2023 Kia Soul Gets Cheekier Looks, Higher Price, Drops Turbo

• Kia has updated the Soul for 2023 with new front- and rear-end designs.

• The Turbo model and X-Line trim level have been dropped from the lineup.

• The 2023 Soul will arrive at dealerships in late summer.

UPDATE 6/29/22: Pricing for the 2023 Soul starts at $21,085, a modest $500 increase. The EX trim is also up by $500 and starts at $24,885, while both the S ($23,585) and GT-Line ($24,685) trims are up by $700 compared with last year.

Kia has been working to simplify the Soul lineup for a few years now: after dropping the base model's manual transmission last year, it's now killing off the optional 201-horsepower Turbo engine and the rugged-looking X-Line trim level along with the 2023 Soul's facelift.

This leaves the Soul's sole engine option as a 147-hp naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four with a continuously variable automatic transmission. In our testing, this version got to 60 mph in 8.0 seconds, while the Turbo did the deed in 6.4 seconds. The trim levels that remain include LX, S, EX, and GT-Line.

All of those models benefit from new styling for 2023, which includes reshaped headlights and a different front bumper, along with new taillights and a revised rear fascia. New 17- and 18-inch wheel designs complete the new look. Kia is offering two new two-tone color combinations: Surf Blue with a black roof, like you see here, and Clear White with a black roof. These both cost $345 extra and are available only on the S model.

Pricing has risen slightly from the previous model and now starts at $21,085. But the most expensive Soul is now the EX, at $25,385, as the previous $29,000-plus Soul Turbo is no longer available.

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