A Look at Kia’s #1 Selling Vehicle, the Soul, for Pros with Careers in the Auto Industry

Although not conventional, Kia’s subcompact urban passenger vehicle, the Soul, has quickly gained popularity and become the brand’s top-selling vehicle. Its roomy interior, quirky design, and affordable price make it within reach for many first-time and repeat car buyers—especially those who may be looking for an alternative to bulky SUVs and smaller hatchbacks.

If you’re considering becoming a professional auto mechanic, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the most popular cars on the market today. Doing so will help you stay aware of their unique quirks and problems, and better understand what may be waiting under the hood when it’s time to make a repair.

Read on to learn more about the Kia Soul!

The Kia Soul’s Rise to Fame

The very first Kia Soul wasn’t called a Soul at all. It was instead known as the Kia Mesa, a concept vehicle Kia debuted at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. Just a handful of years later, Kia announced the model would be put into production in 2009.

Upon the vehicle’s release it was given a new name, the Kia Soul. The first generation of the Soul featured a six-speaker sound system, metallic interior trim, two bucket seats in the front, and a flat folding bench in the rear. Although the earlier models were criticized for their harsh driving experience and plastic covered interior, Kia learned from its mistakes and made major upgrades. At this point in time Kia’s reputation as a reliable automotive brand was still rocky, so it was essential that the Soul live up to expectations.

In 2013, after Kia’s rebirth as a reputable automotive company, the second generation of the Soul was revealed at two high-profile auto shows. The new, sportier second generation drew inspiration from one of Kia’s edgy concept vehicles, the Kia Track’ster.

Pros With Careers in the Auto Industry Might Know the Soul’s Specs Have Mixed Reviews

Not only has Kia risen from the grips of its shaky beginnings, but the Soul has succeed accordingly and become the brand’s top-selling vehicle, and for good reason! The 2017 Kia Soul is arguably it’s best to date, with plenty of included and additional features that would impress any automotive maintenance technician.

The 2017 Soul is available in three models: LX, EX, and SX. The LX, the entry-level option within that model range, offers 118 lb-ft of torque and a wimpy 130 horsepower. In fact, it has been criticized by drivers and mechanics alike for the little amount of horsepower it can muster. Fortunately, buyers don’t have to shell out too much more to upgrade to the EX model, which boasts a slightly more impressive 161 horsepower and 149 lb-ft of torque.

The 2017 Soul’s newest and most talked about feature is its 1.6 litre Turbo-GDI engine. Opting for the SX model equipped with the Turbo-GDI engine bumps the Soul’s horsepower to an impressive 201, and its torque to 195 lb-ft. Because of the Soul’s enormous popularity, it may not be long before you find yourself working on a Turbo-GDI engine once you become a mechanic.

Pros With Careers in the Auto Industry Recognize the Soul’s Iconic Design and Nifty Features

Perhaps it’s the Soul’s eye-catching square design that has lead to its enormous success. Falling somewhere between a compact crossover, hatchback, and wagon, the Soul is hard to pin down, even for professionals with careers in the auto industry. Thanks to its corner to corner design, all Souls feature a spacious 50 cubic feet of cargo capacity when the rear seats are folded down.

Plenty of cargo capacity isn’t all the Soul has to offer. The base model comes equipped with a six-speaker sound system and Bluetooth technology. By opting for the LX or SX models, buyers can also take advantage of five- or seven-inch infotainment displays and other safety features including blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, and lane departure warning and front collision warning systems.

Would you like a career that allows you to work on a variety of cool cars like the Kia Soul?

Don’t hesitate! Contact Automotive Training Centres to learn more about beginning your auto mechanic training in Montreal.