15:15 06-10-2025

Kia Soul discontinued: legacy, reasons, and what's next

Kia has confirmed that the Soul, its compact urban crossover, is being retired. Production will wrap up in October 2025, and the nameplate won’t reach the 2026 model year. Shoppers interested in a Soul will be choosing from remaining dealer stock.

Introduced in 2008, the model quickly became a marker of youthful style and practicality for the brand. The first Soul blended hatchback and compact SUV traits, pairing a high seating position with an unexpectedly roomy cabin for its footprint. Straight lines and a boxy profile made it instantly recognizable, a silhouette that helped anchor Kia’s identity at the time.

Its rivals once included the Nissan Cube and Scion xB, yet the South Korean crossover outlasted them. Demand was driven by reliability, simplicity, and attainable pricing. Over several updates, it kept its signature outline and the youthful, easygoing character that drew buyers in the first place.

With Kia’s new wave of electrified models, the company is shifting focus to EVs and hybrids. Without a modern electric variant, the Soul gives way to the brand’s next-generation projects. In that context, the move looks logical, even if it closes a recognizable chapter.

So ends the story of one of the most charismatic small crossovers of its era—a car that brought Kia wide recognition and cultivated a generation of fans.