The subcompact automobile is on dying watch in America, however the quirkiest of the little vehicles will get one other 12 months. The Kia Soul goes into the 2024 mannequin 12 months nearly unchanged.

The Soul is one among simply 5 fashions nonetheless on the market in 2023 with a beginning worth underneath $20,000 (earlier than vacation spot charges). Beginning at $19,890 (plus $1,325 to ship), it’s a subcompact hatchback, arguably flirting with SUV strains.

Our knowledgeable take a look at driver calls it “a small SUV with a giant character” that’s “sensible and classy” with “a spacious, high-tech inside at an reasonably priced worth level.” Its boxy form packs as a lot area as potential right into a footprint so tiny that it suits in nearly any parking spot.

New Safety, Inside Colour Choice

For 2024, consumers of the top-of-the-line EX trim have a brand new bundle they will select. The Designer Bundle will get 18-inch alloy wheels and cloth-and-faux-leather seats in a brand new shade known as umber.

Each Soul outfitted with the sensible key characteristic positive aspects a safety characteristic for 2024 – a sleep mode that “prompts 40 seconds after locking the automobile to assist forestall hackers from duplicating the sensible key frequency.”

It’s good to see Kia paying additional consideration to theft points. The corporate has spent a lot of the previous 12 months fighting the fallout from neglecting to construct widespread anti-theft options into some older fashions.

2024 Kia Soul Pricing:

Costs go up by simply $100 throughout the board, making the Kia Soul beginning worth nonetheless slide underneath the $20,000 mark. Kia additionally fees a compulsory $1,325 vacation spot price on all Souls.

A Quick Leash?

Kia has by no means formally mentioned the Soul’s future is unsure. However we will’t assist however surprise if few modifications are dangerous information for Soul followers.

Automakers have been trimming the most affordable vehicles from their lineups lately. Of the 5 fashions nonetheless obtainable underneath $20,000, cancelation speak has come for 2 this summer time. Mitsubishi could also be canceling its Mirage subcompact automobile. Kia might do the identical for the Rio, its smallest sedan.

Automakers have more and more targeted their efforts on attracting wealthier, good-credit consumers. That leads them to trim the underside of their lineups.

The Soul has extra character than any of them. Kia sellers bought greater than 150,000 of them in 2016 – numbers the Rio and Mirage by no means got here near. Kia may determine that the purge of tiny vehicles leaves a gap out there and decide to fill it with a redesigned Soul in 2025 or 2026. However they’d must buck trade tendencies to do it.

A lackluster spherical of updates might imply the automobile’s future is restricted.