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John Bedrow 

Automotive Journalist,

Updated on February 11, 2025

2023 Kia Soul LX 

The 2023 Kia Soul LX gets a 2.0-liter engine with 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. It reaches the 60 mph mark in 7.72 seconds, which is okay considering its serious lack of power, FWD, and practical boxy design, which is anything but slippery. Here the driver managed a leisurely 60 mph dash smoothly with no urgency whatsoever.
 


 

Despite having just 147 hp, the sub-3000-pound Soul delivered 60 mph with surprising zest!
 

Specifications 2023 Kia Soul LX
Horsepower 147 hp
Torque 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm
Transmission CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)
Top Speed 120 mph
User Submitted 0-60 mph ~7.72 sec
Curb Weight

~2,888 lbs

Submitted by Aisha Reddy


2023 Kia Soul S

The 2023 Kia Soul has an inline four-cylinder with 147 hp that’s mated to a CVT. It reaches the 60 mph mark in 7.01 seconds. There is no performance upgrade between any of the Kia Soul trims. The S variant of Soul comes with dual-tone paint options and 16-inch alloy wheels.
 



Here the CVT takes a second to kick in but once it does its smooth sailing all the way up to 60 mph +.
 

Specifications 2023 Kia Soul S
Horsepower 147 hp
Torque 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm
Transmission CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)
Top Speed 120 mph
User Submitted 0-60 mph ~7.01 sec
Curb Weight ~2,888 lbs
Submitted by L.Delgado


2023 Kia Soul GT-Line 

The 2023 Kia Soul GT-Line also gets the standard four-cylinder engine with 147 hp. It reaches the 60 mph mark in 6.78 seconds. It is also the heaviest of the three, at 2987 pounds, but it does come with bigger 18-inch wheels and tires.
 

Here the user managed a late 6-second rub while averaging 33 MPG!
 

Specifications 2023 Kia Soul GT-Line
Horsepower 147 hp
Torque 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm
Transmission CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)
Top Speed 120 mph
User Submitted 0-60 mph ~6.78 sec
Curb Weight ~2,987 lbs
Submitted by Duniya Reyes

 

Model Name

Published 0-60 mph

Real World User 0-60 mph

2023 Kia Soul LX 

N/A

7.72 seconds

2023 Kia Soul S

N/A

7.01 seconds

2023 Kia Soul GT-Line

N/A

6.78 seconds


What's the real-world 0-60 mph time of Kia Soul?

Going by the user-submitted 0-60 videos of Kia Soul above, you can expect anywhere between 8.5-9 seconds of 60 mph time. The 60 mph time is also heavily dependent on your skill as a driver, ambient and vehicle conditions.

How Can I Get the best 0-60 mph in my Kia Soul?

Things like adjusting tire pressure, using premium fuel, testing at night when temps are cooler, and getting rid of excess stuff from the car could improve the 0-60 mph time. Always test 60 mph on closed courses using proper safety gear.

What can I do to make my Kia Soul go quicker?

As per tons of discussion on Kia Soul Forums, there is no tune of specialty modification available to get more power out of Soul. As it is an economy-minded compact wagon with no performance chops whatsoever. 

You can try and switch to better lubricants and or tires to shave 1-2 milliseconds, but the price is not worth spending on for what is essentially a grossly underpowered-bare-bones people carrier.

What Are some of the quicker Kia Soul alternatives?

Kia Soul has no direct rival but the closest in terms of power and price is the Chevy Trax it has a 137 hp engine and is even slower than the Soul at 9 seconds 60 mph time

 

Kia Soul

    Car
    Engine
    0-60 MPH
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    2024 Kia Soul

    Ranked #3

    2.0L 4cyl Inline 4 2CVT8 sec120 mph
    2017 Kia Soul

    Ranked #1

    1.6L 4cyl Inline 4 6M7.2 sec112 mph
    2018 Kia Soul

    Ranked #2

    1.6L 4cyl Inline 4 6M7.5 sec116 mph
    2013 Kia Soul

    Ranked #4

    1.6L 4cyl Inline 4 6M8.6 sec108 mph
    2012 Kia Soul

    Ranked #4

    1.6L 4cyl Inline 4 6M8.6 sec106 mph
    2021 Kia Soul

    Ranked #5

    2.0L 4cyl Inline 4 6M8.9 sec120 mph

    Trim Wise 0-60

    Trims
    Configuration
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare

    EX

    Ranked #1

    2.0L 4cyl FWD 2CVT8 sec16.4 sec120 mph

    GT Line

    Ranked #1

    2.0L 4cyl FWD 2CVT8 sec16.4 sec120 mph

    LX

    Ranked #1

    2.0L 4cyl FWD 2CVT8 sec16.4 sec120 mph

    S

    Ranked #1

    2.0L 4cyl FWD 2CVT8 sec16.4 sec120 mph

    Competitor's 0-60

      Car Name
      0-60 MPH
      Quarter Mile
      Top Speed
      Source
      8 sec16.4 sec120 mph

      Other Kia Cars

        Car Name
        Engine
        0-60 MPH
        Top Speed
        SourceCompare
        -6.5 sec128 mph
        2024 Kia K5

        Ranked #2

        1.6L 4cyl 8A6.9 sec128 mph
        3.5L 6cyl 8A7 sec118 mph
        3.8L 6cyl 8A7.3 sec135 mph
        electric DD8 sec115 mph
        2.0L 4cyl 2CVT8.1 sec123 mph

        At Carhp, We make sure to deliver the most precise and reliable 0-60 mph timings sourced from a carefully curated selection of reputable sources. Our commitment to accuracy ensures that the 0-60 mph figures listed on our site truly represent the real-world performance capabilities of the vehicles. It's important to note that our comprehensive database comprises data from various sources, and factors such as vehicle weight, tire grip, road conditions, and altitude may influence these figures.