Now in its third generation, the Kia Soul blends the positive qualities of hatchbacks and crossovers, adding funky styling and peppy powertrains. The result of this packaging is a roomy interior and ample cargo capacity. For the redesigned 2020 Kia Soul, the automaker focused on increasing these positives, while adding more technology and driver assist features. Kia has also renamed the Soul's trim structure, adding more differentiation between them for good measure. The New Lineup While previous versions of the Soul featured ambiguous trim names such as "+" and "!," the new 2020 Soul will be available in six traditionally named trims: LX, S, X-Line, GT-Line, EX and EX Designer Collection. Two powertrains are available: a new 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder engine that produces 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque and a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four rated at 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. The 2.0-liter engine mates up to either a six-speed manual transmission or Kia's Intelligent Variable Transmission (a continuously variable automatic transmission), while the 1.6-liter engine is only available with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. A Soul EV will also be on offer. No matter the powertrain, the Soul still only comes in front-wheel drive. Specific details between the trims are not yet available, but we do know that the X-Line will have an off-roader presence thanks to unique wheels, a black fender trim, and stylized rockers and fascias, as well as roof-rail accents and beefy foglights. The GT-Line is the opposite, stressing street looks with a larger front fascia, body-colored rockers and lower trim pieces, slimmer foglights, and gloss-black trim throughout. The 1.6-liter turbocharged engine is optional on this trim, as is a stiffer suspension, larger brakes and center exhaust. The EX Designer Collection builds on the already well-equipped EX model, with unique 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and foglights, as well as two-tone paint. The Changes The basic boxy layout of the Soul has not changed, though. The 2020 Kia Soul retains the same width (70.9 inches) and height (63 inches) measurements, while the wheelbase and body have been stretched by 1.2 inches (102.4 inches) and 2.2 inches (165.2 inches), respectively. Most of the interior dimensions are within a quarter of an inch of the previous model, with a slight 0.2-inch bump up in front legroom (41.1 inches) and a small 0.3-inch downgrade of rear legroom (38.8 inches). Front headroom drops by 0.2 inch (39.4 inches), while rear headroom remains the same (39.5 inches). Interior width is identical for front and rear occupants. Most beneficial, though, is the 5-cubic-foot increase in cargo space, for a total of 23.8 cubic feet. This figure puts the Soul above a BMW X2 in cargo capacity. Overall, the body has crisper edges, particularly along the sides, with smoother transitions in the front and rear. The front headlight configuration and lower fascia give the car a wide and bulky look, while the taillights and rearmost pillars have edgier swoopy wing shapes to them. The rear end also features a lower liftgate opening, while the front door openings are larger, easing entry and exit of both people and cargo. Inside, the interior design is bolder. A larger 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen is available, as is a head-up-display. And of course, there's an ambient lighting system that can synchronize to the beat of whatever is playing through the audio system; it's a feature available in every generation of Soul. The modes for this system have catchy but ridiculous names such as "Hey! Yo!" and "Romance." From a technology perspective, the Soul has always been ahead of the curve, and this new model continues to lead. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but optional features include the ability to pair two Bluetooth devices at once; a 640-watt, 10-speaker sound system; and numerous active driver aids such as dynamic cruise control, forward collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic alert.

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