Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
The all-new 2020 Kia Soul GT-Line is clear step above the rest. We recently reviewed the 2020 Kia Soul X-Line and while it was a nice vehicle, the GT-Line is just better overall. If you had a complaint about the Kia Soul underperforming in the areas of quality and the actual ride, it stops here.
Im gonna start off with eye grabbing exterior. The GT-Line is noticeably different than the previously tested X-Line. The Snow White Pearl hue demanded attention everywhere that we went. It still has the familiar shape of the other Soul trim lines, but the low-profile headlamps are new, along with the updated boomerang taillights, GT-Line Sport front and rear bumper fascia and the GT-Line sport side sills with red accents. All of this sitting on 18” alloy wheels. How could I almost forget about the chrome-tipped center exhaust and larger disc brakes.
The interior of the GT-Line has numerous upgrades from the X-Line model. The 10.3-inch touchscreen and the head-up display, which appears on a small glass panel that glides up behind the primary instruments, are both useful perks to have. Kia has upgraded the previous model’s light-up door speakers, which pulsed to the beat of music, for LED-backlit panels that are on the front doors that still pulse to the beat of the music and are now visible in the daytime. You can configure the cabin to several different ambiances to create a mood within the cabin. This is definitely a highlight to me while I was grooving to the 640-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system.
Now we are going to move over into the adrenaline side of the 2020 Kia Soul GT-Line. This trim level of the Soul comes with a 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is a step up from what is offered with the other trim lines. There is also steering wheel-mounted shift paddles for manual gear selection. Once behind the wheel, you can immediately tell the difference from the 147-hp Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter four cycle standard engine. The boost is not smooth, so expect a bit of a jolt when you jump on the pedal. The tuned suspension helps keep this little beast in line. The GT-Line 1.6 Turbo handles well in turns and aggressive in quick acceleration situations.
The Soul sits in a competitive class, going up against the Honda Fit, Jeep Renegade, Honda HR-V, Toyota C‑HR, Hyundai Elantra GT and the Mazda CX-3. Kia’s warranty is unmatched with a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty program that consists of a 10-year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty, a 5-year/60,000 mile limited basic warranty, a 5-year/100,000 mile limited anti-perforation warranty and a 5-year/60,000 mile roadside assistance plan.
The 2020 Kia Soul GT-Line 1.6 Turbo that we tested came in at $29,055.00. The Soul returned 27 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway and 29 mpg combined. Overall, I was impressed with the smooth ride and aggressive handling. This little car had some speed in it as well as an awesome design and a cockpit made for fun. Enjoy the photo gallery.
