Does Kia Soul Come In AWD? (Or 4WD)

AWD is a drivetrain that most SUVs and some sedans have nowadays. The AWD drivetrain has all four tires moving simultaneously, most useful for roads with loose or slippery surfaces. AWD gives the car a lot more traction than an FWD or RWD. Ever wondered if Kia made an AWD Soul? We have asked automotive experts if the Kia Soul ever came with an AWD drivetrain. Here is what we got from them.

Unfortunately, no, the Kia Soul never came with an all-wheel drive. But this is not a bad thing; though the Kia Soul only came in front-wheel drive, it is still a solid vehicle overall. Thanks to traction control correcting the car when it slips, the Kia Soul handles well driving on loose or slippery surfaces.

Also, FWD tends to be lighter, giving them better gas mileage compared to AWD vehicles. This will benefit you if you will always use your Kia Soul. The last thing is, an FWD is a lot cheaper to fix and maintain compared to AWD. For more information about Kia and the Kia Soul, keep reading below.

Kia Soul EV SUV presented at the Frankfurt IAA motor show, Does Kia Soul Come In AWD? (Or 4WD)

Does Kia Make AWD

Showroom of KIA logo on a stand

All-wheel drivetrains are most commonly found on SUVs or higher-end sedans. Kia stated that their AWD cars provide superior traction, improved off-road capability, and higher resale value. Here are some of the vehicles in Kia's lineup that have AWD:

  • Seltos
  • Sportage
  • Sorento
  • Telluride
  • Stinger

Kia provides you with a mixture of different vehicles with AWD like SUVs, crossovers, and even a sedan. Though AWD is great for loose and slippery surfaces, Kia's first AWD sedan -the Stinger- really benefits from it, giving it the agility and acceleration it needs in the city and on highways.

Is Kia Soul Good In Snow

Kia logo in the bonnet of Kia car with snow in winter

The Kia Soul is a great vehicle to drive in snow. Though the Soul does not have AWD, the Soul's FWD can handle really well on snow. For driving on a snowy road, you won't feel any significant difference between the Soul's FWD and an AWD.

The only time the Kia Soul may have a hard time is when faced with deep snow or ice. Since the Kia Soul has an FWD drivetrain, it will have less traction than an AWD vehicle when trying to traverse deeper snow or ice. 

A good method to ensure your car is road-worthy when snowing is to check what tires you have. Driving in regular tires is not advisable to use when snowing, especially if they are going bald, your car will lose all its traction to the road.

It's best to use all-weather, snow, or winter tires to ensure your car can handle the snow. Buying proper tires for snow is a good investment because it keeps you safe while driving on the road.

Aside from the drivetrain, you also have a good amount of view from the car's windows. Visibility is essential, especially in harsher weather.

You also have climate control that can be combined with the remote start. Now you can warm up your car before driving off.

Is Kia Soul Good On Gas

Fast moving white car on the city road.

Yes, the Kia Soul is good on gas. The Kia Soul is offered with the choice of two engine options, the 2.0L DOHC 16 valve inline-four or the 1.6L turbocharged DOHC 16 valve inline-four.

The 2.0L DOHC is offered in four trims, the LX, S, GT-Line, and X-Line. The LX model is the only one offered with a manual transmission and has an MPG of 29 in the city and 35 on the highway. While all the remaining trims are automatic transmissions, they have an MPG of 28 in the city and 33 on the highway.

While the 1.6L turbocharged DOHC not only gives you a significant amount of added horsepower and torque, but it also has a lower MPG compared to the 2.0L DOHC. The 1.6L turbocharged engine has an MPG of 27 in the city and 32 on the highway.

Does MPG Decrease Over Time

Fuel gauge dash board close up

Yes, it is possible for the MPG of your vehicle to decrease over time. Bad or lower MPG can be caused by wear and tear. With our proper and regular maintenance on your vehicle, you will definitely lower your MPG.

A number of reasons can cause your MPG to go down over time, such as dirty air filters, fouled spark plugs, vacuum leaks, and faulty fuel pumps. Regular maintenance and inspection of your vehicle can help keep the MPG at its optimum level.

How Many Miles Will A Kia Soul Last

odometer of used car showing mileage of 160648 km

Kia makes durable car, so your Soul model will last you around 200,000 miles before you require any major repairs. If you drive your car 15,000 miles in a year, your car can last up to 13 years. 

Of course, you can still extend your car's life beyond 200,000 miles; all you need is proper and regular maintenance. This will help keep all your components checked, and you'll be able to replace any parts the are faulty before they can ruin other components of your vehicle. 

How Roomy Is The Kia Soul

The New Kia e-Soul, model year 2021

The Kia Soul is a spacious crossover vehicle that can fit five people comfortably and has a decent amount of cargo space. The back row seats are also collapsible to get even more cargo room if needed.

The Soul though on the smaller side compared to its sister, the Seltos, has a roomy interior. You can sit comfortably inside the Soul with headroom of 38.3 inches in front and 39.5 inches at the back, legroom of 41.1 inches in front and 38.8 inches at the back. 

You also have a cargo space located at the back of the second row. The Soul's cargos space is 24.2 cubic feet if rear seats are up and 62.1 cubic feet if the rear seats are folded down. The rear seats are a 60/40 split, so you have the option to only put down one side of the seat if needed.

Is The Kia Soul Good For Road Trips

 Kia Soul with hatchback open at a desert campsite

Yes, the Kia Soul is good for road trips; it has enough space for both people and luggage. If you plan to go on a long road trip, it's best not to fit five people inside the vehicle. For the most comfort, it's best to have three or four people in the car.

If you're going on a road trip, you should have your car inspected first  -even if your car is a newer model. This is essential to do for your safety. Proper tires are also needed depending on the weather and the location you are going to.

Closing

Even though Kia did not make any AWD Soul models, that does not make it a lesser car. The Kia Soul is a great car overall and can handle its self pretty well, even on loose or slippery surfaces.

The Kia Soul is pretty good in gas mileage. So if you notice that your gas consumption is going up, you need to have your car checked by a mechanic. You may have a faulty component causing your vehicle to use more fuel.

For more automotive topics and tips, check out the following posts.

Does The Kia Seltos Have 3rd Row Seating?

Driving Gloves: Here’s Why You May Need A Pair [Inc. Recommendations]

 

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