Kia Soul Service Manuals

About The Kia Soul

Kia brought in the Soul model for the 2009 model year as their first subcompact crossover SUV.

Being a subcompact crossover SUV means that the car doesn’t contain the usual heavy offroad equipment typically associated with a traditional SUV.

This leads to a huge reduction in the weight of the chassis that then means the car requires a smaller engine to power it and thus lower running costs.

What it does boast is a spacey interior and high driving position that improves visibility and helps with identifying potential accidents.

It was built using the Hyundai-Kia PB platform that is used under subcompact cars such as the Kia Rio and the Hyundai Accent.

All of the Soul models produced have 5-doors, the engine in the front of the car along with only the front 2 wheels being powered.

There is no option for a four-wheel-drive Kia Soul, a decision made on purpose to keep the weight of the car low.

The design of the car was intended to appeal to youthful urban car buyers with a fun image which shows as the original 2008 model came with iPod integration.

Keeping in line with this Kia offered various options with the car that would appeal to youthful buyers such as flame and houndstooth graphics on the outside of the car.

First Generation Soul

The first generation models of the car were criticized for being plastic and low-quality, an image the company didn’t want to be associated with it.

Kia responded straight away by improving the finish of the interior as well as the ride quality within the first 12 months.

Buyers could choose from one of three engines in the original Soul, including a 1.6-liter and a 2-liter gasoline or a 1.6-liter turbodiesel.

Towards the engine of the first-generation (2012), Kia upgraded the automatic and manual transmission options to have more gears.

The manual transmission was given one extra gear and the automatic went from being a 4-speed to a 6-speed.

Second Generation Soul

In 2013 the second version of the Kia Soul entered showrooms and maintained similar engine options, although they had improved efficiencies.

The transmissions were revised once again to have a high gear count and a dual-clutch option was added to the order sheet for fast gear changes.

Outside, the car was redesigned to feature the same rough shape but with more striking aesthetics that helped it stand out compared to the bland original.

Sales of this version of the car peaked at over 200,000 sold per year globally thanks to the additions and improvements to the style and platform.

In 2017 the top trim for the car which had previously been sold with the 2-liter engine was altered to now contain a turbocharged 1.6-liter gasoline powerplant.

Third Generation Soul

Production of the 3rd Soul began in 2019 for the 2020 model year with all examples of the car now being assembled in South Korea exclusively.

It is built on the same platform as the Hyundai Kona subcompact crossover SUV that was released for the 2017 model year by the partnering company.

The internal-combustion-engine version of the car is on sale outside of Europe with the EV (electric-version) of the car available in all regions.

This EV version of the car shares its battery and motor technology with the Kia Niro compact crossover SUV.