kia soul road trip

Are Kia Souls Good For Road Trips? (Explained)

Millions of people instantly recognized the Kia Soul because of its unique and daring design. Few car models today have designs peculiar to them alone.

This design has a tremendous impact on whether the car is great for road trips. You’d find out soon enough, onward.

Table of Contents

Here’s the short answer to whether Kia Souls are good for road trips:

The Kia Soul is arguably the best SUV for road trips. Its most defining feature is that it has the qualities we’d expect from an SUV whilst delivering excellent fuel economy. Of course, there are many other features that may qualify or disqualify the Soul for road trips. However, this sets it apart.

How Comfortable Is a Kia Soul for Long-Distance Road Trips?

Sure, the most regarded vehicle component in terms of comfort are the car seats. Let’s start there.

Kia made the seats in the Soul of quality materials that provide premium convenience.

Also, the Soul provides the option of a heated steering wheel and heated front seats. Guess it’s an ‘ouch’ for the rear passengers. There’s a disadvantage with the Kia Soul after all.

Most SUVs treat their rear passengers as well as the front ones. For heated comforts, the Soul doesn’t deliver on that promise.

However, we’d forgive Kia, since the Soul’s infotainment system is fitted with a 7-inch touchscreen.

The great news is that it comes standard on all trims, isn’t that something? The 2022 model even adds an inch, which means the base models in new Kia Souls have 8-inch screens.

Trims like the GT-Line 1.6T and the EX come with 10.3-inch touchscreens. More on comfort, it also has standard Apple CarPlay, HD radio and Android Auto.

You can expect more rhythm to the cruise with the Soul’s 6-speaker audio system.

How Much Stuff Can You Pack in the Trunk of a Kia Soul?

First off, for a subcompact SUV, the Kia Soul has unbelievable cargo space.

It can reportedly fit in twenty suitcases according to Car and Driver. With the rear seats upright, the Kia Soul has a trunk space of about 20 cubic feet.

When the rear seats are folded, the number triples to give a whopping 62 cubic feet, hence the several suitcases.

With such a volume, you wouldn’t have a problem transporting five individuals with their luggage across state borders. Also, you get to have more cargo space if you’re only two on the road trip.

Does It Have GPS Built-In?

The Kia Soul’s GPS navigation system is quite effective. However, if you’re buying a Kia Soul, you’re going to have to pay for it directly or indirectly.

Once you type in your destination and select your desired result, you’d get different routes to pick from.

The navigation system gives two potential routes to get to your destination. However, it’ll usually recommend one route which is faster than the other.

Select your desired route, click on ‘start guidance’ and you’re on your way. It works like the maps on your smartphone and is perfect for those of us who dislike asking for directions.

It also has driver drowsiness monitoring and heads up display. That way, you don’t have to worry about dozing off when driving.

However, you really shouldn’t drive when you’re exhausted. More on that topic later.

Can You Drive Cross-Country in a Kia Soul?

Can you? Of course you can. It’s not illegal, is it?

Should you? Well, let’s see.

The Kia Soul has excellent interior comfort for off-road driving. However, there are many other factors to consider before taking an off-road trip.

It has a 6.7 inch ground clearance. This is higher than the average sedan and sedans are also very well used for road trips. However, when compared with other SUVs, the Kia Soul drives a little low.

With all of that in consideration, the Kia Soul can handle cross-country trips to a degree. It may even endure a little rocky terrain. However, don’t expect as much from it as you’d expect from typical SUVs.

Also, its lack of all-wheel drive makes it vulnerable in muddy terrains. Hence, if it’s wet season, avoid cross-country trips and stick to the main road.

How Reliable Is a Kia Soul Over Long Distances?

Well, if it’s reliable in the city and in alleys, it’s bound to be reliable over longer distances.

RepairPal gives the Kia Soul a 4.5 out of 5.0 reliability rating. Believe it or not, it costs only $437 annually to keep this car kicking.

This is lower than the average annual cost of maintaining a subcompact SUV. Also, it is over $200 lower than the average cost of maintaining a car.

RepairPal data suggests that the Kia Soul doesn’t need major repairs as frequently as the average vehicle on the road. When it needs repairs, it is also less likely to be a severe problem.

These reports make it highly reliable for long distances. You have little to worry about with the Kia Soul as long as you keep it in great shape.

Related:  Kia Soul Problems: 4 Common Issues (Explained)

How Long Can a Kia Soul Drive With No Breaks?

Different Kia Soul trims can last on the road for different durations. They range from as little as 350 miles to over 500 miles on a single tank. Its tank is also 14.3 gallons large.

Let’s take fuel problems and refilling out of the picture and focus on performance. If we do that, we can easily say the Kia Soul really doesn’t need a break. We also don’t expect it to overheat.

It is up to the task. We’re more worried about you because you’d be the one who’d need a break. Good thing it comes with driver assist features like pedestrian detection and forward collision warning to help keep you sharp.

Previously, we established you shouldn’t drive if you’re genuinely tired. That’s also a good reason to give driving a break. Sloppy driving (which you’ll probably do when you’re tired), can wear out your transmission.

How Long Will a Kia Soul Last If You Use It for Road Trips?

A Kia Soul has an average lifespan of about 200,000 miles. This means it can deliver over 13 years of high performance usage before it’d need a surgery.

If you maintain your car and frequently use it for road trips, you’d likely get more years from it. This is especially true if you go on more cruise journeys and less off-road trips.

For sure, your brakes, tires and your transmission are going to last a lot longer compared to city driving.

City driving causes drivers to speed up and decelerate their cars often. This is because of several factors including traffic, cornering, pedestrians, and cyclists and so on.

You could really get an extra 50,000 miles added to your car’s lifespan with road trips. This is because road trips usually have less traffic and obstruction.

Related:  Are Honda Accords Good For Road Trips? (Explained)

Does a Kia Soul Offer Good Mileage Over Long Distances?

So much so that you may only have to refill your tank twice on a 1000 mile journey.

Edmunds.com gives the 2021 Kia Soul a combined fuel economy of 31 mpg. It also gives it a highway fuel economy of 35 mpg. However, other model years don’t fare so well.

Going by 35 miles per gallon, the Kia Soul can achieve 500 miles before needing a refill. For an SUV, that’s pretty impressive.

You can drive for hours without breaks. You also get to save more on gas and get more supplies for your trip. It doesn’t get better than that.

How Many People Can Comfortably Go on a Road Trip in a Kia Soul?

From the exterior design, one can expect the Kia Soul to have enough head and leg room to do a seated dance. It doesn’t disappoint.

The cabin is well spaced and can seat five people comfortably.

It really doesn’t matter if they’re tall adults, there’s enough room for all. This means a road trip in a Kia Soul doesn’t have to be endured by four people. They sure can enjoy it.

An added advantage it brings to the table is visibility. Don’t forget it’s an SUV, and this gives it a high-view advantage over sedans. We weren’t kidding when we said it combines the advantages of an SUV and a sedan.

It also comes equipped with standard latch connections at the rear seats. They didn’t forget your kids.

Related:  Are Audis Good For Road Trips? (Explained)

What Are the Best Cars for Long Road Trips?

Here are some of the best cars for long road trips:

• Kia Soul:  It combines the versatility of an SUV with the fuel efficiency and comfort of a sedan.
• Honda Accord: It’s a comfortable car that’s smooth on the road with a great infotainment system.
• Nissan Altima: Let’s not get started on its excellent aerodynamics. In short words, it simply gives you a dose of luxury and performance.
• Honda Odyssey: The Odyssey’s unique advantage is its hall-like space. Its V6 engine gives enough power for your road trip too. However, this doesn’t do much to support its fuel economy.
• Subaru Outback: Perfect for off-road trips, it brings a lot of power to the table. It has an amazing 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

Final Thoughts

Another often overlooked advantage the Kia Soul has is its ability to maneuver tight spaces and find parking spaces. This is just another prominent feature on a long list of advantages.

This ability has little to no advantage on the highway and only seems useful during city driving.

However, if you’re going to be doing a lot of cross-country or off-road driving, you’d appreciate it. You’d need to maneuver rocks, potholes, ditches, and even swamps.

With these in mind, the Kia Soul doesn’t have equal capabilities with larger SUVs. However, it remains a great option for road trips because of its blend of most things great.

Kia Soul | edmunds.com

12 New Subcompact Crossovers and SUVs with the Most Cargo Space | caranddriver.com

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2024 Kia Soul

# 1 out of 18 in Subcompact SUVs

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$ 20,190 - 24,490

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2024 Kia Soul Review

Other Years:

U.S. News Rating

The 2024 Kia Soul is a high-value subcompact SUV with a low starting price, a long list of standard features and a surprisingly spacious cabin. However, the engine is dull, and the Soul is not available with all-wheel drive like some of its competitors are.

