Is the Kia Soul an SUV?



Is Kia Soul an SUV? It’s boxy and versatile like an SUV, with the compact agility of a car. The Ray Skillman Northeast Kia team reveals where the Soul fits in the Kia lineup.

Its Unique Features Make it Stand Out: But is a Kia Soul an SUV?

From what makes a Kia Soul an SUV to what makes it a station wagon and what Kia has to say about it, we’ll go over everything you need to know about the vehicle type of the Kia Soul.

What Makes the Kia Soul Most Like an SUV?

There’s a reason many people consider the Kia Soul an SUV when asked: it’s got a good deal of features and design choices that line up with what we know and love about sport utility vehicles.

First, most SUVs have a boxy shape with a larger rear – while the Kia Soul is sharper and more square than most modern models, it’s got the look of an SUV down pat. This also increases the cargo capacity of the vehicle.

What’s Missing?

The biggest missing feature of the Kia Soul that makes people question whether it’s an SUV is AWD. While AWD is a staple of sports utility vehicles, the Soul only offers front-wheel drive (FWD).

What Features Does the Kia Soul Share with Other Vehicle Types?

Two major things that make people doubt what kind of vehicle the Kia Soul is are its engine and seating. Like most regular cars, the Soul has only two rows of seating and the ability to seat five people.

And while it has a nice engine, there’s little to no mention of the Soul’s towing capacity—something that has become a staple attribute for SUVs and trucks. So, with that in mind, is the Kia Soul an SUV? Let’s let the automaker tell us.

The Official Word on the Soul’s Type from Kia

For all our speculation, Kia has given us an answer through the advertisements on its website.

The Kia Soul is technically considered a CUV—a crossover utility vehicle. That means it was built using a car’s framework with a unibody chassis instead of the body-on-frame chassis that pickup trucks and SUVs are known for.

But because it shares a lot of features with SUVs, including increased ride height, it’s still a utility vehicle. In fact, the Kia Soul was recognized as having the highest residual value among Micro SUVs in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. ALG Residual Value Awards. It is referred to as a subcompact SUV as often as it is called a CUV and is listed under Kia’s SUV lineup.

Drive a Vehicle That Checks A Lot of Boxes

So if you want a vehicle that has the best parts of multiple vehicle types, it may be time to bury the question: is a Kia Soul an SUV?

Regardless of how you categorize it, the Soul has the versatility of an SUV, the drivetrain of a sedan, and the ample technological capability that Kia is known for. And how great is that?