The Evolution of the Kia Soul: From Concept to Iconic Crossover

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Introduction

Kia’s Soul is one of the most iconic SUVs on the market today. It’s not just a vehicle; it’s an icon. In this article, we’ll look at how Kia went from concept to reality with their flagship crossover, and why it has stood the test of time.

The Soul started as a concept vehicle at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show.

It was designed as a small, urban crossover SUV with the intention of appealing to younger buyers looking for something fun and sporty. The Kia Soul would be affordable, too–a huge selling point considering its target audience had traditionally been unable to afford luxury vehicles.

The Concept Vehicle was designed by Peter Schreyer (now Chairman & Chief Design Officer) and Michael Jannard (Founder & CEO of Oakley). They incorporated elements from past concept cars including:

• The 2006 Kia Niro EV Concept which showcased futuristic styling with LED lights throughout;
• The 2007 Kia Spectra5 Concept featured gull-wing doors that were later used on production models such as Kia Soul EV;

The first-generation Soul was a hit when it launched in 2009, but it wasn’t always that way.

The Korean automaker had been working on the car for over five years before its release and was initially met with skepticism from consumers who were wary of its quirky design and unusual name. But as time went on and more Souls were sold–over 500,000 worldwide–the crossover became an icon and has since spawned multiple variants including the Soul EV (electric vehicle) and Soul+ hatchback models.

The second generation was introduced in 2017; this time around Kia opted against making any drastic changes to its core design philosophy while improving performance under the hood with updated engine choices ranging from 1 liter turbocharged engines up to 2 liters naturally aspirated powertrains that offer up 130 horsepower on entry levels all the way up to 174 hp depending upon trim level selection along with improved fuel economy thanks largely due to new transmissions being used throughout most trim lines available today.”

Kia’s Soul crossover has been around for a while, but it has evolved over time to become one of the most popular SUVs on the market.

The Kia Soul has been around since 2009, but it’s only recently that the crossover has become an icon. And there’s a reason for that: The Soul has evolved over time to become one of the most popular SUVs on the market.

With its funky looks and fun personality, this funky little SUV was an instant hit with consumers when it first debuted in 2009–so much so that Kia decided to redesign it two years later as part of its second-generation lineup. In fact, when we reviewed both generations side by side, we found significant improvements between them (with one exception). Now comes another change: This year marks yet another redesign–and once again there are big differences between this third generation versus its predecessor.

Conclusion

The Kia Soul is an iconic vehicle that has evolved over time. From a concept car to a crossover, the Soul has grown into one of the most popular SUVs on the market today.