Kia Soul Is Dead in 2025 — Here’s How the Internet Reacted to Its Farewell

Farewell, ‘Hamster-Mobile’: Kia Soul Discontinued in 2025, Here’s How the Internet Reacted

The End of a Quirky Icon

Kia has officially announced that it will cease production of its iconic Kia Soul compact crossover after the 2025 model year. After an almost 16-year run, the ‘box-shaped’ car’s demise comes in a market increasingly dominated by SUVs and a dwindling number of affordable vehicles. The news has sparked a mix of nostalgia, lament, and debate on the internet about changing market trends.

Why the Discontinuation? Declining Sales and Shifting Priorities

While Kia hasn’t specified the exact reasons for discontinuing the Soul, automotive experts point to several key factors:

Focus on Higher-Margin Models: Automakers are increasingly focusing on higher-margin SUVs and electric vehicles (EVs). The rising costs of safety and emissions regulations make it challenging to maintain profitability for more affordable cars.

Declining Sales: Once one of Kia’s best-selling vehicles, the Soul’s sales have steadily declined in recent years. After peaking at nearly 150,000 units sold in 2016, sales in 2024 have hovered around 53,000.

Internal Competition: Kia introduced new subcompact SUVs like the Seltos within its own lineup, which, while similar in size to the Soul, offered an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) option. As the Soul never offered AWD, many customers gravitated towards the more capable Seltos, impacting the Soul’s sales.

A Million Souls on the Road

Since its debut in 2008, the Kia Soul sold more than 1.5 million units in North America alone — an impressive milestone for a quirky, affordable hatchback that never really fit into a single category. Its unique mix of SUV height and compact-car efficiency made it stand out in a sea of look-alike crossovers.

While some people made fun of its “hamster commercial” era, many owners swear by the Soul’s durability and surprising comfort. In online car forums and Reddit threads, users are calling it “the best small car I ever owned” and “the last fun cheap car Kia made.”

The Internet’s Reaction: Nostalgia, Lament, and the Loss of an Affordable option

The internet has been divided in its reaction to the Kia Soul’s farewell:

1. Nostalgia and Lament (The Hamster Fans)

Among Soul owners and enthusiasts, a sense of sadness and nostalgia is prevalent:

• ‘Hamster’ Memories: A significant part of the discussion on social media revolves around the Soul’s famous advertising campaigns, featuring animated hamsters rapping and rocking out. Many joked that “the hamsters won’t dance anymore,” feeling that a ‘cultural icon’ has come to an end.
• Affordable and Practical: Many users expressed disappointment that they would no longer have access to a car that was both affordable and reliable, offering incredibly spacious interiors due to its ‘box’ design.
• Lack of Alternatives: Some current Soul owners lamented that the Kia Seltos wouldn’t serve as a suitable replacement, noting that it’s nearly $4,000 more expensive and offers worse gas mileage. For them, the Soul’s departure signifies the loss of a truly affordable, fun, and practical option.

2. Market Realities (The Realists)

Others acknowledged that the move was consistent with market trends:

• Divisive Design: While some loved the Soul’s distinct, boxy design, many others found it divisive and felt it was the right time for it to be discontinued.
• End of an Era: Several automotive journalists noted that the Soul’s demise isn’t just the end of a car, but a symbol of the end of an era of design creativity in automobiles. The Soul competed against other boxy cars like the Honda Element, Scion xB, and Nissan Cube, outlasting them all. Its discontinuation suggests that the market has now fully shifted towards ‘safer,’ more rounded crossovers.
• Emergence of New Leaders: Kia’s most affordable vehicle will now effectively be the K4 sedan (or the Seltos), marking Kia’s transition into a more sophisticated, higher-priced brand.

The internet’s reaction to the Soul’s demise has been surprisingly emotional. On platforms like Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook, drivers are posting stories about long road trips, first cars, and unforgettable memories with their Souls.

One user wrote, “It wasn’t fast, but it never let me down — kind of like a loyal dog.”
Another added, “They don’t make cars with personality anymore.”

Automotive YouTuber Doug DeMuro also shared that the Soul was a key reason Kia became respected in the U.S. — it represented fun, practicality, and dependability all in one. With its discontinuation, Kia seems to be leaving behind its “cheap-but-cool” image and moving toward a more upscale, tech-driven lineup.

What’s Next for Kia?

Kia’s focus has clearly shifted toward electric and premium-feeling SUVs like the EV6, EV9, and updated Seltos. But for many loyal owners, none of those models quite fill the same niche. The Soul was compact, affordable, and unique — three things that are becoming rare in today’s auto market.

Farewell to the Funky Box

The Kia Soul might have started as a weird little hatchback, but it became much more than that — it was a cultural moment. From its hamster ads to its unmistakable silhouette, it managed to charm its way into over a million driveways and countless memories.

So yes, the Kia Soul is dead.
But for the fans who loved it — its Soul will live on.

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