Ideal Alternatives to the Discontinued Kia Soul

For many years, the Kia Soul has been a popular choice among drivers in Oak Ridge. Commuters appreciate the Soul’s agile performance and economical powertrain, as well as its standard features that enhance connectivity and safety. All good things must come to an end. With the Kia Soul being discontinued after 2025, you might be looking for a favorable alternative.

A suitable replacement for the Kia Soul can be found at Rusty Wallace Kia of Knoxville. As the premier Kia dealer near Oak Ridge, we excel at providing options for local drivers. Kia makes several compact and subcompact vehicles that can offer the same advantages as the Soul.

The Kia vehicles we’re spotlighting today are small in size but offer major advantages. These vehicles all offer agile and economical performance, along with features that keep drivers safe and connected while on the road. Like all Kia vehicles, they also come with industry-leading warranty coverage for peace of mind.

If you’ve purchased or leased a Kia Soul in the past and are looking for a new vehicle that embodies its traits, this article is written with you in mind. Stop by our location today to take any one of them for a test drive. Your exceptional alternative awaits you here.

2025 Kia Niro

The Kia Soul was built from the ground up to be the ideal urban commuter vehicle. The FWD-exclusive drivetrain and economical engine allowed drivers to navigate the city streets while saving money at the pump. For Oak Ridge residents seeking an alternative, they’ll be pleasantly surprised with the Kia Niro and its similar qualities.

The Niro is a FWD-exclusive subcompact SUV. Like the Soul, it has an available 10.25-inch infotainment screen that keeps drivers connected with apps and other technologies. Numerous safety and driving assistance features help keep commuters safe during their journeys.

However, the Niro has a distinctive economical advantage over the Soul, and one that makes it ideal for drivers who are keen on saving at the pump. The Niro comes in hybrid, PHEV, and EV versions, unlike the Soul, which was limited to a single gas-only powertrain.

The hybrid variation of the 2025 Niro offers drivers a combined 53 MPG, which exceeds the 2025 Soul’s EPA-estimated 31 MPG combined by a considerable margin. Many drivers appreciate the SUV class for its generous storage space. A Niro Hybrid offers up to 63.7 cu.ft. of cargo room, more than the Soul’s 62.1 cu.ft. As any experienced hauler might tell you, every bit of room counts when moving objects across town.

The PHEV and EV versions of the Niro allow Oak Ridge drivers to go farther between fill-ups and even bypass the pump altogether. Both versions are also FWD-exclusive and make full use of their electrical accompaniments. The Niro PHEV offers drivers a combined 48 MPG, with 33 miles of electric-only driving range. Oak Ridge residents who are looking to cut fuel costs altogether will love the range of 253 miles the Niro EV achieves on a single charge.

2025 Kia Seltos

One of the Kia Soul’s most attractive features was its low price. Many commuters enjoy paying less for a vehicle while getting more performance and versatility. If you’re pleased with the Kia Soul’s low MSRP and are looking for an alternative, we recommend the 2025 Kia Seltos. Kia’s subcompact SUV has a low starting price of just $24,690, making it affordable for a wide range of incomes.

In addition to affordability, the 2025 Kia Seltos is a highly versatile vehicle, one that boasts attributes absent in the Soul. The Seltos offers two powertrains. Base models are equipped with a 2.0L four-cylinder engine that produces 146 hp and is paired with a CVT. Unlike the Soul, the Seltos can be equipped with AWD, enabling drivers to gain an edge in various driving conditions. FWD versions of the Seltos offer conservative fuel consumption, with drivers achieving a combined 31 MPG.

Not all SUV owners are content to stay within city limits. Oak Ridge drivers who enjoy recreational activities will be pleased with what the X-Line version of the Seltos has to offer. It comes with standard AWD and a 1.6L turbocharged engine that produces 190 hp.

Like the Soul and Niro, the Seltos has many of the advantages that drivers enjoy about the SUV class. It can have the same 10.25-inch touchscreen as its contemporaries. The Seltos also has over 62 cu.ft. of storage space for when cargo room becomes a priority. The Seltos is an affordable and versatile alternative to the outgoing Kia Soul.

2025 Kia Sportage

When it comes to the alternatives that we’ve showcased for the Kia Soul, the Niro and Seltos both have unique advantages that Oak Ridge drivers will love. Economically-minded drivers will love the hybrid, PHEV, and EV variations of the Niro. Meanwhile, recreation drivers will certainly enjoy the available AWD of the Seltos. However, the compact 2025 Kia Sportage manages to combine the attributes of both.

Oak Ridge drivers who loved the Kia Soul or its agile performance and fuel economy have three versions of the Sportage to choose from. A gas-only, hybrid, and PHEV Sportage all allow drivers to go farther between fill-ups.

The gas-only version of the Sportage with FWD achieves 28 MPG combined. The hybrid model is even more impressive, boasting a fuel economy that enables Oak Ridge drivers to achieve a combined fuel economy of 43 MPG. The PHEV version of the Sportage is the most economical, offering a combined 35 MPG and facilitating 34 miles of electric-only driving.

Unlike the hybrid and PHEV versions of the Niro, the Sportage can be equipped with AWD for enhanced performance during recreational activities. The PHEV version of the Sportage is AWD-exclusive. The addition of AWD enables the SUV to perform light towing duties. Models equipped with the gas engine can pull 2,500 lbs, and both the hybrid and PHEV can pull 2,000 lbs. These attributes make the Sportage a highly versatile choice.

The Sportage has other attributes that make it a more versatile alternative to the Soul. Sportage models can be equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, which is larger than the one available on the Niro and Seltos. Families who love having storage space with economical performance will enjoy the 74.1 cu.ft. of space offered on gas-only models.

All of Kia’s SUVs Are Innovative and Exciting

All of the aspects that made the Kia Soul a popular commodity among drivers can be found in a series of alternatives offered by the brand. Oak Ridge drivers who are drawn to low upfront costs will find the Seltos to be a wonderful bargain, offering unique advantages. If electric performance and agile handling are what you look for, the Niro Hybrid, PHEV, or EV can give you a leg up on saving money at the pump. Finally, the Sportage combines the best aspects of the Niro and Seltos, offering drivers a versatile alternative to the outgoing Soul.

Regardless of what you might be looking for in an SUV, we have plenty of options for you to explore at Rusty Wallace Kia of Knoxville. Oak Ridge drivers can shop for Seltos, Niro, and Sportage models with the assistance of our knowledgeable sales team. The Kia Soul will certainly be missed, but you certainly don’t want to miss the chance to test drive one of these SUVs at our location.