Love it or hate it, the Kia Soul always stood out with its funky, box-like design. Kia is dropping the infamous box car from its lineup at the end of 2025, but promises more exciting vehicles will replace it.
Kia is retiring the Soul box car after the 2025 model year
Who could forget the dancing hamster commercials Kia put out over a decade ago? The Soul was the star in some of Kia’s best marketing ads, but it won’t be offered as a 2026 model year.
Kia is retiring the Soul at the end of the year as it prepares for a new generation of electric and hybrid vehicles., Although Kia’s lineup will be Soul-less next year, the company is promising to replace it with even more exciting cars.
The funky box car was “a cornerstone in Kia gaining a foothold in the United States,” according to Eric Watson, Kia America’s VP of sales.
Kia is on track for its third consecutive sales record in the US and its highest market share ever. Watson said the Soul helped the brand achieve its early success, but is “equally excited for the future of Kia’s expansive and award-winning utility vehicle lineup.”
The Soul was Kia’s most affordable vehicle in the US for the 2025 model year, starting at just $21,935. Next year, the K4 sedan will take its place, starting at a slightly higher price of $23,165.
Kia is also launching the electric version, the EV4, in early 2026. Although prices have yet to be confirmed, the electric sedan is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000.
The EV4 will join the updated EV6 and EV9 in Kia’s expanding lineup. Both the EV6 and EV9 are assembled at Kia’s plant in Georgia.
The EV3, Kia’s compact electric SUV, is also expected to launch in the US sometime in 2026. Prices and an official launch date have yet to be confirmed, but the smaller electric SUV will likely start at around $30,000 to $35,000.
Kia’s EV3 is already among the top-selling electric vehicles in the UK, Europe, and other overseas markets. The company also offers some of the top-selling hybrids in the US, including the Niro, Sportage, and Sorento, which will help fill the gap left by the Soul.
Kia plans to end Soul production in October with just a few thousand models remaining at dealers. These will be the last few sold in the US as Kia prepares to revamp its lineup in 2026.
What do you think of the move? Are you sad to see the Soul go? Let us know in the comments.
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