Kia Soul Updated For 2015

The Kia Soul was completely redesigned for the 2014 model year, and for 2015 the company will be making a few minor upgrades to the compact crossover.

Despite the look-at-me shape, the Soul has always attempted to make a statement about interior technology and features. For 2015 Kia will offer the UVO 1 eService package, a free subscription telematics service which is available for 10 years/100,000 miles. UVO eServices is standard on the Exclaim model, but is an option on the two lower trim levels. Accessible from the owner's smartphone once the eServices app is downloaded, most of the new features are parental control-oriented: Geo-fencing, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert, and Driving Score.

Since these sound like something out of a Military Channel special, let's look at the specifics: Geo-fencing is a feature designed to notify the owner when his or her car ventures beyond a set geographical area, while Speed Alert notifies the owner when the car exceeds a set speed. Curfew control alerts the owner when someone driving the car is out past a certain time (and thankfully that is all it does), while Driving Score 2 (aka Trip Info) is a statistical report on monthly driving stats like average speed and distance traveled.

Kia also has launched its own App store, so a number of apps will be available for free dowload from iTunes or Google Play. That includes Pandora, iHeart Radio, and Yelp, among others.

A couple other items are new for 2015, including an available Umber Color Package for the Exclaim trim level which comes paired with Fathom Blue or Cloud White exterior colors. The option comes with Nappa leather seating surfaces and door armrest accents, while the wheels receive black inserts for a more distinctive look.

Kia renewed the Soul for another generation last year, bringing out a redesigned 2014 model that introduced a number of improvements over the first-gen model. The 2014 model saw the debut of gasoline direct injection engines, and Kia managed to squeeze a little more torque out of the 1.6-liter and the 2.0-liter engine. The 2015 model retains the two GDI engines, with the smaller of the two producing 130 hp, and the 2.0-liter producing 164 hp. As with the 2014 model year cars, torque output remains at 118 lb-ft for the 1.6-liter unit and at 151 lb-ft for the 2.0-liter unit. The 1.6-liter versions are available with a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission, while the 2.0-liter versions come exclusively with the six-speed auto.

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