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Kia ends the Soul's U.S. run after 16 years
Kia has confirmed that the Soul, its long-running subcompact crossover, will be retired in the United States after the 2025 model year. Positioned under the Seltos as Kia America's most affordable SUV, the Soul arrived for the 2025 model year with a starting MSRP near 20,490 dollars, but dwindling demand has ultimately sealed its fate.
Why the Soul is leaving the lineup
The automaker has not published a detailed explanation for the decision, but the sales figures tell a clear story. After cresting at almost 150,000 U.S. sales in its prime, demand slipped to roughly 50,000 units in 2024. Through the first nine months of 2025 the Soul sold 40,408 copies in the U.S., an improvement over early 2024 yet still far behind Kia staples such as the Sportage, Telluride and Sorento. Even models like the Carnival minivan and the compact K4 sedan outperformed the Soul, underlining shifting buyer preferences away from small crossovers toward larger SUVs and cross-segment choices.
Short production history and market context
The current Soul generation debuted at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, with production starting in 2019 at Kia's Gwangju plant in South Korea. Globally it enjoyed a 16-year run and helped Kia move more than 1.5 million Souls in the U.S. alone over its lifetime. That said, the model has already been removed from markets such as South Korea back in 2021 due to poor sales, and the manual transmission was dropped from the U.S. lineup for 2022.
2025 Soul: trimming back and what remained
The final Soul arrived in July 2024 as the 2025 model. Kia simplified the lineup and powertrain options in recent years. Turbocharged and all-electric Soul variants were once part of the range, but recent refreshes focused on a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Nu four-cylinder. Output for the 2025 model stands at 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, with peak twist arriving at about 4,500 rpm. Power is routed to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission; the engine uses port fuel injection and regular unleaded gas, offering a combined range around 443 miles on a full tank in real-world conditions.
Trim levels and highlights
For its final year the Soul was offered in four core trims, balancing value and content for budget-minded buyers.
- LX: entry-level value, with standard automatic emergency braking, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- S: mid-spec convenience and tech, including a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen and blind-spot detection; priced about 22,990 dollars.
- GT-Line: sportier styling, sunroof with power sunshade and SynTex/cloth upholstery; roughly 24,090 dollars.
- EX: top trim, with 17-inch alloys and a two-level cargo board for added practicality.
What this means for buyers and the used market
With production slated to end this month, 2025 examples will be among the last new Souls available in the U.S. That could make well-equipped final-year models attractive to shoppers after affordable, quirky crossovers. For enthusiasts who liked the Soul for its character and interior space relative to size, the used market will likely be the place to find future examples.
Looking forward, Kia appears to be consolidating its SUV lineup around larger, higher-margin models and electrified alternatives. The Soul leaves behind a legacy as a distinctive, budget-friendly option that catered to both younger buyers and older drivers looking for personality in a compact package.
Key takeaways:
- Kia Soul discontinued in U.S. after 2025 model year
- Sales decline and shifting consumer tastes likely the main drivers
- Final 2.0-liter engine produced 147 hp with CVT, and the lineup included LX, S, GT-Line and EX trims
Source: autoevolution
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