Spacious cabin and cargo hold

Enticing starting price

Long list of standard features

Stable handling

No all-wheel drive

Lackluster engine

What's New for 2024

New EX Designer package

Enhanced security with Smart Key sleep mode

27-29 City / 33-35 Hwy

147 horsepower

2024 Soul Photos

Kia Soul Rankings (and Awards)

The 2024 Kia Soul's #1 ranking is based on its score within the Subcompact SUVs category. It is the winner of our 2024 Best Subcompact SUV for the Money award. Currently the Kia Soul has a score of 8.6 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 28 pieces of research and data elements using various sources .

• # 1 in Subcompact SUVs
• # 3 in Crossover SUVs
• # 1 in SUVs with 2 Rows

Winner in 2024 Best Subcompact SUV for the Money

Where This Vehicle Ranks

$20,190 - $24,490 MSRP

2024 Kia Seltos

$24,490 - $30,090 MSRP

2024 Mazda CX-30

$24,995 - $36,800 MSRP

2024 Hyundai Kona

$24,250 - $33,300 MSRP

2024 Subaru Crosstrek

$25,195 - $32,195 MSRP

2024 Volkswagen Taos

$23,995 - $33,515 MSRP

Expert Rating

Our rating is established through qualitative research and analysis of Kia Soul reviews, as well as hard data points that speak to the Soul’s safety, reliability, fuel economy and cargo capacity. This rating is continually updated based on the latest information that comes in from our research and data sources.

• Performance 6.9
• Fuel Economy 9.1
• Interior 8.5
• Critics' Rating 8.5

Thinking of leasing a Kia Soul?

The U.S. News Best Price Program saves users an average of $1,824 off the MSRP, and a lower price equals lower monthly lease payments. That means you could see a savings of $90 a month on a 36-month lease.

Drive & Performance 6.9 /10

The 2024 Kia Soul isn't going to wow you, but it does most things fairly well. It is a breeze to fit in tight parking spots and feels at home winding through narrow alleys. The steering feels reasonably accurate and responsive, the brakes offer ample stopping power, and the suspension keeps the ride smooth over most uneven pavement. However, large imperfections in the road may jostle the cabin.

Every 2024 Soul features the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. It pairs with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. This engine gets the job done around town, but it can feel sluggish on the highway. The Soul also has an unimpressive zero-to-60-mph time of about 8 seconds. The standard CVT works just fine.

Read more about performance »

Fuel Economy 9.1 /10

The Soul's LX, S and GT-Line trims return an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, which are good estimates for a  subcompact SUV . The EX trim has slightly better estimates at 29/35 mpg city/highway.

Interior 8.5 /10

The Soul's cabin reflects its low starting price. There are quite a few hard plastics, but the interior feels well-built, and it's fairly handsome. However, it can be noisy at high speeds. The Soul seats five people. Its boxy shape affords the driver great outward visibility, and the front seats are comfortable, with a good amount of cushioning and enough head- and legroom for tall adults. The rear seats are also fairly comfortable, with enough space for two average-sized adults to comfortably fit back there.

This Kia really shines when it comes to cargo space. It has 24.2 cubic feet of room behind the rear seats and a maximum of 62.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down. This is plenty of room for a trip's worth of luggage and great capacity for the class.

Read more about interior »

Value 9.6 /10

The 2024 Kia Soul has an excellent value rating for the subcompact SUV segment . We determine value based on the vehicle's estimated total cost of ownership, along with the vehicle's MSRP for its base and top trims.

Safety 9.3 /10

The 2024 Kia Soul received a four-out-of-five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and mostly good ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Soul comes with lots of standard active safety features, including forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, cyclist detection and a rear-seat alert.

For installing child safety seats, there are two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats and a tether anchor for the rear middle seat. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave this LATCH system the second-highest rating of Acceptable for its ease of use. The lower anchors are set too deeply in the seats, but this system is otherwise easy to use.

Quality and Reliability 87.0 /100

The 2024 Kia Soul has a predicted reliability score of 87 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.

Critics’ Rating 8.5 /10

The 2024 Kia Soul receives a critics' rating that is good for the class. This rating, which is driven by our qualitative research, represents the overall tone and recommendation level that the automotive press places on a car.

How Much Is a 2024 Kia Soul?

The 2024 Kia Soul has a starting MSRP of $19,990, which is competitive for the class. The base LX trim comes with features such as an 8-inch touch screen and cloth upholstery. The cost rises to $22,490 for the S trim, which adds amenities such as a 10.2-inch touch screen and wireless device charging. The GT-Line trim starts at $23,590 and gains niceties like 18-inch wheels and synthetic leather upholstery with cloth accents. Stepping up to the EX will cost you $24,290. Among this trim's additional features are heated front seats and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Which Is the Best Kia Soul Model to Buy?

We suggest the S trim. For less than $3,000 more than the base trim, you get a ton of additional features. This trim bolsters the infotainment system with a 10.2-inch touch screen, upgrades the wheels from steel to alloy and adds convenience features such as wireless device charging, remote start and dual-zone automatic climate control. The extras are well worth the added cost.

Pricing by Model

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Kia dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Kia deals page.

Want to trade-in or sell your current car? Get an instant cash offer that can be used toward the purchase of your next car.

U.S. News Expert Review

Driving the 2024 Kia Soul GT-Line from King Kia of Gaithersburg, Md., was delightful. The Soul is the total package, with excellent maneuverability, road-trip-level spaciousness and an attractive below-$20,000 base price. However, you still might want to consider rivals like the Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona for their peppier engine offerings.

What We Like

The Soul is a subcompact SUV , but its boxy size gives it more passenger and cargo room than the competition. In fact, my average-sized adult passenger felt good sitting in the rear. The infotainment display is mounted high, and it’s logically arranged with the driver in mind. The Soul also comes with many physical controls below the touch screen and on the steering wheel, which made it easy to use these functions while keeping my attention on the road. A wide array of standard equipment adds to this Kia's appeal.

What We Don’t Like

The Soul has a driver-focused cabin, but it falters a bit when it comes to quality. That's not to say this Kia is swarming with low-rent surfaces, but several rivals offer more refined interiors. Power also isn't the Soul's strong suit, and we go into more detail on that below.

How It Drove

The Soul won't win any awards for its performance, but I found it to have engaging road manners. The Soul is the perfect size for driving around town, whether you're on a straight or bendy road, and parking spots are easy to enter and exit. The Soul boasts stable handling, well-weighted steering and a relaxed ride. And while this Kia's run-of-the-mill engine is adequate in the city, this Kia isn't quick to pass vehicles on the highway.

Is the 2024 Kia Soul a Good SUV?

The 2024 Soul is a great SUV. In fact, we named it our 2024 Best Subcompact SUV for the Money because it has the best combination of quality and value in its class. Despite a low starting price, this Kia comes equipped with an impressive amount of standard infotainment and safety features. It's also highly practical for its size, as the cabin has spacious, adult-friendly seats and a good amount of cargo room.

The Soul is a fantastic option. However, the class is full of other great vehicles worth considering, including the well-rounded Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona .

2023 vs. 2024 Kia Soul: What's the Difference?

For 2024, a new EX Designer package is available, and the optional Smart Key now has a sleep mode to enhance security. Performance-wise, the 2023 and 2024 Soul models are essentially the same.

Compare the 2023 and 2024 Soul »

Here are the key changes for the Kia Soul over the last few years:

• 2024: new EX Designer package debuts; enhanced Smart Key security
• 2023: refreshed exterior styling; more standard safety features; turbo engine and dual-clutch transmission discontinued
• 2022: manual transmission discontinued
• 2021: a rear-seat alert became standard
• 2020: fully redesigned (start of third generation) with a larger touch screen, more standard and available features and a stronger base engine

If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our  2021 Soul ,  2022 Soul  and  2023 Soul  reviews to help make your decision. Also, check out our  Best New Car Deals  and  Best New Car Lease Deals  pages to learn about savings and discounts you can find on new vehicles.

2024 Kia Soul Versus the Competition

Kia soul vs. hyundai kona.

The Hyundai Kona is another great option in the subcompact SUV class . The Kona boasts lively turbocharged engine options, provides a gentle ride, comes equipped with a long list of standard features and has a user-friendly infotainment system. Both of these small crossovers return similar fuel economy estimates and have low starting MSRPs. However, the Soul's spacious cabin and cargo hold make it highly practical and generally more well-rounded. Choosing between the Kia and the Hyundai will likely come down to personal preference.

Compare the Soul and Kona »

Kia Soul vs. Nissan Kicks

The Nissan Kicks has a similar appeal as the Soul. The Kicks sports an enticing low starting price, comes equipped with a long list of standard features, provides a roomy cabin and has a comfortable ride. The Kicks also gets better gas mileage than the Soul. However, the Soul has more responsive handling, features a longer warranty and offers more overall cargo space. The Soul is the better choice.

