The Kia Soul combines a distinctive compact-car shape with measurable U.S. sales, published 2023 specifications, controlled crash-test results and recall populations. This overview separates manufacturer estimates, test measurements and potentially affected vehicles by period and geography.
Key Kia Soul Statistics
The most quotable Kia Soul figures span sales, dimensions, efficiency, practicality, crash testing and recalls:
- In the 2023 calendar year, Kia America reported 61,263 Soul vehicles sold in the United States.
- In the 2022 calendar year, Kia America reported 57,820 Soul vehicles sold in the United States.
- In December 2023, Kia America reported 3,399 Soul vehicles sold in the United States.
- In December 2022, Kia America reported 4,543 Soul vehicles sold in the United States.
- For the 2023 model year, the Soul used a 1,999 cc engine across the listed U.S. LX, S, EX and GT-Line trims.
- For the 2023 model year, the Soul engine produced 147 horsepower at 6,200 rpm.
- For the 2023 model year, the Soul produced 132 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm.
- For the 2023 model year, the Soul measured 165.2 inches long, 70.9 inches wide and 63.0 inches high.
- For the 2023 model year, the Soul had 6.7 inches of ground clearance.
- For the 2023 model year, the Soul LX, S and GT-Line were EPA-estimated at 30 mpg combined, while the EX was rated at 31 mpg combined.
- For the 2023 model year, the Soul had 120.9 cubic feet of interior volume in U.S. specifications.
- For the 2023 model year, maximum listed cargo volume was 62.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.
- For the 2023 model year, front legroom measured 41.1 inches and rear legroom measured 38.8 inches.
- In the 2020 IIHS driver-side small-overlap test, lower-hinge-pillar intrusion measured 6 cm.
- In the 2020 IIHS passenger-side small-overlap test, passenger HIC-15 was 134.
- In the 2020 IIHS roof-strength test, peak force was 17,851 pounds.
- In 2023 recall campaign SC275, approximately 20,453 Soul vehicles were potentially affected in the United States.
- In recall 23V-830 filed in December 2023, 933 certain 2023 Soul units were identified within a mixed-model population.
Contents
- Key Kia Soul Statistics
- Kia Soul Sales Statistics and Model-Year Trends
- Kia Soul Engine, Dimensions and Weight Data
- Kia Soul Fuel-Economy Statistics
- Kia Soul Cargo, Cabin and Steering Measurements
- Kia Soul Crash-Test Statistics
- Kia Soul Safety Ratings and Recall Populations
Kia Soul Sales Statistics and Model-Year Trends
Kia America’s U.S. sales report records both annual and December Soul volume. These are manufacturer-reported sales, not global production or registration counts.
| Period | U.S. Soul sales | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 calendar year | 57,820 | Kia America reported sales |
| 2023 calendar year | 61,263 | Kia America reported sales |
| December 2022 | 4,543 | Monthly manufacturer-reported sales |
| December 2023 | 3,399 | Monthly manufacturer-reported sales |
Source: Kia America Reports All-Time Best Annual Sales.
The annual figures describe Kia America’s U.S. sales volume for each calendar year. The December figures are monthly observations and should not be treated as a complete model-year or global demand measure.
Kia Soul Engine, Dimensions and Weight Data
Kia’s U.S. specifications for the 2023 model year list the same 1,999 cc engine across the LX, S, EX and GT-Line trims. The manufacturer rating is 147 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 132 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm, with a 12.5:1 compression ratio.
| 2023 specification | Listed value |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1,999 cc |
| Power | 147 hp at 6,200 rpm |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm |
| Compression ratio | 12.5:1 |
| Wheelbase | 102.4 in |
| Length | 165.2 in |
| Width | 70.9 in |
| Height | 63.0 in |
| Ground clearance | 6.7 in |
The 2023 Soul’s listed curb weight varies by trim and equipment. LX and S trims are listed at 2,888 pounds, EX at 2,987 pounds and GT-Line at 2,998 pounds, while the gross vehicle weight rating is 4,023 pounds across the listed trims.
Source: 2023 Kia Soul Specifications.
These are U.S. manufacturer specifications for the 2023 model year. Trim availability and equipment can vary by market, and the curb-weight figures are identified for IVT configurations.
Kia Soul Fuel-Economy Statistics
The 2023 U.S. Soul range is covered by EPA-estimated fuel-economy figures published by Kia. The estimates are not observed real-world consumption, which varies with driving conditions, traffic, weather and vehicle use.
| Trim | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| LX | 28 mpg | 33 mpg | 30 mpg |
| S | 28 mpg | 33 mpg | 30 mpg |
| EX | 29 mpg | 35 mpg | 31 mpg |
| GT-Line | 28 mpg | 33 mpg | 30 mpg |
Source: 2023 Kia Soul Specifications.
