Kia is keen on getting into the spirit of things ahead of the L.A. Auto Show later this month, and with Hyundai preparing a big reveal of their own, the youthful Korean car brand wanted to make sure the revamped Soul did not get lost in the all the glitz and glamour that the L.A. Auto Show is expected to bring when it kicks off later this month.
The lone teaser that Kia released earlier today may not reveal very much at first glance, but the image does reveal that the Soul’s trademark boxy shape will largely be retained, but updated with tweaked taillights, as well as a slick piece of silver trim at the top of the fore-mentioned lights that is embossed with the Soul moniker (a very neat touch.) A new bodyline also peeks into view, and could hint at perhaps some added curves and creases into the boxy motif for 2020 along with the functionally pleasing (and most likely optional) roof rack. The biggest change for 2020 will be underneath the Soul’s suit of clothes, with the new crossover sharing its platform and the bulk of its basic hardware and electronics with the recently launched Hyundai Kona.
While this might not seem like a major change, the adoption of this platform brings newfound options to the Soul, including the bones for a much better EV version, as well as all-wheel drive, with the latter being the main item on holiday wish lists for Soul owners since the very beginning. Look for the engine and transmission offerings to also mirror the Kona’s, with a base 2.0 liter four cylinder for base models, and the 1.6 liter turbo four cylinder for higher trim variants. The Soul EV would get its motivation from the Kona EV, with about 200 horsepower (150 kilowatts) on tap which would help add some sizzle to its green focused step. We are also curious to see if Kia will bring any new cargo storage solutions to the Soul, given its popularity as a budget oriented crossover, as well as if more supportive seats are in store for base models.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.