Compare the Soul and Kicks »

Compare the Soul, Kona and Kicks »

2024 Kia Soul Models and Trims

The 2024 Kia Soul comes in four trims: LX, S, GT-Line and EX. Every Soul features the same 147-horsepower four-cylinder engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is not an option.

Kia Soul LX

The base LX trim has a starting MSRP of $19,990. Standard features include a digital gauge cluster, an 8-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, a USB port, remote keyless entry, cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, a rearview camera, halogen headlights and 16-inch steel wheels. Kia's Drive Wise safety suite is also included, and it bundles driver-attention monitoring, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, cyclist detection, forward automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning and a rear-seat alert.

The only optional add-on for this trim is the $500 Technology package, which adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist and 16-inch alloy wheels.

The S starts at $22,490. This trim adds a 10.2-inch touch screen, navigation, wireless device charging, satellite radio, two additional USB ports, push-button start, remote start, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Kia Soul GT-Line

The GT-Line starts at $23,590. This trim includes all of the features from the Soul S, plus synthetic leather upholstery with cloth accents, restyled front and rear bumpers, a center-exit exhaust and 18-inch alloy wheels.

The optional GT-Line Technology package ($2,400) adds a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights and fog lights, a 10-speaker stereo, a cargo cover and an adjustable cargo shelf.

Kia Soul EX

The EX trim costs $24,290 and adds heated front seats, a sunroof, a cargo cover and 17-inch alloy wheels. The optional EX Designer package ($500) adds 18-inch sport wheels and synthetic and cloth upholstery.

See 2024 Kia Soul specs and trims »

2024 Kia Soul Safety

Nhtsa safety ratings, iihs safety ratings, 2024 kia soul crash test results.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2024 Kia Soul an overall safety rating of four out of five stars, with five stars in the side crash test and four stars in the frontal crash and rollover tests.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2024 Soul the highest rating of Good in the four crash tests conducted.

2024 Kia Soul Safety Features

Standard driver-assistance features:

• Rearview camera
• Driver-attention monitoring
• Forward collision warning with pedestrian detection
• Forward automatic emergency braking
• Automatic high-beam headlights
• Lane-keep assist
• Lane-departure warning
• Cyclist detection
• Rear-seat alert (reminds you to check the back seats for kids or pets before you exit the vehicle)

Available driver-assistance features:

• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise control

Kia covers the 2024 Soul with a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Read more about reliability »

Specs and Features

The Soul offers two touch-screen options, and both are easy to use, with clear graphics and quick response. There are also a few physical buttons and knobs, which are helpful when you want to make climate and audio adjustments on the go.

• Standard infotainment features:  an 8-inch touch screen, a digital gauge cluster, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth and a USB port
• Available infotainment features:  a 10.2-inch touch screen, navigation, wireless device charging, satellite radio, a 10-speaker stereo and two additional USB ports
• Additional standard features:  remote keyless entry
• Other available features:  dual-zone automatic climate control, push-button start, remote start and a sunroof

For more information, read  What Is Apple CarPlay?  and  What Is Android Auto?

Why You Can Trust Our Reviews

U.S. News & World Report has been ranking the best cars, trucks and SUVs since 2007, and our staff has more than 75 years of combined experience in the auto industry.

This 2024 Soul review combines 24 professional reviews with concrete data like performance specs, fuel economy estimates and safety ratings and incorporates applicable research for all models in this generation, which launched for 2020. Check out excerpts from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

"Forget the hamsters—the 2024 Kia Soul is an attractive and distinctive option among today's crop of subcompact SUVs. Its boxy styling is extroverted and its interior offers whimsical touches, but the Soul oozes practicality thanks to a spacious cabin that's roomier than you'd expect given the car's small footprint. The Soul also offers an impressive amount of features for the money given that it's less expensive than many rivals including the Chevrolet Trailblazer, the Jeep Renegade, and the Kia Seltos."

"The Kia Soul is a small SUV with a big personality. It proves you don’t have to spend much money to drive something that stands out from the crowd. Its boxy design yields a surprisingly spacious interior for a car this size, strengthening its practicality factor. The Soul is also equipped with some of the latest safety and infotainment tech features, and even a fully loaded example is still pretty affordable."

"The Soul lost some of its quirky charm last year as part of a styling refresh, but the Soul is still a small, usable hatchback with a spacious interior offering stellar value."

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Kia Soul: Pacific Northwest Family Road Trip

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This compact car packs a lot of road trip surprises

This summer we took our two year old son to Seattle for his first taste of the Pacific Northwest. Being working parents we try to make the most of our vacation days by flying in and out of different destinations and taking a road trip between them.

Originally we had planned on taking a SUV on our drive from Seattle to Portland with a detour to Crater Lake when I heard about the opportunity test drive a Kia Soul 2014.  Since we were starting our trip in Seattle, the rich mocha color of the Kia Soul was the first indication that we were going to be a great match.

Road tripping to Crater Lake in the Kia Soul.

Besides, it was just two adults and a toddler with a few pieces of luggage so why did we need a big car?

Compact redefined

Our concern that we would feel a bit crowded inside the Kia Soul was thrown out the window the moment we settled inside. We had sufficient leg room both at the front and at the back. We set our son’s car seat in the middle to give him a nice view through the front or from the sides.

Having ridden part of the trip in the backseat next to my son, I know we could have comfortably accommodated another child or an adult in the back. We also had the advantage of sliding into compact parking spots which became quite handy while sight seeing in cities like Seattle and Portland.

The trunk was sufficient for holding our luggage. But for a bigger party or a longer trip, the storage would be my only concern for a Kia Soul.

The Kia Soul gave us one big surprise — plenty of room for our family.

Safety first

When deciding on a car for our family road trip, safety was our utmost concern. Kia Soul has a safety rating of 5 (highest on a scale of 1 to 5) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and built in features that had our safety questions answered.

Air bags are on the front as well as the sides. There is a latch system for the car seat and we could have the seat secured in the middle or on either side. The anti lock braking system would ensure that the car wouldn’t skid off road if we were to brake suddenly.

The navigation system had an emergency button where we could reach the police, hospital or roadside assistance at a touch of the screen. The current location was also displayed on the same screen to enable us to identify our whereabouts in case of an emergency. The navigation screen also functioned as the rear view camera display.

Unexpected luxury

You may not think luxury when you think of a Kia Soul. But sink into the leather seats and you will think otherwise. The black leather seats feel as good as they look. The ability to heat and cool the seats made the road trip even more comfortable. During the hot summer afternoons, we felt refreshed with the ventilated seats. But when the temperature dropped at night, we stayed warm and cozy with heated seats.

Yet another surprise was the Kia Soul sunroof!

If there was one thing about that car that caught all of us by surprise, it was panoramic sunroof. It helped to make this road trip an unforgettable one for our son as he was fascinated by the experience of seeing through the roof. Even we enjoyed the chance to look up and see the Space Needle or watch for big clouds forming against the deep blue sky as we drove to Crater Lake.

The power sunroof and shade combo gave us a few options for soaking up the sun. Depending on the weather we utilized them all; keeping the shade half way or full or opening up the roof completely for fresh air. We didn’t need a convertible to drive through the beautiful landscapes of towering trees and lake views with wind through our hair.

User friendly connectivity

One of the most defining features in Kia Soul was the onscreen navigation system . The screen was very large for a compact car and had a lot of great options that made it user friendly. The map highlighted the key attractions with icons and the speed limit was displayed on the side. The illustrations with upcoming exits and lane changes were clear and hard to miss. The large touch screen also made it very easy to type in the addresses.

We were able to connect both our cell phones to the Bluetooth system. The connection could be made by pressing a couple of buttons. I typically hate setting up any gadgets but surprised my husband by doing it myself. We could access any numbers on our address book and music without having any physical contact with phone. Having entertainment though iTunes and Pandora was a life saver when traveling with a toddler.

The amount of charge on the phone and the signal strength were also displayed on the screen making the Bluetooth experience 100% hands free. I simply had no reason to reach out for my phone when I was connected via Blue ooth. There were three charging ports, one for a USB and two for 12V auxiliary charges making it possible to charge multiple devices at once.

Say hello to connectivity in the Kia Soul.

The split screen showing the directions along with what was playing on the radio was another great feature. It was very helpful not having to switch back and forth between screens when I was relying on driving directions while making sure my son’s favorite songs were queued on the play list.

We were already impressed with the sound system when I discovered the mood lighting from the speakers on the front seats. It added a little romance to our night drives as we played soft music and enjoyed the peaceful moments when our toddler napped.

When my toddler pointed out a Kia Soul at our grocery store parking lot asking when we were getting “that car” back, I realized what an impression our five days on the road had made on him.

What we loved

• Luxe leather seats
• Heating and cooling system for the seats
• Panoramic sunroof
• Onscreen navigation with large touch screen
• USB/ auxiliary chargers
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Smart key with push button starter
• Type of fuel required: regular
• Fuel economy: we averaged at 28 MPG on our 1500 mile trip which took us through cities as well as a good amount of highway driving.

