2020 Kia Soul GT-Line Review: Your Daily Break

Overall Impression: Great to drive. Easy to maneuver. Practical, but still sporty. BenefitsAffordableSize and spaceTechnology and safety featuresEndsNot an all wheel drive optionSome turbo lag 9Lovely

The Kia Soul has been completely redesigned for the 2020 model year. While the Soul gets more personality with new exterior styling, it's even more fun if you opt for the 1.6-litre turbo. It's very nimble, has a responsive engine, and gets you into hard-to-reach parking spots. On the open road, the 2020 Kia Soul delivers equally crisp handling and responsive steering.

You can increase the Soul's fun by getting the GT-Line with its powerful turbo and sport suspension. And that's what we've been driving this week: the 2020 Kia Soul GT-Line.

Kia Soul: what's new for 2020?

Kia Soul has been completely redesigned for the 2020 model year. New exterior design features include boomerang taillights and C-pillars that are reminiscent of airplane wings. Soul 2020 is getting new safety features along with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The new base transmission serves as a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a six-speed manual or intelligent transmission.

The 2020 Kia Soul comes in six trim levels: LX, S, X-Line, GT-Line, EX, and EX Designer Collection. EV version is also available.

Features and Options: Plenty to Ride

The 2020 Kia Soul GT-Line ($27,490) is the sporty trim you'll want to have fun with. Standard equipment includes automatic headlights, a rear privacy glass, a height-adjustable driver's seat and a 60/40 split folding rear seat. Tech features include Bluetooth, a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and a six-speaker audio system. Standard safety features include a rearview camera, blind spot monitor and hill start assist. Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Sleep Load Warning are also standard. Drivers who like to have a lot of built-in safety features will want to opt for the Kia Drive Wise package.

The GT-Line adds sporty exterior accents, different 18-inch wheels, fog lights, gloss black mirrors, a triangle grille and a heated leather steering wheel. Other goodies include navigation, a power driver's seat, heated front seats, a head-shaped display, and a premium Harman-Kardon audio system.

A sunroof, wireless charging pad, keyless entry and ignition also come with the GT-Line. Total MSRP including destination: $28,710. By comparison, the 2020 Kia Soul starts at $17,490.

The 2020 Kia Soul GT-Line is no ordinary small crossover or SUV.

Interior Highlights: Seems Bigger Than Seems

The Kia Soul is roomier than most compact cars due to its boxy shape, and that's not going to change for 2020, as the interior feels spacious and open. An adjustable driver's seat and a wide range of steering wheel adjustments help riders of all sizes. An extremely high roofline and wide door openings make it easy to access the front and rear of the small compact. Up front, you'll find plenty of legroom and legroom, and in the back, two adults won't have a problem riding. If you travel a lot, we recommend using wireless charging.

With good visibility from all seating positions, you can feel like you are in a much larger car. If you need to haul cargo, the Soul offers more cargo space (24.2 cubic feet; rear seats up) than other small SUVs; even when folded down, there is a hump at the base of the rear seats, limiting usefulness. Overall, however, the 2020 Kia Soul is a comfortable commute and commute. Ambient light and mood light also make driving fun.

2020 Kia Soul GT-Line Cargo Space Layout With the rear seats folded down, the new Soul offers 62.1 cubic feet of cargo space.

2020 Kia Soul: engine and fuel specifications

What makes the 2020 Kia Soul supreme in terms of driving fun is its choice of GT-Line trim. The transmission is unique to this model: I-4 GDI twin-cylinder turbo engine (1.6 liters) with 201 hp. and 195 lb-ft. torque. It comes mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with start-stop function and selectable driving modes. All souls are front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is not available.

EPA fuel mileage ratings come in at 27/32 city/highway and 29 combined mpg.

Related: One quick Kia! An in-depth look at the 2019 Stinger.

Driving dynamics: ideal for daily commuting

Driving enthusiasts will love the GT-Line trim with a bouncy 1.6-litre turbo. We took him out this week and pushed him hard in the mountains west of Denver to see how he reacts. It delivers plenty of power when passing, even going uphill at altitude. If you're driving at sea level, you'll have even more power at your disposal. As a regular driver, the 2020 Kia Soul GT-Line will provide more than enough power.

2020 Kia Soul GT-Line interior layout.

Driving dynamics: a pleasant surprise

Cornering skills are better than expected when we threw the 2020 Kia Soul around tight mountain turns. We were surprised to see it had cornering abilities similar to sporty rivals like the Mazda CX-3 and Mini Countryman. On the road, the suspension is firm and manageable, but never stiff. Unlike some rivals, the Soul feels stable at high speeds and doesn't wobble when you hit rough terrain. In most cases, the seven-speed automatic two-speed clutch was smooth and smooth for us.