The EX is listed at 31 mpg combined, while the LX, S and GT-Line are each listed at 30 mpg combined. These manufacturer-published EPA estimates apply to the specified 2023 U.S. trim configurations.
Kia Soul Cargo, Cabin and Steering Measurements
The 2023 Soul specification sheet reports 120.9 cubic feet of interior volume and several cargo-board configurations. With the rear seats folded, total cargo volume is listed at 62.1 cubic feet.
| Configuration or measurement | 2023 Soul value |
|---|---|
| Cargo, rear seats up, mat in lower-board configuration | 24.2 cu ft |
| Cargo, rear seats up, board lower position | 23.4 cu ft |
| Cargo, rear seats up, board upper position | 18.7 cu ft |
| Cargo, rear seats folded | 62.1 cu ft |
| Interior volume | 120.9 cu ft |
Cabin measurements include 41.1 inches of front legroom and 38.8 inches of rear legroom. Front shoulder room is 55.5 inches, rear shoulder room is 54.7 inches, rear headroom is 39.5 inches in the listed trim configurations, and front headroom without a sunroof is 39.9 inches in the LX and S.
The turning circle is 34.8 feet curb-to-curb, and the steering ratio is 12.8:1. Cargo volume depends on the rear-seat and cargo-board position, so the listed values are configuration-specific rather than interchangeable totals.
Source: 2023 Kia Soul Specifications.
Kia Soul Crash-Test Statistics and Injury Metrics
IIHS test results describe controlled crash and restraint measurements, not observed injury rates in the driving population. The IIHS page identifies the 2020 Soul as the redesigned model introduced for the 2020 model year and applies several ratings across 2020–25 models.
The 2020 driver-side small-overlap evaluation received a Good overall rating. In that test, IIHS recorded 6 cm of maximum lower-hinge-pillar intrusion, 3 cm of footrest intrusion and 3 cm of left-toepan intrusion.
| IIHS controlled test measure | Result | Test period |
|---|---|---|
| Driver-side small-overlap overall evaluation | Good | 2020 test; applies to 2020–25 models |
| Driver dummy HIC-15 | 254 | 2020 driver-side test |
| Driver chest maximum compression | 27 mm | 2020 driver-side test |
| Driver neck tension | 1.3 kN | 2020 driver-side test |
| Driver left/right femur forces | 2.1 / 0.9 kN | 2020 driver-side test |
| Passenger HIC-15 | 134 | 2020 passenger-side test |
| Passenger chest maximum compression | 34 mm | 2020 passenger-side test |
| Passenger-side footrest intrusion | 7 cm | 2020 passenger-side test |
The roof-strength test recorded a 17,851-pound peak force and a 6.24 strength-to-weight ratio, using a test vehicle with a 2,860-pound curb weight. The ratio is an IIHS-reported test result derived from the controlled test and is not a real-world rollover probability.
Source: 2023 Kia Soul.
Kia Soul Safety Ratings and Recall Populations
Recall counts identify potentially affected vehicles, not confirmed failures, fires or unrepaired vehicles. The populations also differ by campaign, production window and model mix, so a mixed-model total should not be treated as a Soul-only count.
Kia’s 2023 ISG electric-oil-pump recall campaign SC275 covered approximately 20,453 Soul vehicles in the United States. The affected Soul vehicles were certain 2023 models manufactured from November 9, 2022 through May 10, 2023 and equipped with an IVT.
The full SC275 population was approximately 39,765 vehicles across multiple Kia models, including 4,411 Sportage and 14,901 Seltos vehicles. That combined figure is not a Soul-only total.
A separate NHTSA Part 573 report, recall 23V-830 filed in December 2023, listed 2,300 potentially involved vehicles across Soul and Seltos populations. The report identified 933 certain 2023 Soul units built from April 5 through April 28, 2023, and estimated that 1% of the potentially involved population had the defect.
Source: Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-830.
NHTSA’s 2023 consumer alert described a broader select-Kia fire-risk recall involving approximately 1.73 million vehicles in the United States. The multi-model recall list included 2011–2013 Soul model years, but the alert’s total is not a Soul-only population and does not quantify incidents or failure probability.
Source: Recall: Millions of Kia, Hyundai Vehicles for Fire Risk.