The best automotive designers take inspiration from nature and the world to design their greatest creations. We all know this, and for the most part, the sources of inspiration are definitely noticeable. Lamborghinis are often styled after fighter jets, and that's very clear on just about all of them. The inspiration for the Volkswagen Beetle, which is lovable but also horrible, comes from its name, and that's easy to recognize too.

Other times, designers take inspiration from... elsewhere. The Mini Coupe, for example, had a roof that was styled after a baseball cap sitting front-to-back. Peugeot's RCZ had a roof that appeared to have been styled after a human backside. Jeremy Clarkson put a mustache on the Hammerhead i-Eagle Thrust. The Kia Soul? It's styled after a boar wearing a backpack. Silly inspiration aside, there's tons to love about Kia's award-winning subcompact crossover.

9 Characterful Design

Front 3/4 view of a blue 2023 Soul
Kia

Yes, the design inspo for the Soul is a little more left-field than most, but that's not something we'd put against it. It's very characterful, cool, and instantly recognizable. The first generation Soul's design didn't go over well with most people, but the current car is far easier on the eyes.

Rear 3/4 view of a blue 2023 Soul
Kia

RELATED: These Are The Best Features Of The 2020 Kia Soul

Whether you think it looks good or not, one thing is for sure; it has personality. You couldn't possibly mistake it for anything else, except for maybe the Scion xB. The Soul looks like a sporty version of the xB, or perhaps the orange van in those cartoon Fanta commercials from a decade ago, and that's no bad thing at all.

8 The Turbo Model Is A Riot

Front 3/4 view of a red Soul Turbo on the move
Kia

Would you believe, for a little while, Kia offered the third generation Soul with a turbocharged powertrain. The 1.6 T-GDI put out 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. Those aren't numbers that would scare a hot hatchback, but they are certainly good for a subcompact SUV.

Rear 3/4 view of a red Soul Turbo
Kia

A similar powertrain powered Kia's own Pro_Cee'd GT (you have to spell it like that) a few years ago, and it's currently doing service in the i20 N. Neither of those are/were available in North America, so this is the closest thing they got. Paired with the 7-speed DCT, the Soul 1.6T could do 0-60 in 7.6 seconds and top out at 135 mph.

7 There Was Even An Electric Version

Front 3/4 view of a lime green Soul EV
Kia

Just in case the gas engine wasn't doing it for you, Kia also offered an electric version of the Soul for a little while. Unfortunately, you can't get this version anymore. An educated guess would be that Kia wants the Niro to fill this spot in the lineup.

Rear 3/4 view of a lime green Soul EV
Kia

RELATED: 5 Reasons Why We Love The Kia Soul EV (5 Reasons Why We'll Never Buy One)

The only model year of the Soul EV that's worthwhile is 2020. That's when Kia almost doubled both the power output and the range, to 201 hp and 243 miles, respectively. It's just as funky as the gas-powered Soul, but without any emissions and even more quiet and refined. Win-win.

6 Every Version Is Good To Drive

The front of a blue 2023 Soul, surrounded by dust
Kia

No matter which version of the Soul you have, they are all surprisingly good to drive. For an entry-level model, the Soul can surprisingly hold its own in just about any environment. It's not laugh-your-face-off fun in the corners, but it's certainly not so boring that you wish you took the bus instead.

Rear 3/4 view of a red Soul on the move
Kia

The GT-Line model gets lower suspension and different tires, which should spice things up further. Every Soul model is also pretty comfortable, and while the base engine isn't a powerhouse, it doesn't feel painfully slow, and the CVT is not painfully annoying, either. It's the complete subcompact car package.

5 It's Surprisingly Nice On The Inside

The interior of the 2023 Soul, from the driver's seat
Kia

Kia has a knack for making the interiors on all their cars feel far nicer than the price would suggest. The Soul is no exception, and the 2023 model year is going for some extra brownie points. As well as a new steering wheel and digital instrument cluster, there's the latest version of Kia's Connect infotainment system.

The interior of the 2023 Soul, from the passenger seat
Kia

The Soul's interior also has a surprising amount of personality. As shown on the pictures, you can now color match certain pieces of trim to the exterior color of the car. The new steering wheel design is also pretty funky, as it places the multifunction commands in circles on the spokes. The climate vents are also pretty funky.

4 Great Tech And Features

The infotainment system in the Kia Soul, showing the backup camera and radio frequency
Kia

Another thing Kia loves to do is offer a lot of fantastic technology in all their cars. Once again, the Soul is not exempt from this practice. The new infotainment system is packing all the latest connectivity features, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both of which are wireless.

The wireless charging pad in the 2023 Kia Soul
Kia

There's also a high-res backup camera, and an available Harman/Kardon sound system. Below all the central controls, there's a wireless charging pad, new for 2023. Along with that, there's the Soul's unique ambient lighting system, which we will get back to.

3 Excellent Fuel Economy

Kia-Soul-5-1

Let's face the facts, the Soul would classify as an economy car. That means that the fuel economy that it offers up is surprisingly decent. Especially when you consider a small naturally aspirated four-cylinder paired with a CVT, and no hybrid component, the Soul does surprisingly well.

Kia-Soul-EV-3-1

Expect up to 35 MPG on the highway, and anyway from 28 to 30 MPG in the city. Those are some great numbers, but we can't help but feel it would be helped even more by a hybrid powertrain or Kia's latest generation of mild hybrid turbo engines.

2 Amazing Value For Money

Front 3/4 view of a red Soul Turbo in the sunset
Kia

Considering what you get for the money, it's hard to believe that the Soul is as cheap as it really is. The 2023 Soul starts at just under $20,000. Meanwhile, the most expensive EX model starts at just over $24,000.

The side profile of a red Soul Turbo
Kia

RELATED: What We Love About The New 2023 Kia Soul

Those are some pretty great prices, and it's not to say that the base model is underequipped. It even gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry, rear privacy glass, and standard auto emergency braking and lane keep assist.

1 It's Young At Heart

Door panel speaker details in the Kia Soul
Kia

This might sound like a cliché thing to say, but you can't help but feel that the Soul is a very young-at-heart car. It doesn't take itself too seriously, it looks cool, but it's an honest car that offers excellent value for money and pretty much everything you could ask for in a brand-new car.

Door panel speaker lighting in the Kia Soul
Kia

It also features some cool stuff that other Kia models don't offer. For example, the ambient lighting (pictured) can pulse to the beat of the music you're playing. Not to mention, have you seen that front grille and those taillights? With all of that, you can't help but love the Kia Soul, and it gets easier to see why a lot of people consider it to be the best subcompact crossover.