2022 Kia Soul Gains Fresh Badge, Loses Manual Transmission

It's been time to throw some respect theKia Soul'sway for a while now. Though it was first marketed as a hamster-toting, mini-hatchback, it's grown into one of the most usable, easy-to-live-with subcompact SUVs on the market right now. We'd even go so far as to call it fun to drive,and it's among our top-rated small crossovers. For 2022, the already strong Soul is getting a few small yet notable upgrades.

2022 Kia Soul Trim Level Adjustments

The base trim LX model loses its option for a manual transmission—it was the only version without a standard automatic—but the entry-level Soul gains a new technology package that swaps out steel wheels with new alloys and brings with it active safety features like blind spot monitoring and collision warning, rear cross traffic collision avoidance, and forward collision avoidance, among others. LX models also get a slightly larger eight-inch infotainment display in 2022, up one inch from the unit in last year's models.

Further up the Soul ladder, S, X-Line, and GT-Line models all get a much larger 10.25-inch display as standard. They also now come with dual automatic climate control, push-button start, a wireless smartphone charger, and two USB ports. All Souls, regardless of trim, will wear Kia's recently redesigned badge.

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Souls also get a price bump for 2022. The LX models start at $20,365. That looks like a large jump when you realize the 2021 LX was priced from $18,765. However, Kia making the (formerly optional) $1,500 continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) a standard feature accounts for most of that gain. Mid-level S-trimmed cars now start at $22,665, while both X-Line and GT-Line cars will start at $23,765. The EX and top-of-the-range Turbo 1.6 Souls will cost $24,665 and $28,965.

2022 Kia Soul Pricing

• Soul LX: $20,365
• Soul S: $22,665
• Soul X-Line: $23,765
• Soul GT-Line: $23,765
• Soul EX: $24,665
• Soul Turbo: $28,965