Most SUVs and sedans nowadays have an AWD drivetrain system. For people who live in remote places or face harsh weather often, having an AWD or 4WD vehicle is rather convenient.
AWD can be used in harsh weather comfortably, and 4WD is made to traverse rough terrain.
The Kia Soul is a popular SUV model, and you may have considered getting one. If you are considering buying a Kia Soul, you may want to gather more information about the car.
We are often asked if the Kia Soul has an AWD or 4WD model. We will be covering all the information you need to know about the matter.
Does Kia soul have AWD or 4WD?
The Kia Soul lacks both AWD and 4WD. The Kia Soul comes with front wheel drive only. This inherently is not a deal breaker as, even with the front wheel, it is very comfortable to drive. The Kia Soul even has a traction control correcting system to enhance the driving experience.
Even though the Kia Soul does not have an AWD or 4WD drivetrain system, it drives surprisingly well in snowy areas or on slippery surfaces.
Moreover, it is a given fact by the manufacturers that it will not perform similarly to an all-wheel drive or 4 wheel drive system in harsh weather. However, you can drive it reasonably well, especially when equipped with all weather or snow tires.
To make things even easier, the Kia Soul has a traction control system to give drivers an easy time while driving in bad weather.
There is so much more to know about a car’s drivetrain system that it could seem daunting. But you don’t have to worry at all as we have it covered for you.
All-wheel drive and four wheel drive may sound alike, but they are not quite the same. There are some key differences between AWD and 4WD systems.
All-wheel drive systems can distribute power to each wheel individually. The system operates this automatically without any user input.
On the other hand, four wheel drive systems send an equal amount of power to each wheel. Moreover, both drivetrain systems have different use cases.
All-wheel drive vehicles specialize in having increased grip and excellent stability in all weather conditions. On the other hand, four wheel drive systems are far better at handling tough terrain, but they may not offer the optimum grip in icy conditions.
In light of this, a 4 wheel drive system is a preferable option for you if you plan to travel off-road frequently. However, you might want to get an all-wheel drive vehicle if you want a car that performs remarkably well in all types of weather.
That being said, if you wanted the Kia Soul to have all-wheel drive or 4WD, you would be disappointed to know that the Kia Soul does not come with either of the two.
However, the Kia Soul is a great option for you if you do not require any particular benefits that these two drivetrain systems have to offer. It is a great SUV, even with a front wheel drive system.
| Kia Soul Model | Have 4-Wheel Drive |
|---|---|
| 2020 Kia Soul | No |
| 2021 Kia Soul | No |
| 2022 Kia Soul | No |
Is any Kia Soul all-wheel drive?
Unfortunately, no Kia Soul model comes equipped with an all-wheel drive system. The Kia Soul is a 5-door subcompact crossover SUV that is well known for its spacious interior and smooth driving experience.
The car is in its third generation of production and it is growing in popularity as time passes. Especially in the USA the Kia Soul is at its peak of popularity.
Since its introduction, the Kia Soul has only had an FWD system. Despite being a front-wheel drive car, the Kia Soul overcomes some of the drawbacks of front-wheel drive vehicles.
With great engineering skills, Honda has addressed some of the shortcomings of its FWD drivetrain system.
Honda continued to make FWD Honda Accord vehicles continue to receive considerable criticism for not releasing any versions with all-wheel drive.
It is no surprise that the most recent iteration of the Kia Soul also comes with an FDW system. Therefore, Kia has not yet made an AWD KIA Soul available.
4 reasons why Kia Soul doesn’t have awd/4-wheel drive
There are plenty of reasons why kia soul is not AWD or 4WD drive. Let’s get to know them.
Fuel efficiency:
Vehicles with front-wheel drive have superior fuel efficiency. Systems with front-wheel drive use less gasoline than those with all-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive.
These days, a lot of automobile owners favor fuel efficiency because the economy isn’t doing that well.
When it comes to fuel economy, front-wheel drive is unquestionably superior. For this very reason, the Kia Soul does not have AWD or 4WD.
To lessen production costs:
Cost is one of the primary reasons the Kia Soul lacks all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The front-wheel drive technology is far less expensive than the other two alternatives.
Production costs for all-wheel drives are significantly higher than for conventional front-wheel drives. The same is true with four-wheel drives; they cost more than front-wheel drives.
Front-wheel drive is far less complicated and has a lower overall cost of manufacture.
For the spacious interior:
Front-wheel drive systems need less space than all-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive. This works in favor of the Honda Accord. They utilize this advantage and provide a spacious interior, for which the Kia Soul is very popular among SUV users.
Moreover, the car’s having an FWD system means it is less heavy compared to other SUVs. If they were to release an AWD or 4WD Kia Soul model any of these two signature features may get compromised.
To satisfy the current buyers:
The Kia Soul is one of the most well-liked SUVs on the market despite lacking AWD or 4WD. And the reason for it is that the Kia Soul has attracted a following of front-wheel drive enthusiasts.
Losing the devoted following of people who eagerly await the debut of a new Kia Soul model would be disastrous. The Kia Soul is also distinctive in this way as it only offers front-wheel drive, unlike most of its rivals, who have all-wheel drive.
Is the Kia Soul going to be AWD?
The Kia Soul may never get all-wheel drive since Honda hasn’t indicated that it will. Even the 2022 Kia Soul did not get an AWD model.
Kia may be hesitant to switch to the FWD system since they cater to specific customers who appear to love driving FDW.
In addition, there is the matter of production cost. AWD drivetrain systems for the Kia Soul will be more expensive. Being more affordable than its rivals is one of the key factors contributing to the Honda Accord’s popularity.
It would be risky to raise the price of the Kia Soul because of increased production costs. Therefore, the Kia Soul might never receive AWD.
Final Thoughts
The Kia Soul only comes with an FWD system. Although the lack of AWD or 4WD does not seem to be a problem, it would have been better to have the option to get AWD or 4WD available. The Kia Soul even has a traction control correcting system that makes traversing in adverse weather easily.
I am an automotive enthusiast and have been interested in cars since I was a little kid. I have worked in the automotive industry for many years and have extensive knowledge of vehicles and their engines. I am a father of two and I love spending time with my family.
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