What you need to know

• Manufactured in Korea
• Starts at $20,300. Price for the model we drove:  $26, 195, with sunroof, leather heated and ventilated front seats, navigation system, speaker mood lighting and automatic climate control.

Disclosure: The Kia Soul was provided to me for this review; I was not compensated for this review and opinions expressed are all my own.

Anuja De Silva is a contributing writer for TravelingMom.com. She also works fill time in semiconductor technology development. She... More about Anuja De Silva

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HollyDayz Travel & Lifestyle

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A Road Trip upstate new york in a Kia Soul

I love road trips and honestly, I don’t take enough of them! I love riding in a car, seeing beautiful scenery, and listening to music. Even more importantly, I love the bonding you are able to do on a road trip. Face it, you’re stuck in a car with someone for a certain amount of time, so it pretty much forces you to bond. I got to do just that with a friend of mine as we took a road trip in a Kia Soul to Upstate, New York.

It was pretty early in the morning when we started loading up the Alien green Kia Soul, or as I liked to refer to it as The Green Machine . The trunk was pretty spacious. There was even a hidden area underneath which looked like a secret compartment. However we put everything in the backseat. Mainly because if we wanted to grab something it would be much easier.

There was ample room in the back seat. My friend had 2 big duffle bags, a jacket, and her purse and I had on carry on sized luggage, a camera bag, and a jacket. Not realizing there was a navigation system in the car I had a GPS and she had her phone. Once I realized there was one, we set it up to take us to our destination, Hudson, New York.

The Kia was pretty comfortable for the road trip ahead. There was enough ports to charge our phones, which is ironic since we were heading upstate to do a day offline with no electronics. We also hooked up the iPod so we could listen to some great music on the ride.

For the most part we started our day offline. My friend and I don’t get a lot of time to hang out or anything. We are both pretty busy and new friends having met through a mutual friend. We had a great time talking and becoming really good friends on our smooth ride. In fact, we even spoke about planning another road trip in the future.

We had to make a couple of sharp turns on our 2 and a half hour ride and the car handled really well. There was even a point where we had to make a quick U-Turn and the Soul did it with ease. I enjoyed our trip up, looking at the beautiful fall foliage scenery. It became better and better as we got further upstate.

Once we got Upstate and joined a huge group for the one day offline event we kept going in and out the car to grab things. It was pretty easy with the keyless entry to grab what we needed without worrying about keys in our hands. We had a great time and didn’t drive again till we headed back into Queens, New York the next afternoon.

The ride back was even more enjoyable. I was a bit more awake and realized there was a panoramic sunroof. It was a beautiful day, but we weren’t trying to feel the wind on the highway. However the warm sun felt nice for awhile until it was too much in our face. I thought the panoramic sunroof was a nice feature.

It was a gorgeous day and my friend and I talked about the event we had just left, but also enjoyed the ride back. The ride seemed to go much quicker, but once again we were able to enjoy the beautiful foliage. We got back and began unloading the car. We had more things we took back then we went with and still it all fit well in the backseat.

A great feature the Kia Soul offered was the gas milage. We went to Hudson and back and still had a ton of gas left in the tank. The Kia Soul is said to get 31 miles to the gallon on the highway and it did us well. We didn’t have to worry about stopping for gas!

The car had so many features and I didn’t want to give it back. I wish I could have kept it awhile longer as I really enjoyed my time with it. Although Alien green isn’t a color I would opt for, the Soul was much better than I had expected. I have always liked Kia’s, but wasn’t too sure about the Soul and I was proven differently.

Disclaimer: While receiving the 2015 Kia Soul to review, all opinions and views are my own.

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I haven’t been on a road trip in years but I do want to take one soon! This looks like a really good car to use for it though! My aunt has this car and she loves it!

I love them, they are so much fun. I really liked the car I am not surprised that she loves it. I wish I could have kept it lol

Jaye@Curvatude

This car looks like it was made for the road…compact and colorful. And I too haven’t been on a road trip in forever and used to love them, need to get back into it.

Yes get back to it, there is nothing like the open road! It was a great car for the road trip!

Bradley Cine

Great read. I’ve been thinking about buying this car. I’ll consider it a bit more now.

Oh really? I think you would enjoy it! You can rock out to your music in it!

I have driven a Soul as a rental car and I will say it runs well. And you definitely can’t miss it!

It does run well. I liked it.

Prianka | Map Halves

Having a recognizable car from a distance is very key, as I once learned in an amusement park parking lot. Every time I read a roadtrip post, my urge to take one grows stronger. The only problem – I’m 28 and I still don’t have a licence! I’m kicking myself these days for letting 16 year old me be so lazy about that.

Yes, that would come in handy, especially in an amusement park parking lot. You should take one soon. You can be the co-captain. Start with getting a permit.

Paula McInerney

Well you wouldn’t lose the Kia Soul in a carpark. Good to see that it was a good and reliable care to use on your road trip

Nope, it is an easy find. It was a great car to use.

Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie

Road trips are such fun whether they’re short or long. They can be spontaneous and are offer such freedom when traveling. It’s even better when it’s enjoyed with a friend!

I love that they can be spontaneous. Just get in a car and go. It gives a lot of freedom and opportunity.

Dave from Daves Travel Pages

Alien green is such a a cool name for a colour! And it’s certainly a car you were not going to lose in a crowd!

It stands out and turns heads.

I’m a Subaru girl myself but the Soul is definitely a cute car.

It is a cute car.

Frugal Flirty N Fab

Great Post! I love road trips as well and I’m glad you enjoyed yours in your Kia Soul!! Luv the bright color!!

Thanks. Road trips are awesome.

Zofia Bałdyga

I don’t drive, but I like the car, it looks cute and comfy.

You can always go for a nice ride though.

Sounds like a good car to trip in. The only time I get to try put new cars is when we’re traveling a rent something. It looks like the Kia is comfortable.

It was a good one. Very spacious and I liked the features.

Road trips are so much fun and it sounds like it had all the features that I would want in a car.

They are fun. I enjoyed the features. I know there were more that I didn’t even get to try.

I’ve never driven a Kia Soul, but I think they are so cute. I’m surprised to see the amount of trunk space in the car.

The car has a lot more space that I anticipated. It was really nice.

shaunteebattie

I have a Kia Sorento. I drove a Kia Soul on a road trip to Southern Illinois. It is a great car, I thought about trading out for one. Great review on the features. I agree road trips presents ample opportunity for bonding.

Thanks, Kia has some nice cars. They really do, I enjoy them.

Mimi "MimiCuteLips" Green

Every time I see a Kia Soul I think of the commercial. I love, love, love the bold green color it just screams fun. I’m also feeling that double sun roof and all that natural light.

I was thinking of the commercial as well when I first saw it. The green really stands out. I loved the panoramic sun roof.

This Green Car reminds me our trip in Sardinia, we had to put our stuff in te back seat, but to be honest I Liked that small car and I liked window in the roof 🙂 Good memories 🙂

I am glad I could bring back some fun memories for you.

Jonna Scott-Blakes

While I was in Dallas this weekend, my partner had a Kia Soul and it was really nice. We were surprised how much trunk space it had, and the candy apple red color was cute too. I’m on the road a lot and I love road trips for bonding – either with myself or whoever’s with me.

It is really nice. I saw the red one and it was so nice too. They have some stand out colors.

elenasonnino

I am not always a lover of road trips, but they can be a great way to explore. And wow…that looks like a lot of trunk space! I would never have imagined just by seeing Kia Souls on the street.

They are a great way to explore. You can see a lot more from the ground than in the air. The car can hold a good deal.

My cousin has one of these in Trinidad and it really is a smooth ride. That color is super cool. I love road trips. I just did my first one behind the wheel and it was great.

Oh nice. That is a place I would like to visit. Road trips are great.

Nicole M Williams

I’ve been telling the hubs that we need to do a road trip.

You two should!

Valerie Robinson

I have heard great things about this car. It is so cute and the color is fun! It definitely wouldn’t work for my large family, but you better believe that I will be downsizing as soon as I ship them off to college LOL!

It is a really nice car. I enjoyed it. The color is fun.

Chasing Joy

It looks roomy, like it has tons of storage space. Good gas mileage is a big bonus.

It is roomy and very comfortable. Good gas mileage is a def a big bonus.

I would have never thought the Kia Soul had that much room inside. It’s a cute car.

I don’t think a lot of people realized that.

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Road Test: 2016 Kia Soul+

John Faulkner | August 6, 2023 November 25, 2016 | Clean Vehicles , Fuel Misers , MPG , Test Drives

Fashionable and Cool and 30+ mpg

The second generation Kia Soul debuted in 2014 as an all-new model and with updates for 2016, Clean Fleet Report wanted to see what the latest was that continues to make this cool small hatchback so popular. We found the 2016 Kia Soul is an affordable fun car that offers a unique style, excellent passenger and storage space, is easy to drive and park, has a great warranty and top safety ratings.

