per gallon.

How does it work? Compare the standard Soul with and without the Eco Package. In standard format, this model’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder returns 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway regardless of transmission choice. Add the Eco Package, and EPA mileage estimates jump to 29-city/36-highway. For the Soul +, mileage rises from 26-city/34-highway with both transmissions to 27-city/35-highway with the Eco Package.

Perhaps keeping in mind that younger drivers might be piloting the 2012 Soul, Kia installs six airbags, a traction and stability control system, Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), and four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, and brake assist. Active front headrests are also included, and a reversing camera system is available with the UVO infotainment system.

If a crash is unavoidable, know that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the 2011 Soul a Top Safety Pick. No change is expected for 2012, as the Soul is structurally identical to last year’s model. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not rated the Soul’s crashworthiness as we write this review, except to give it a 4-Star rollover rating.

Reliability predictions from Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates are no better than average. However, given the Soul’s outstanding warranty program, that might not matter. The whole car is covered for five years or 60,000 miles, complete with free roadside assistance. The powertrain gets a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. You shouldn’t have to pay for anything except service until after the last monthly payment has been made.

The 2012 Soul’s updated powertrain lineup offers 13-percent more power for the base engine compared to last year, and 16 percent more power from the upgrade engine. At the same time, fuel economy ratings rise significantly from a previous range of 24-city/31-highway to a current range of 26-city/36-highway.

According to Kia, the standard Soul provides 23.7 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, while the Soul + and Soul ! offer 19.3 cu-ft. Fold the rear seat, and there’s 53.4 cu-ft of volume for your stuff. Additionally, Kia notes that the Soul features up to 14 different storage “zones” in the cabin. Hoarders, rejoice!

Kia says it plans to continue building limited-production, special-edition versions of the Soul during 2012. If you don’t like what you currently see, wait awhile to consider whatever Kia cooks up next.

For 2012, Kia has added more power to the Soul and it’s noticeable, but the Soul still leaves something to be desired when it comes to acceleration. We drove both the base model with the 1.6-liter engine and the Eco Package and a Soul + with the new 2.0-liter engine and a six-speed manual gearbox, and we found acceleration fine for around-town driving. However, for passing and hill climbing, the automatic needed to be removed from “Eco” mode and the stick-shift needed to stay in the lower three gears to make best use of the power—even with the stronger new 2.0-liter engine.

Kia got the Soul’s steering feel and response just right. The electric steering is nicely weighted and lends an air of sportiness to proceedings. This is one area where Kia outshines its corporate sibling, Hyundai.

The Soul’s ride is a little bit on the firm side yet compliant enough for highway driving and puttering around town. The Idle Stop and Go (ISG) system is mostly unobtrusive, although the engine can be felt kicking back on at times, much like in older hybrids. The ISG system is calibrated to ensure that the cabin temperature does not get too hot on warm days, idling the engine only when necessary.

The Soul’s cabin is comfy and provides enough front legroom and headroom for taller drivers and passengers. Rear-seat space is adequate, as is cargo space. This Kia provides a comfortable place to do business with nice materials that belie the bargain price tag, but as befitting a subcompact, the luxuriousness only goes so far. Still, it’s at least one price point better than it should be in comparison to the rest of the small car class.

It might not be very pretty, but the 2012 Kia Soul sure is full of personality. And practicality. And technology. And value. Plus, it’s a Top Safety Pick and saves a bunch of money at the pump. If you need a new car and your budget is less than $20,000, we strongly urge you to put the Soul on the consideration list.

By Christian Wardlaw and Tim Healey