The 2017 Kia Soul is now available and it looks, feels, and drives much better. It has more to offer than a zesty turbocharged engine that boosts performance significantly.

The 2017 Kia Soul Turbo. The Kia Soul is back with a 2017 model that has a turbocharged 1.6-liter four cylinder engine that boasts of 201 horsepower and 195 pound-foot of torque. The engine is paired with a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission.

The 2017 Soul is 117 pounds heavier than the previous model thanks to what's under the hood but it does go from 0 to 16 miles per hour a whole lot quicker - 2 second quicker to be more specific. Its EPA-rating for fuel economy is a combined 28 miles per gallon for city and highway driving, only 1 mile less than the 2.0-liter Soul's.

Aside from an upgrade under the hood, the 2017 Soul underwent a few minor chassis tweaks such as suspension adjustments.  It front brake rotors are larger by an inch, too. Its alloy wheels have a standard 18-inch design.

The new Kia Soul is a whole lot classier than its predecessor, undergoing refinement year after year. A higher-end model of the new Soul sports a panoramic sunroof, an 8.0-inch display touchscreen with sat nav, HID headlights, blind sport monitoring and an audio system with speaker lights from Harman/Kardon.

Aside from power-folding exterior mirrors, the new Soul features heated front seats, outboard rear seats, and steering wheel. The seats are power-adjustable, too.

The 2017 Kia Soul drives quite comfortably. Its transmission shifts are quick and smooth. The base model retails at US$23,695. Although the driving performance is fairly amazing, thanks to a whole new powertrain, the sound the new Soul makes is rather unrefined.

The new Soul is definitely worth a test drive. It is a great improvement over the last model which should still land the Kia Soul line a new 10Best Trucks and SUVs award.

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