The front-wheel drive 2016 Soul+ is powered by a 2.0L, DOHC inline-four-cylinder engine producing 164 hp and 151 lb.ft. of torque while running on regular 87 octane gasoline. The power gets to the wheels through a six-speed automatic with Sportmatic (for semi-manual shifting) and what Kia calls “Active ECO,” which means that the gearing is naturally set to maximize fuel economy. The 2016 Kia Soul+ has an EPA rating of 24 city/31 highway/27 combined. We averaged 32.5 mpg over two weeks and 1,099 miles of driving throughout Southern California, mostly on highways averaging 65 mph. For comparison, the Base Soul comes with a 1.6L engine putting out 130 hp/118 lb.ft. of torque, but delivers less fuel economy than the 2.0L we tested.

However, if you are interested in not burning any gasoline at all, you should take a look at the 2016 Kia Soul EV that Clean Fleet Report gave high marks to in a recent review .

Driving Experience: On the Road

The 2016 Kia Soul+ only comes with the 2.0L engine and automatic transmission, which translates into adequate acceleration and performance cruising around town and even better conduct on the open road. There are few drag racing wins to be had unless you are matched against something like the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 .

The six-speed automatic was smooth with up shifts coming at the correct rpms. Occasionally, I found that downshifts weren’t exactly where I would like them, as in quick maneuvering on the highway, so I simply manually shifted to the desired gear using the Sportmatic feature. This is common across all cars since automatic transmissions can’t be programmed for all driving situations, so no knock on Kia.

The Soul+ weighs in at 2,837 lbs. which felt evenly distributed and never heavy during acceleration, stopping or cornering. Contributing to the sprightly handling was a rack-and-pinion-with-an-electric-motor steering system, front independent MacPherson struts and coil springs and a rear coupled torsion beam suspension. Our Soul+ came with optional 18-inch alloy wheels and 235/45 R18 all-season tires.

The Soul is taller than most hatchbacks, but it never felt top heavy during cornering or quick maneuvers at highway speeds, and there was little body roll or leaning feeling that could be expected from a tall-bodied car. There are three steering options, which Kia calls FlexSteer—Comfort, Normal and Sport, with the Sport being the tightest and most responsive of the three. There was not much noticeable difference between the other settings, which was not a problem as the Soul is easy to drive whether at highway speeds or around town. Going against the preconceived idea that a small car can’t deliver a smooth and quiet ride, the Kia Soul does just that with a comfortable ride and low road and wind noise.

Stopping comes from front and rear active hydraulic boost-assisted, vented front and solid rear disc brakes, with ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability control, vehicle stability management and traction control. Rear disc brakes on a car of this size is a rarity. The stops were straight and, after repeated stops from 60 mph, there was no pedal fade.

Driving Experience: Exterior

The distinctive Soul has a very recognizable look and profile, with an upright windshield and a flat but slightly slanted roof, that ends in a near-vertical rear hatch, an optional spoiler and large rear taillights. Up front you will find a lower air intake with fog lamps on the outer corners of the fascia. Our Soul+ had the optional projector beam headlights, separated by a narrow grille, that are flush and wrap the fenders. Changes for 2016 include two-toned paint schemes with the roof carrying a different color, as in a white body/red roof or red body/black roof.

Driving Experience: Interior

The Soul is nicely equipped in the base model configuration. The Plus version—which Clean Fleet Report drove—has just the right finishing touches to really make this car complete with technology and comfort features.

Our 2016 Kia Soul+ had the optional Audio Package that came with an excellent six-speaker Infinity audio system (with subwoofer and external amplifier) that included SiriusXM/FM/CD/AMHD with MP3 playback capability, voice-command navigation with an eight-inch screen, rear back-up camera, Bluetooth for hands-free telephone operation and music streaming. Oh, and don’t forget the very cool speaker lights. These lights surround the round, front door speakers and are controlled by a dash knob that allows for a red light to pulse with the audio or multi-colors that change at a regular interval. Necessary, no. Differentiator from the pack, yes.

Our Plus model had comfortable (for four full-size adults) two-toned cloth seats with manual adjustments for the driver and front passenger, which were separated by a large armrest console with storage bin. The rear seat, with a folding armrest and cup holders, splits 60/40. Cup holders abound throughout the cabin and soft-touch dash and upper door panels, with satin chrome and black glossy trim, had a good feel and look.

The cockpit design is driver friendly with the gauges in easy sight, and the controls handy to reach. Convenience features include power windows and outside mirrors, heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise control and audio/telephone controls, push button start/stop, automatic climate control, tilt and telescopic steering column, carpeted floor mats, cargo cover and Kia’s UVO Infotainment system.

With a high seating position for the driver, outward front and side visibility is very good, while rear sight lines are a bit compromised by the wide rear pillars.

The 2016 Kia Soul comes in four models with these base prices:

Soul Base – 1.6L with 6-speed M/T – $15,900

Soul Base – 1.6L with 6-speed A/T – $17,400

Soul+ – 2.0L with A/T – $19,400

Soul!  – 2.0L with A/T – $21,300

Clean Fleet Report’s 2016 Soul+ had the Audio and Tarmack Special Edition Packages, bringing the MSRP to $24,420. All prices do not include the freight and handling fee of $850.

Kia has equipped the Soul with active and passive safety features including six air bags, a tire pressure monitoring system, hill start assist control, and the afore-mentioned four-wheel disc with ABS.

The 2016 Kia Soul has an Overall 5-Star National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA) rating and a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) which is the top ranking from both organizations.

The 2016 Soul comes with these warranties:

• Powertrain – 10 years/100,000 miles
• Basic – Five years/60,000 miles
• Roadside Assistance – Five years/60,000 miles
• Non-impact paint repairs (fading, cracking, chipping or flaking) – Three years/36,000 miles
• Anti Perforation – Five years/100,000 miles

Observations: 2016 Kia Soul+

The 2016 Kia Soul is an affordable fun car that offers a unique style, excellent passenger and storage space, is easy to drive and park, and has a great warranty and top safety ratings. For an all-around car, the Kia Soul+ gets high marks which are well deserved. Heck, even Kia says they upped the “wow factor for the 2016 model.”

The idea of taking a short wheelbase car on a lengthy road trip is a less-than-pleasant thought. But with the Kia Soul those trepidations went away after a few miles. It was easy to find a comfortable driving position, the ride was smooth and stable, road and wind noise were lower than many larger and more expensive cars and the audio system was top notch. There really wasn’t much to desire other than peppier acceleration, which Kia has addressed with the 2017 Soul that has a turbocharged engine option.

So, if you don’t need to be racy (which we never felt the need to be), then the 2016 Kia Soul will be just right for you. With a very low base price and reasonably priced option packages, you will be able to configure a Kia Soul that fits your lifestyle and won’t break the budget doing so.

Whatever you end up buying, enjoy your new car and as always, Happy Driving!

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Road Test: 2016 Kia Soul EV

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Road Test: 2015 Chevrolet Trax

Road Test: 2015 Nissan Juke

Disclosure:

Clean Fleet Report   is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.

John Faulkner

Driverless cars could save the US $784 billion

Road test: 2016 lexus rx 450h, 5 thoughts on “road test: 2016 kia soul+”.

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• GENERATION 1 (2010 to 2013) Soul Related
• Soul General Discussion (Gen 1)

Safe Road Trip in Kia Soul?

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Hi there, my fellow Soulsters! So I have a 2013 Kia Soul Base 1.6 and I am thinking about driving 230 miles (3 hours, 30 minutes) up the state of Florida to Jacksonville via I-95 on Friday. I am one of those people that are really freaked out at the thought of their car breaking down or something happening along the way. Is there anything I should check before I make my road trip? I have 9,800 miles on the car and the last time I got the oil checked was at 8,200 miles. No warning lights come up in the instrument panel when you start the vehicle and the tires are in great condition as well. Any advice here to save me a huge headache and a ton of $$$, my little SoulMechanics?  

Drive it like you stole it, and enjoy the trip. If you have enough air in the tires, and oil in the engine and coolant in the radiator and money for gas, Why worry? I drove mine on a 1200 mile trip last year at 80-85 mph (640 miles each way, 8 hours straight only stopping for gas and food)and loved every minute of it! You should have no worries! Your ride is still practically new, yet has enough miles on it, a defect would have reared its ugly head by now. Again, drive it!  

your getting worked up over nothing, that's just a short distance - just go! as kevster mentioned just check your fluid levels and tire pressure. On my previous Kia - a Rondo, I took a six week, nearly 15,000 km trip and that's all I did and half-way through the trip I had the oil changed, that's it, no problems with the vehicle at any time. I had nearly 30,000 km on the vehicle before we left on the trip. Your vehicles brand new, isn't that why you got it, so you don't have to worry about things like that?  

