2022 Kia Soul Loses The Manual Gearbox You Forgot It Had

Manual transmissions are becoming increasingly rare and the latest model to lose a DIY gearbox is the Kia Soul.

While the 2021 Soul came standard with a six-speed manual, the 2022 Soul is now equipped with a standard Intelligent Variable Transmission. This helps to explain why the base price has increased from $17,590 to $19,190 as the automatic used to be a $1,500 option.

Besides losing the manual, the 2022 Soul has a revised exterior that features Kia’s new logo on the hood, liftgate and wheel caps. Steel Gray also replaces Sparkling Silver on the LX, S and EX trims.

Also Read: 2022 Kia Telluride Debuts With Updated Looks And More Standard Tech

While the 2022 Soul largely carries over otherwise, the entry-level LX gains a larger 8-inch infotainment system. The base model can also be equipped with a new Technology Package that features 16-inch alloy wheels as well as driver assistance systems such as Blind Spot Collision Warning, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Change Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Driver Attention Warning.

Moving up the trim ladder, the S, X-Line and GT-Line trims gain additional standard equipment including a dual-zone automatic climate control system, a push-button ignition, a wireless smartphone charger and dual USB charging ports. More importantly, the models now come standard with a 10.25-inch infotainment system with GPS navigation.

Engine options carryover and include a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that develops 147 hp (110 kW / 149 PS) and 132 lb-ft (179 Nm) of torque. Customers can also get a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) and 195 lb-ft (264 Nm) of torque. It’s also worth mentioning the turbo engine trades the IVT for a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Note: Prices exclude a $1,175 destination charge