What year you looking at?
A friends neice got a '12 Soul last year. He asked for my thoughts on mine. Heres my "random thoughts" copy & paste from the email I sent him:
ours is a 2011 with a 2 L 4 banger, 4U SX model.
There was a restyle in 2012 and a new 2.0 L engine, but the 2010 thru 2013 (IIRC) are all still referred to as the first generation. Major restyle in 2014 referred to as second gen.
hers could be a 1.6 or 2.0 L engine. Larger engine model is more plentiful.
if you're looking for parts or online references be aware the USA trim levels had different nomenclature than CDN ones. same car different name.
Canada was base model = 2U; next level = 4U with no suffix or 4U with trim level suffix.
Trim grade nomenclature saw the Soul range populated from basic to loaded with models including the 1.6, 2.0L 2u, 2.0L 4u, 2.0L 4u Retro, 2.0L 4u Burner and 2.0L 4u SX models.
from here:
http://www.autos.ca/used-car-reviews/used-vehicle-review-2010-2013-kia-soul/Ive worked on the soul back-to-back with mom-in-laws 2006 corolla. The Toy is higher quality as you would think. They specced higher quality hardware with better corrosion proofing. Things like hose clamps are very corroded on the Kia already; the Toy is all rust free.
Kia paint is thin IMO. We got tiny corrosion pits in the paint already. Watch for corrosion on Kia - it'll come out sooner than other cars, but you should be well set out there with less road salt.
Reliability good - no breakdowns & still on original battery. Recalls on mine have been piddly stuff.
the kia gives you a lot of installed options in exchange for a little less build quality than Toy or Honda, but the price reflects that. Our car doesn't feel cheap though. I ranted about our cheap Chevy Aveo in the past & this is a better car with more options. Good commuter car or young persons car.
off the toppa my head:
- ours is overtired (because of the trim level) with 18 inch rims. Way too big & heavy & friggin expensive tires. Stock is 17 inch. Better IMO
- we have backup camera which is US now - lens corroded & fogged over. Worked when we bought it though.
- sunroof works great and no leaks
- rear brakes: disc with old style parking brake set-up. Exactly the same as my 1979 Volvo: a mini drum brake integrated into the disc assy. This is where Kia differs from others: some old style technology under the covers to save money in order they could install heated seats. Not complaining. The drum park brake requires far less attention than the seize-prone caliper park brake on my last Mazda.
- as above, there is some lack of refinement in ride, engine noise & smoothness, tranny abrupt shifting. None a deal-breaker, just less smooth than the Corolla as comparison. But thats where they save a buck and use it to install traction control.
- have visited only one dealer for recalls. Impressed by the mechanic I got. Service desk experience is good. Sales staff, not so much, but I did not buy from them.
- check for a corrosion recall. Takes 30 mins. They spooge up certain areas with wax anti-rust coating. IMO good idea to have a soul shot with undercoating. I will take my own advice soon.
- I had a recall where they installed additional securing to the headliner. Valid only if you have a sunroof. Probably added carpet tape for all I know. 40 minute repair.
- Horn recall. Book time 10 minutes. They press the button. Does it beep?..then it passes recall.
Brakes: I had one issue, may not apply to you. I will solidify my opinion with further experience on the car.
When purchased, ours had new discs and pads all round. One year later I'm in for a recall, mech calls me over. He inspected the rear brakes, pads were shot - the rivets rusted and the material had pulled away from the backing plates. Ive never seen that except on vehicles that had sat in a field 20 years
So I think the seller changed the rear discs but the pads were original. Even so, 2011 - 2015 should not result in friction material falling off the backing plate on a OEM part. Theres factory pads on the rear now so ill see how they do.
- wife likes the heated seats over anything else.
- knock down the rear seats and you can fit a surprising amount of stuff into it. I removed the front wheel off my mountain bike and fit it in with front pax seat & rears knocked down.
- we bought Sept 2014 @ 78000km, now have over 100 000km no problems. Easy to service. Some mtc sched items are weird: fuel filter every 50000k - why? but there are not many maint items to begin with so that's good.
- fuel mileage ok but not stellar. Soul is built on the hatchback Rio platform and the Rio gets better fuel mileage. I assume soul is heavier.
- seats are too hard IMO but I drove the car YYZ - YUL return and was ok. One leg was done in snow, sleet, freezing rain and I made it no problem.
- I recommend snow tires. Something about the ride is, to me, not confidence inspiring, not sure footed, and snow does not help. But we've ran it through ice & freezing rain and have not ditched it, nor does the ABS need to engage much. Trac control engages pulling away from slippery stops. You would have to try it yourself, YMMV. Have not yet mastered handbrake slides with this car...short wheelbase. More practice required.
Manuals: Repair manuals not issued in PDF, all online and is now restricted. I looked for access but did not find any. Damn.
Cabin air filter: expensive from auto parts stores. I get mine online.