Alright guys, I'm done being a wimp. LOL! I went down just now and checked the engine and my oil, coolant, brake fluid, and washer fluid were all close to full. Anything else I should check for it to be a pure gold go?  

230 miles is chump change... Did 2700 mile round trip norcal to canada, 1000 miles last year to crater lake, 1800 miles round trip seattle this year. Make sure your fluids are good, brakes are good, tires are good and tire pressure correct and you're more or less good to go.  

I did a 1,000 mile round trip to the beach in DE last year as my first decently long trip in the Soul and it did great. If you're worried about a flat, you might want to invest in the optional spare tire kit for peace of mind (I did). Otherwise, you should be fine.  

I just watched a video review of the 2013 Soul this morning and they described it as an "Urban Passenger Vehicle". The Soul is so much more than that. We went from Toronto to Lake Placid last Fall and toured that area over the next 2 days, then drove back again. As the sole Soul driver I was always comfortable and relaxed. Souls are great road-trip cars. We go out on usually unplanned trips out of town, just for fits and giggles. It's not unusual for us to do near 400 kms in a day before returning home again. Enjoy your trip.  

Money in your pocket... Now get out there and have fun. I love driving the Soul. Took my sister & her family to SFO to fly back east. Three adults fit fine in the backseat. Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App  

Once a month I drive a round trip from Tampa to Tallahassee which is about 450 miles and enjoy every minute of it. In fact I'm looking forward to taking that ride on Friday. Have a safe trip!  

As those above have said. Just drive it. Do check your tire pressure. Mine had 45# when I picked it up new. We've done several 1200-1500 mile trips, and I'm the only driver. Love it. Best seats I've had since my 1960 Peugeot. :laughonfloor  

Haha the seats may be better than your Peugeot, but they're by far the most uncomfortable seats I've been in, maybe besides the backseat of a Honda Fit :| As for the OP, you should be fine. I do round trips from Austin to Houston, about 300 miles total on a semi-regular basis. Should be no issue, just check the tire pressure and oil level and you should be good to go. Just know that you should check tire pressure early in the morning when it's cool out to get an accurate reading since heat will raise the pressure. Also, check the oil level after the car has warmed up.  

Thank you all VERY much. My worries are way down now. I feel confident and am actually pretty exciting for the trip! I love you Soulsters! Just gonna go finally get those tires checked out for the PSI today and then I am all set!  

YOU need to check your own tires. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten a car back from a tire shop with four different pressures in four different tires. Buy a decent 10 doillar gauge and do your own work. IF YOU WANT IT DONE RIGHT, DO IT YOURSELF.  

ANY gauge is better than none. I bought several at Sporty's many years back. One in each car and one in the garage: Deluxe Tire Gauge (0 to 60 PSI) - Sporty's Pilot Shop  

Excellent choice. The round dial guages are much more accurate than the slidey kind.  

^^ she could also be an escaped inmate or a psycho. you don't know what she's carrying in that suitcase LOL. Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App  

EboniLM said: you don't know what she's carrying in that suitcase LOL. Click to expand...

Stop, take her suitcase and leave her there. lol I have this guage.. http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-...TF8&qid=1369535622&sr=8-9&keywords=tire+gauge Its the best one i've ever owned! Turns on automaticly when inserted on the stem AND off automaticly so you never run the battery dead, super accurate, never leaks out air to get a good seal and has reads .5 PSI at a time VS 32, 33 etc.. 33.5 is more accurate. Pricey but so worth it and the case is comes with is great too! Oh and the head swivels too!  

She has a chainsaw and a hockey mask in the case.  

31 years of truckin' and I NEVER saw a hitch hiker that looked like that.:drool  

drove my 2012 1.6 Base from Covina CA to Mammoth Lakes CA (312 miles 1 way) last year and this year! Last year even had a storm so snow was pretty heavy, but "Toasty" made it!!!  

Jesse; I've made several road trips in mine with the only problem being the junk gas sold at the "Big Box Truck Stops". Big time mpg losses so stick with name brands BP, Shell, Sunoco, etc. Also stay away from Citgo, Kroger and Raceway.  

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2023 Kia Soul

Starting at .css-1ykuyyb{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;margin-left:0.25rem;}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1ykuyyb{color:#000000;}} $21,215.

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• Lows Could be more fuel efficient, all-wheel drive is unavailable, poky four-cylinder powertrain.
• Verdict Style, substance, and a funkadelic hamster-powered image make the Kia Soul a serious threat in the small-SUV class.

What's New for 2023?

Kia's boxy little Soul SUV receives a light makeover for 2023 with a new grille and bumper designs. The headlamps have been reshaped and there are also new 17- and 18-inch wheels to choose from. Unfortunately, the spunky, 201-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter engine has been dropped from the lineup, leaving the 147-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder as the sole engine. The rugged-looking X-Line model has also been discontinued.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The price of the 2023 Kia Soul starts at $21,215 and goes up to $25,515 depending on the trim and options.

We like the GT-Line model, which offers a different take on the Soul's quirky appearance. It looks sportier than its stablemates, with its own wheel design and body-color trim. It comes standard with a suite of driver assists that includes automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and rear-cross-traffic alert.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The only engine is a 147-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which comes paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. At our test track, our test vehicle needed a 8.0 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is behind many rivals. But the Soul feels peppy around town , and the CVT willingly selects lower gear ratios when you're looking to pass someone. Handling isn't particularly sharp but the Soul's mission isn’t to carve corners like a sports car, after all. Most buyers will find the Soul to be a comfortable ride offering just enough character to avoid being bland.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The Soul carries an EPA rating as high as 35 mpg for highway driving and as low as 28 mpg in the city—not bad for a seemingly non-aerodynamic box-on-wheels. The Nissan Kicks and the Hyundai Venue —its key rivals—offer similar highway numbers, but both outshine the Kia in the city, achieving 31 and 30 mpg, respectively. In our 75-mph fuel-economy test, the Soul managed 30 mpg. For more information about the Soul's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website .

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The Soul's upright body provides a spacious interior with plenty of room for people and cargo. Kia's designers have incorporated enough youthful cheekiness inside to match the Soul's fashion-forward exterior, including textured door-panel inserts and colorful trim. Additional goodies on offer include ambient lighting, a smartphone charging pad, a head-up display, push-button ignition with keyless entry, and heating for the seats and steering wheel. Kia also allows owners a certain amount of customization, with two-tone paint options and a plethora of interior color schemes. In the cargo area, the tall-roofed ute provides enough space for seven carry-on suitcases; with the rear seats folded—it should be noted that they don't fold completely flat—we were able to fit 20 cases. The Venue, with its smaller hold and tighter rear seat space, managed to fit just four behind the rear seat and 17 with the seats down.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability is standard across the board, and all trims but the base model receive a large 10.3-inch display; the LX gets an 8.0-inch unit. Choose a model with the 10.3-incher and you'll get niceties such as SiriusXM satellite radio, real-time traffic updates, in-dash navigation, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. Most models come with a six-speaker stereo, but a Harman/Kardon setup is optional on the GT-Line model.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Overall safety rating (nhtsa).

Kia provides a few standard driver-assistance technology on the base Soul, but there's more available on the S model and above. For more information about the Soul's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ( IIHS ) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking
• Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Available blind-spot monitoring and automatic high-beam headlamps

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

While Kia has a well-known 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, Hyundai does it one better by offering the same coverage plus three years of included scheduled maintenance.

• Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

Specifications

2020 Kia Soul X-Line

VEHICLE TYPE front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback

PRICE AS TESTED $22,615 (base price: $22,485)

ENGINE TYPE DOHC 16-valve Atkinson-cycle inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection

Displacement 122 cu in, 1999 cc Power 147 hp @ 6200 rpm Torque 132 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm

TRANSMISSION continuously variable automatic with manual shifting mode

CHASSIS Suspension (F/R): struts/torsion beam Brakes (F/R): 11.0-in vented disc/10.3-in disc Tires: Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2, 235/45R-18 94V M+S

DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 102.4 in Length: 165.2 in Width: 70.9 in Height: 63.0 in Passenger volume: 101 cu ft Cargo volume: 24 cu ft Curb weight: 2965 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS Zero to 60 mph: 8.0 sec Zero to 100 mph: 24.7 sec Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 8.2 sec Top gear, 30–50 mph: 4.2 sec Top gear, 50–70 mph: 5.4 sec Standing ¼-mile: 16.4 sec @ 86 mph Top speed (governor limited): 120 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 161 ft Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.91 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY Observed: 24 mpg 75-mph highway driving: 30 mpg Highway range: 420 miles

EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined/city/highway: 30/27/33 mpg

DOWNLOAD TEST SHEET

2020 Kia Soul GT-Line 1.6T

PRICE AS TESTED $28,710 (base price: $28,485)

ENGINE TYPE turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection

Displacement 97 cu in, 1591 cc Power 201 hp @ 6000 rpm Torque 195 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm

TRANSMISSION 7-speed dual-clutch automatic with manual shifting mode

CHASSIS Suspension (F/R): struts/torsion beam Brakes (F/R): 12.0-in vented disc/11.2-in disc Tires: Goodyear Eagle Touring, 235/45R-18 98V M+S

DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 102.4 in Length: 165.2 in Width: 70.9 in Height: 63.0 in Passenger volume: 101 cu ft Cargo volume: 24 cu ft Curb weight: 3130 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS Zero to 60 mph: 6.4 sec Zero to 100 mph: 17.0 sec Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 6.9 sec Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.5 sec Top gear, 50–70 mph: 4.5 sec Standing ¼-mile: 15.0 sec @ 95 mph Top speed (governor limited): 128 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 172 ft Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.85 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY Observed: 26 mpg 75-mph highway driving: 33 mpg Highway range: 470 miles

EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined/city/highway: 29/27/32 mpg

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Moscow Itinerary: How To Spend 3 Days In Moscow

By: Author Lotte

Posted on Last updated: March 2, 2023

Categories Trans Mongolian Express

Moscow is the capital of Russia and there are few cities in the world that have played such a significant part in history.

