- Kia confirms the Soul ends production in October 2025 after 1.5 million U.S. sales.
- The Soul’s iconic hamster ads helped transform Kia into a widely recognized brand.
- Once a quirky outlier, the small crossover leaves behind a lasting legacy of influence.
It’s the end of an era for one of Kia’s most defining creations. After 16 years and over 1.5 million sales, the Soul will die when production ends later this month. What began as a small, boxy oddball evolved into a cornerstone model that helped transform Kia’s image. Without it, the brand might never have found its current stride.
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The Shape That Stood Apart
The Soul debuted in 2009 with styling that was anything but conventional. With a few exceptions like the Scion xB and Nissan Cube, ompacts of the day were blob-shaped, so the squared-off Soul stood out.
The Kia design team in America said that a ‘boar with a backpack’ inspired the shape, as it wanted this car to be tough and practical without being overly large. Sure enough, when the concept made it to production, that shape remained and proved to be a smash hit.
More: Kia Soul And Seltos Owners Could Get New Engine In Latest Recall
Of course, the introduction of equally out-of-the-box advertising didn’t hurt. Animated hamsters treated the Soul like it was the hottest club on wheels as they jammed out to Black Sheep and LMFAO. The campaign went viral before going viral was even a thing.
Over the years, the Soul has been a design playground of sorts with concepts that included drop-top versions and even track-focused examples. While these didn’t see production, they carried on the soul of the Soul.
“The Soul was one of the cornerstones in Kia gaining a foothold in the United States and this one-of-a-kind vehicle – and the marketing supporting it – helped Kia move to where it resides today,” said Eric Watson, Vice President, Sales, Kia America.
“Kia is steadily progressing towards its third consecutive annual sales record and all-time high market share, and that is possible thanks to the early success carved out by the Soul. We are proud of the legacy Soul will leave behind as it exits our lineup, but equally excited for the future of Kia’s expansive and award-winning utility vehicle lineup.”
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It’s worth noting that sales haven’t been what they once were. They peaked in 2015 and have never returned to similar heights. That said, there are still a few thousand Souls on dealer lots across the U.S., and they still represent something special.
These models blend practicality, style, efficiency, and personality into an actually affordable package. If that’s what you’re in the market for, get one while you can because cars like this are getting fewer and further between.
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