Here comes the 2020 Kia Soul

ABU DHABI: The South Korean sub-compact crossover which made its debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show has been given a rehaul. While the new Soul retains its boxy shape, the car certainly looks better than before. However, it might still not appeal everyone in the market just like before.

Looking at the 2020 Kia Soul, we see slim headlamps flanking an extremely narrow conjunction line. Then there is a larger trapezoidal grille on the front bumper which also houses larger LED units on either end. Moving to the sides, we encounter blacked-out A, B, and C-pillar which provide the roof with a floating look. At the rear, the new Soul has received a pair of redesigned taillamps.

Now, if we talk about the trims, Kia will be offering the sub-compact crossover in two different variants namely GT-Line and X-Line. While the X-Line provides the Soul with a rugged appearance, the GT-Line makes the Soul look a lot more sporty. Move inside the 2020 Kia Soul and we bet you will be mesmerised. There is a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system equipped with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A set of 10 speakers from Harmon Kardon makes sure you enjoy those long rides with great music. An 8-inch head-up display and mood lighting add a bit more flair to the Soul.

Under the hood of the latest Soul, there is a 2.0-litre 4-pot naturally aspirated petrol motor which can churn out a maximum power of 149 PS and a peak torque of 179 Nm. If you need more oomph, then there is also a 1.6-litre engine which is turbocharged. This much powerful motor can produce 204 PS of maximum power and 265 Nm of peak torque. While the turbocharged mill can only be had with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the 2.0-litre engine can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a CVT unit.

Boycotting the ICE (internal combustion engine) will be an all-electric model of the Soul as well. Called the Soul EV, the car will be powered by a liquid-cooled lithium-ion polymer 64 kWh battery. It will also come equipped with a Combined Charging System (CCS) DC fast-charge. Kia, as of now, has not revealed any other information about the Soul EV like charging time, range, and exact power figures. The 2020 Kia Soul will be launched in the first half of 2019 in the US market. The UAE and GCC are expected to have the sub-compact crossover by the mid of 2019. The GCC market, however, will only be getting the less powerful engine mated to the automatic transmission.