Home to the Kremlin, the Red Square, the colorful St. Basil's Cathedral, and many more famous landmarks, Moscow is a city like no other.

This Moscow itinerary will help you plan your trip and make the most of your time in Moscow. From the best places to see in Moscow to how to get around, this post has got you covered.

Moscow itinerary

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Moscow 3 day itinerary: map with highlights

Click here for the interactive map .

What to do in Moscow in 3 days

• Day 1: The Red Square, GUM Department Store, St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum, and the State Historical Museum.
• Day 2: The Kremlin, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Gorky Park, and the Bolshoi Theatre.
• Day 3: Izmailovsky Market, Bunker 42, and Zaryadye Park.

Important things to know when planning a trip to Moscow

The best time to plan a trip to Moscow is April-May and September-October . During these months temperatures are (generally) quite comfortable, though even in April there can be a bit of snow! The summer months are hot, both in regard to temperature as well as activities in the city. While it's a nice time to visit, it's also the busiest time of the year to visit Moscow. Hotel prices reflect this as well and summer definitely isn't a great time for budget travelers to visit Moscow. Winter in Moscow is cold, and I mean seriously cold (-15°C isn't rare). However, if you can withstand the subzero temperatures and freezing winds, it can be a magical time to visit. A snow-covered St. Basil’s Cathedral is a sight you will never forget. Keep in mind that days are short in winter and be sure to bring plenty of warm winter clothes!

The official currency in Russia is the Russian Ruble (₽ or RUB). Here you can find the current exchange rates, at the time of writing €1 is approximately 70RUB and $1 is around 62RUB.

Yes, you probably do. Getting a visa for Russia requires a bit of time and effort. You need to fill out several forms and provide a detailed travel itinerary and information about your accommodation. Also, you will need a Visa Support Letter which can be provided by your travel agency or your hotel. Depending on your nationality, there may be additional requirements, please refer to the information provided on the website of your country's Embassy in Russia.

While most of the things to see in Moscow listed in this post are within walking distance of each other, sometimes you will have to travel a bit further afield. The best way to get around in Moscow is by metro. It's cheap and efficient and a sightseeing activity in itself, because Moscow has the most beautiful metro stations in the world ! Among the most exquisitely decorated stations are Komsomolskaya, Novoslobodskaya, Mayakovskaya, Taganskaya, and Prospect Mira Station, but there are many more worthwhile stations to be found in the Moscow underground. You can purchase a single ticket from one of the ticket machines or get a rechargeable Troika Card when you plan on taking the metro several times. Read more details on how to use the Moscow metro here . If you prefer to get around by taxi, that's possible too. We used the Gett app to order a taxi (similar to Uber) to avoid confusion about our intended destination and having to negotiate in Russian. A convenient extra for families is the Gett Kids option, these cars are outfitted with a car seat.

The best things to do in Moscow

While you could easily spend a week in Moscow (or more), most of us, unfortunately, don't have that much time available.

This 3-day Moscow itinerary will guide you to the most popular and important places to visit in Moscow, as well as to some of the more unusual things to do in Moscow.

Below you can find the list of the Moscow sightseeing highlights included in this post.

The Red Square

Gum department store, st. basil's cathedral, lenin's mausoleum, the state historical museum, the kremlin, cathedral of christ the saviour.

• The Bolshoi Theatre

Izmailovsky Market

Zaryadye park.

Plan your trip like a pro with these tools: ✈️ Find the best flight deals on Kiwi.com . ? Get the best car rental deal for your road trip on Rentalcars.com . ?️ Find your dream accommodation on Booking.com or Agoda . ? Book the best tours via Get Your Guide , Viator or Klook . ? Plan your journey with the  Lonely Planet . ?️ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing .

Moscow itinerary day 1

There is no better place to start your first day in Moscow, than at the world-famous Red Square.

This square is considered the central square of Moscow, not just because all the major streets start here, but also because no matter where you look when standing on this square, there are historic buildings all around.

Starting with the impressive GUM store and going clockwise, there is the colorful Saint Basil's Cathedral, the Kremlin, Lenin's Mausoleum, the State Historical Museum, and the Kazan Cathedral.

However, before entering any of these Moscow must-see attractions, allow yourself a moment to take in the view and let it sink in that you're standing on historical grounds (and a UNESCO site).

The Red Square was the official address of the Soviet government and played an important part in history. Many military parades have been held (and are still being held) here. It's the place where protests have taken place, as well as high-profile concerts from famous international artists.

All in all, it's one of the places in Moscow you can't miss during your Moscow city trip!

Yulia from That's What She Had: it might seem like visiting a department store is not something you’d do on the first visit to Russia’s capital.

But GUM is not like any other department store and is well worth your time, if only for its unique architecture.

First of all, it’s located right on Red Square which makes it an easy stop on your Moscow trip itinerary. Second, GUM is not a simple mall, but an institution built in the late XIX century.

The abbreviation stands for  Glavniy Universalniy Magazin or Main Universal Store. Its impressive facade extends for over 240 meters along the eastern side of Red Square.

Inside you’ll find a beautiful glass ceiling supported by a metal framework, not unlike the ones found in the old train stations of Great Britain. 

While shopping in GUM will cost you an arm and a leg, there’s one reason why tourists and locals come here anyways:  traditional Russian food  at Stolovaya #57. Stolovaya is Russian for canteen and this is where you can get your  pelmeni , borsch , and  pirozhki  fix!

Afterward, don’t forget to get the famous  plombir  ice cream in one of the kiosks on the ground floor.

Saint Basil's Cathedral with its colorful domes is easily recognizable and one of the most popular Moscow tourist attractions. The building, built on orders from Ivan the Terrible, was completed in 1561 to commemorate the victory over Kazan and Astrakhan.

Until the construction of Ivan the Great Bell Tower (which can be found within the walls of the Kremlin), it was the tallest building in Moscow.

The design of St. Basil's Cathedral is truly unique; it's shaped like the flame of a bonfire and not one building in a similar style can be found in the whole of Russia.

A legend tells the story of how Ivan the Terrible had the architects of the Cathedral blinded so they could never build anything comparable.

This is a myth, however, but the fact remains that Saint Basil's Cathedral is one of a kind and it's not surprising it has become the symbol of Russia.

Wendy from The Nomadic Vegan: Lenin Mausoleum is hard to miss. It's a stepped-pyramid construction that sits right at the base of the Kremlin walls on the western side of Red Square.

Entrance is free but note that opening hours are quite limited, with visiting hours lasting only from 10 am to 1 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

If seeing Lenin's embalmed body is important to you, be sure to take this into account when planning your itinerary in Moscow.

One of my  top tips for travelers to Russia  is to arrive early, well before the mausoleum opens, as the queue is usually quite long. However, usually, the queue does move pretty quickly.

This is especially true now that they have lifted the ban on bags and cameras.

It used to be that all cameras, smartphones, and bags of any size had to be checked at a left-luggage office nearby. But now you can bring a small handbag or backpack as well as your camera and phone.

Photography inside the mausoleum is still strictly forbidden, but you are allowed to take photos of the graves of various other important Russian figures that line the path leading to the mausoleum.

Once you finally enter the mausoleum, the atmosphere is surprisingly peaceful and uncrowded. It doesn't feel nearly as rushed as when visiting Mao Ze Dong's tomb in Beijing or Ho Chi Minh's body in Hanoi , for example.

The illumination of the body is very well done and would make for superb photography if it wasn't forbidden. As an added bonus, just after you exit, you'll see the grave of Joseph Stalin outside.

Rai from A Rai Of Light: the imposing crimson building at the northern end of the Red Square is the State Historical Museum.

By decree of Alexander III, the museum was built with the support of Russian historians, philosophers, and artists. The red brick building, dating from 1875, was designed in the Russian revival style by Vladimir Shervud.

