2021 Kia Soul Review

Last year's redesign proved to be a success, helping the new Soul shoot toward the top of our top-ranked compact crossovers. The original Soul was one of the earliest entries in this class, and it helped lay the groundwork for models such as the Hyundai Kona and Toyota C-HR with sharp styling and a fun-to-drive demeanor.

The Soul's boxy shape means it's more roomy and packs more cargo space than many of its rivals, and its optional turbocharged engine and sharp handling make it quicker than most of them, too. The lack of all-wheel drive holds it back in this class, but the Soul's charm and style help us look past that.

We expect the Soul to carry over to 2021 relatively unchanged. Its somewhat confusing trim lineup should carry over too, with standard features that include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, automatic headlights and a six-speed manual transmission, though an automatic is standard on all but the base model.

Last year's redesign of the Kia Soul was a big success and helped make it one of our favorite crossovers around. The lack of all-wheel drive could be a deal-breaker for some, but we're won over by the Soul's room, sporty handling and overall charm.