March 8, 2026 | Bonus Episode: Farewell to the Kia Soul, the quirky hatchback that defied the odds

March 8, 2026 | Bonus Episode: Farewell to the Kia Soul, the quirky hatchback that defied the odds

Author: Automotive News March 8, 2026 Duration: 15:28
After 17 years and 1.5 million units sold, Kia is ending production of the Soul, its all-time bestselling vehicle in the U.S. Reporter Richard Truett joins Jake Neher to discuss why the quirky, affordable hatchback earned such devoted fans across all demographics, what went wrong with competitors such as the Scion xB and Honda Element, and whether we’re losing the era of affordable, personality-driven cars as automakers move upmarket.

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