Should You Take the 2022 Kia Soul Off-Road?
Though the Kia Soul can handle dirt and gravel roads, it’s better suited to city driving than serious off-roading.
Written by Samuel Todd
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The
2022 Kia Soul
can handle a few bumps and dips, but it’s not designed for serious off-roading. If you want a Kia that’s ready to tackle tough terrain, the Telluride
is an excellent alternative. Whether it’s up on a mountainside or down in a valley, off-roading is a blast. Before you take your Kia Soul off the beaten path, though, you’ll want to know if it’s equipped to handle rugged trails. Thankfully,
Jerry
has done a little digging, and we’ve put together everything you need to know about off-roading in your Kia Soul.We’ll cover all the specs: ground clearance, torque, tires, and more. Best of all, if you stick around, we’ll show you how to use our
super app
to get impressive savings on car insurance
! Can the 2022 Kia Soul go off-road?
Not well. If you need to traverse a few gravel or dirt roads on your way to a campsite, the Kia Soul should have no problem. However, if you’re serious about off-roading, you’re better off with a sturdier ride like the
Ford Bronco
or Jeep Wrangler
. The Kia Soul really shines in the departments of affordability and agility. With a starting price of less than $20,000, it’s a stylish compact car that nicely fits any budget—and navigates tight parking spaces like a charm!
Let’s take a closer look at the Kia Soul’s strengths and weaknesses, and check out some of the best trailblazing alternatives.
Make safe driving pay
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning now
Ground clearance
Ground clearance, which is the distance between the bottom of your car and the pavement, is an essential ingredient for off-roading greatness. A high clearance can mean the difference between crawling over a boulder with ease and scraping the paint off your front bumper!
With a ground clearance of just 6.7 inches, it’s clear that the Soul was built to be a city car. An ideal off-roading vehicle—for example, the Jeep Wrangler—would fall between 8.8 and 10.8 inches. The Wrangler lands at 9.7 inches—perfect for rock-crawling.
Torque
Another component of successful off-roading is low-end torque. In a nutshell, a car with low-end torque generates lots of torque at a low rpm, which allows it to reach full power at a slow speed.
How does the Soul fare in this area? Unfortunately, not great. The Soul’s 1.6L four-cylinder engine produces 132 lb-ft of torque at 4500rpm. That’s enough to overcome some minor ruts and roots in the road, but it’s not enough to scale a steep mountain trail or churn through deep mud.
Tires
The Kia Soul comes with P205/60HR16 tires. If that means absolutely nothing to you, you’re not alone! In plain English, this means that the Soul is equipped with mid-size tires (16 inches in diameter) that are versatile—so they’re equally ready to travel on dirt and on the pavement.
If you’re serious about taking your Kia off-roading, invest in a set of
all-terrain tires
. They might wear out a bit faster, but the extra traction will make a world of difference on bumpy surfaces!MORE: Winter tires vs. all-season tires: Which is better?
Drivetrain
Because it efficiently distributes power to each tire, all-wheel drive is a must-have for a true trail warrior. Since the 2022 Kia Soul is only available with front-wheel drive, it’s not well equipped for intense off-roading.
Angles
The final piece of the pie? Climbing angles. Since you’ll be doing lots of ascending and descending when you’re on the trail, outstanding approach and departure angles are crucial:
- Approach angle: the maximum angle at which a vehicle can climb without interference
- Departure angle: the maximum angle at which a vehicle can descend without interference
Here’s a bit of good news: the Kia Soul does surprisingly well in this regard, with both angles landing at 28 degrees! That isn’t quite as high as all-terrain
Jeeps
and Fords
, but it’s better than most crossovers, including the Toyota Highlander
and Ford Explorer.
Off-road rating: In a Pinch
To sum it up, let's check out Jerry’s highly technical DIRT rating system:
Rating | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
D | Don’t Try It | Vehicles better suited to highway conditions |
I | In a Pinch | Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances |
R | Rough and Ready | Vehicles designed for casual off-roading |
T | Trail Boss | True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain |
Are you overpaying for your car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
4.717k Ratings5M+Drivers Joined
7M+Cars Garaged
We think the 2022 Kia Soul earns a rating of I, or In a Pinch. Though off-roading in a Soul isn’t impossible, the Kia’s low clearance, high-end torque, and front-wheel drivetrain aren’t doing it any favors. If you want a vehicle that’s more suited to off-roading, you’re better off going for one of the alternatives below.
The best off-road alternatives to the 2022 Kia Soul
We’ve established that the Kia Soul can handle casual off-roading—but what if you need something more capable? Look no further than these three options, tailored for folks who are considering the Soul.
Alternative | Model | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Best affordable alternative | 2022 Nissan Kicks | $19,070 | The Nissan Kicks has a ground clearance of over 8 inches, making it more suitable for off-roading—and it’s almost $1,000 cheaper than the Soul! |
Best Kia alternative | 2022 Kia Telluride | $35,290 | The Telluride is more expensive, but it’s far more powerful than the Kia Soul, and it earned a glowing 10/10 review from Car and Driver. |
Best alternative for serious off-roading | $48,475 | Now we’re getting serious! With all-wheel drive, a sturdy V6 engine, and climbing angles of 43.2 and 37 degrees, the Bronco Wildtrak is an off-roading force to be reckoned with. |
"I’m earning
awesome rewards
every week, just for driving safe!”
Patricia W.
Reviewed on 5/28/2023
How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles
It only takes 45 seconds to sign up, then Jerry will find you the lowest prices from over 50 top insurers. And, with the average Jerry user saving more than $800 on car insurance, it’s no wonder two million people have trusted Jerry to find them the sweetest deals!
So, what are you waiting for? Try out Jerry today, and get started on the path to glorious insurance savings.
“Without a doubt, usingJerrywas a seamless process! The staff were attentive to my every question. My new Nationwide policy premium saves me $200 a month. Let them save you money too!” —Kenny P.
RECOMMENDED
Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry
This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
Gabriella R.
Find insurance savings
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
