Motor Trend - USA (2020-06)

SUBARU

ASCENT

UPDATE

NISSAN

KICKS

MAZDA 3

UPDATE

RAM

1500 LARAMIE

UPDATE

UPDATE

JEEP

WRANGLER

VOLVO S 60

CHRYSLER

PACIFICA

UPDATE

HONDA

INSIGHT

UPDATE

BMW X 2

HYUNDAI

KONA

UPDATE

ACURA RDX

JUNE 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 75

“Now that Kia has ditched the square-

shaped, wide-eyed headlights, it’s easy

to pick out a 2020 Soul in the parking

lot or on the freeway.”Brian Vance

Service life:

4 mo/7, 2 34 mi • Avg Fuel Econ: 2 6.1 mpg

Avg CO2 0.74 lb/mi Energy cons 130 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved

problems None Maintenance cost $0 Normal-wear cost $0

Base price $23,685 As-tested $25,755 EPA City/Hwy/Comb

Fuel Econ 27/33/30 mpg Real MPG 23.5/36.2/27.9 mpg

2020 Kia Soul

lower body cladding and silver

faux skidplates that distinguish

the X-Line Soul. One could

argue that an X-Line Soul looks

even more Range Rover-y.

And although it’s not likely

anyone will mistake a Soul for

an actual Range Rover, it is

apparent Kia has positioned

the Soul to evolve into a more

grown-up vehicle.

Whether one sees Range

Rover in this sheetmetal, even

the most casual observer will

note that this third-generation

Soul features sleeker styling

than its predecessor. Want

further proof? Google “2013

Kia Soul” and be amazed how

different this vehicle looks from

the first generation. The Soul

has ditched its cute, youthful

wardrobe and is now dressing

only for success. This latest

design seems to indicate Kia

is more serious about the Soul

as a genuine competitor in the

crossover market.

Overall, the look seems to

have been designed by people

who want drivers to be proud

that their car might make

some ponder if Land Rover has

infiltrated Kia’s design ethos.

T

his does not mark the

first time the Soul’s new

styling has been likened

to a Range Rover. In fact, we’ve

pointed out the resemblance

more than once in previous

coverage of the new Soul, as

have other outlets. But this

does mark the moment when I

became unable to unsee it.

It was my neighbor who

brought it to my attention. He

noticed the Soul parked outside

my house and eventually

texted me with, “That Kia you’re

driving, did Range Rover design

it? Looks like an Evoque.” At the

time, his comment was a head-

scratcher. I wasn’t seeing what

he saw. Then, a few days later,

while I was outside kneeling to

tie my shoe in the front yard,

I glanced across the lawn at

the Soul’s profile and saw the

Rover-esque cues for myself.

The thin, wraparound

headlights and the tapered,

all-black daylight opening seen

in the profile are indeed remi-

niscent of Evoque (and maybe

Range Rover Sport, too). Keep in

mind that this particular Soul is

an EX, so it doesn’t feature the

off-road-inspired matte black

UPDATE

GENESIS G7 0

TOYOTA

RAV 4

As for driving the G70
around town, following the
car’s early woes and transmis-
sion replacement, everything
has seemed well. The G70
squirts through microscopic
holes in traffic—its 365-hp
twin-turbo V-6 providing
instant thrust, the suspension
(set in Sport mode, natch)
keeping the car composed
under such sudden moves.
Then it rained. That’s when
I discovered that the wind-
shield wipers may have been
incorrectly installed. Not
the blades—the actual wiper
assembly. When actuated, the
driver’s-side wiper leaves a
larger-than-normal expanse
of uncleared rain at the foot
of the windshield, and the

sweep of the wiper sends the

tip past the junction of the

windshield and the A-pillar.

At the apogee of each wiper

sweep, my ears are assaulted

by a thwack of the blade over-

shooting the mark.

But as rain is a rare occur-

rence here in L.A., I can wait

for when the car goes in for its

next service to have the dealer

investigate.

The Genesis G70's interior is equal parts plush (seats),
practical (layout), and intuitive (infotainment).

KIA TELLURIDE

UPDATE

KIA SOUL

UPDATE