The National Museum of Russia houses a collection of over four million items, devoted to the history of the country's ancient and imperial period.

The exhibitions include many items previously owned by members of the Romanov dynasty, such as documents, artwork, personal items, furnishings, and decorations from the palace interiors.

Another exhibit features relics of the prehistoric tribes that once inhabited this region.

Notable items include ancient manuscripts, birch-bark scrolls, a longboat excavated from the banks of the Volga River, and the largest coin collection in Russia, sourced from the museums in St Petersburg .

The State Historical Museum is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. The entrance fee is 700₽ per adult.

Moscow itinerary day 2

When listing the best Moscow things to do, one cannot miss the Kremlin! The Kremlin houses the current seat of power in Russia and has done so for several decades.

Within its walls, the offices of the Russian Government can be found. During Soviet rule, the Kremlin was where all the important decisions were made but its history goes back for many centuries.

The first mention of the Kremlin in history books was in 1147, however, the current citadel dates from the 16th century.

The Kremlin is one of the major fortifications found in Europe, with walls that are up to 6.5 meters thick and 19 meters high in particular sections.

Inside the complex, there are many government buildings, however, these aren't accessible to the public.

Around Cathedral Square you'll find (as the name suggests) many churches and cathedrals, such as the Cathedral of the Archangel, Annunciation Cathedral, the Church of Laying Our Lady's Holy Robe, and Ivan the Great Bell-Tower.

While Cathedral Square is definitely worth visiting, the highlight of the Kremlin is a visit to the Armoury.

Inside you can find an impressive collection of Faberge eggs, beautiful dresses worn by Catherine the Great, intricately decorated thrones used by the Tsars, and much more. Unfortunately, photography is forbidden inside the Armoury.

Practical information about visiting the Kremlin

In order to visit both Cathedral Square and the Armoury, you will have to buy two separate tickets. A ticket to Cathedral Square costs 700₽ and a ticket to the Armoury is 1000₽. Prices mentioned are for adults, children below 16 years old are free.

Tickets can be bought at the ticket office onsite on the same day, however, there's no guarantee tickets will be available, especially during peak season.

Conveniently, tickets can be bought online as well, which is highly advisable if you want to make sure you'll be able to visit the Kremlin during your city trip to Moscow.

How much time to spend at the Kremlin

Be sure to allow plenty of time to explore the Kremlin, at least half a day but it's easy to spend more time as there is so much to see.

Please note there isn't any food sold inside the Kremlin, so bring a snack and enough water (especially in summer when it can get pretty hot).

Luggage storage

Backpacks aren't allowed inside the Kremlin, they can be stored (for free) in the cloakroom, but you can bring your camera and a small purse.

We could also take our Babyzen Yoyo stroller inside, which was very convenient as our 10-month-old son could take a nap while we explored the sights.

After the original Cathedral of Christ the Saviour was demolished by Stalin in 1931, a new version was completed in 2000.

The imposing building is the tallest Orthodox Christian church in the world (103 meters high), and is beautiful on the outside as well as on the inside.

Visiting the Cathedral is free of charge and it's open any day of the week from 10 am to 5 pm (except on Mondays when the opening hours are 1 to 5 pm).

When visiting the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour it's important to dress appropriately. For men, this means no shorts or tank tops.

Women can't enter with mini skirts or shorts, strap tops, or anything too revealing. Also, women are advised to cover their heads with a scarf as a sign of respect.

Inside the Cathedral photography isn't allowed, but believe me when I say there is plenty to see. There are beautiful frescoes, colorful icons, impressive statues, and other vivid decorations.

For a beautiful view over Moscow, walk up the stairs to the 40-meter high observation deck (entrance fee 400₽).  

Visit Gorky Park

Helen from Holidays from Hels : Gorky Park, named after the Soviet writer Maxim Gorky, has recently undergone extensive regeneration to become Moscow's central leisure hub for young Muscovites.

Every day of the week you can find many Moscow residents strolling along the banks of the river in the summer, hiring bikes, picnicking on the grass, or dining at one of the many restaurants.

Open-air cinemas, petanque, and ping pong are all on offer. Not to be missed is the iconic white stone entranceway and museum, complete with columns carved with Soviet hammers and sickles.

In winter, look out for the ducks waddling across the frozen Moskva River, and watch boats attempting to navigate through the cracked ice. However, the real winter highlight is to try ice skating on one of the biggest rinks in Europe!

Ice skating in Gorky Park

The park’s maze of pedestrian pathways is transformed into one huge skating rink, which can play host to up to four thousand skaters. 

Not surprisingly, Russians are talented ice skaters and there is a good chance you will find yourself next to a pirouetting ballerina.

Handily, you will find you will already be wearing most of what you need – gloves, hat, scarf, and thick socks and you can hire skates on-site. Lockers are included in the price if you don’t fancy skating with your day pack.

Disco tunes fill the air, and the whole arena is backlit in spectacular neon lights. Rest your weary legs and warm up at one of the cafes dotted along the frozen pathways, with the added bonus of not having to take off your skates.

Opening times

The rink is open from 10 am until 11 pm on weekdays and until midnight at weekends but closes between 3 and 5 pm. Like most attractions in Moscow, the rink is closed on Mondays. 

The prices range from 350-650₽ and go up in the evening, which is the best time for the light show. Arriving at 5 pm, just as the rink opens for the evening session will give you time to find your ice legs before it fills up with more confident skaters.

Whilst waiting for the rink to open, try out the nearby tubing track where you can shoot down a snowy hill on an inflatable ring repeatedly for a very enjoyable half an hour!

How to get to Gorky Park by metro

The nearest metro is Park Kultury Station, on the other side of the river. As always, check out in advance what this looks like in the Russian Alphabet so you know when to get off!

Bolshoi Theatre

James Ian at Travel Collecting : one of the best places to go in Moscow is the famous Bolshoi Theater, located only a short walk from Red square. Bolshoy means big in Russian, and the theatre is not only big but also beautiful.

There are two ways to see the theater: on a guided tour or by watching a performance .

Take a guided tour

• English tours are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 11:30 am. Tickets for these tours can be bought (on the same day) at the ticket office located in the Historic building of the theatre (door #12).
• A ticket costs 2000₽ per person, tours last one hour, and the number of people on a tour is limited to a maximum of 20. The tour takes you inside the theater and to the historic main stage.

Watch a performance

My favorite way to see the theater, though, is to enjoy a performance and experience the theater as a patron.

The entrance is a little underwhelming when you first arrive, the street lobby is small and quite plain and you will be immediately directed up to your floor.

There are helpful attendants on each floor to guide you to the correct door. Arrive a little early and head up to the Grand Salon on the top floor where you can enjoy a glass of champagne while people-watching (Russians dress up for the theater).

Then head to your seat and take in the stunning theater before enjoying the famous Bolshoi Ballet or another performance.

Be sure to book a show at the historic stage, there is a modern stage as well but that isn't nearly as much fun.

Moscow itinerary day 3

Karen from WanderlustingK : one of the most interesting Moscow places to visit is the Izmailovsky Market .

This flea market and tourist attraction a bit outside of the tourist center is a recreation of a Tzar’s Palace, known as a Kremlin, produced in a colorful 16th-century style.

The market is filled with tiny stalls that sell everything from snacks to kitsch to authentic items from Soviet times such as hats, pins, and other pieces of memorabilia.

You'll also find authentic antiques such as vases, paintings, and other religious items if you're looking to splurge within the interior parts of the market.

Negotiating in English is not always possible as many vendors only speak Russian, so be sure to practice your Russian numbers and see how well you can do with haggling.

It's important to carry cash when you visit given that many vendors do not accept cards. We ended up purchasing a series of hats at the market, along with a beautiful hot tea glass with a metal holder with a typical Russian scene.

Elsewhere in the market, you’ll also find a few tourist shops that sell typical Russian products. It takes a few hours to see the market in full, so arrive early as the best items go quickly! 

Lindsey from Have Clothes, Will Travel : Bunker-42 was once a top-secret, Soviet military complex. Stalin commissioned its construction after the United States succeeded in creating a nuclear bomb.

An impressive 65 meters (or about 213 feet) underground, was the desired depth to protect Russia’s top officials from a nuclear attack.

Bunker 42 became operational in 1954. Fortunately, it was never needed for its true purpose, and instead it was used as the command center of strategic bombers for nearly 30 years.

Nowadays it's a museum dedicated to the Cold War and visiting is a truly unique experience!

You will need to join a tour in order to see the museum. You can call ahead to book your tour (the number is: +7 499 703-44-55), there are several English tours throughout the day that are held at 13:30, 16:30, and 18:30 (the price is 2200₽).

On Mondays, there is an extra tour at 17:30, which lasts an additional 30 minutes and costs 2800₽ per person. There is also the option to book a private tour. However, I am unsure of the price for this.

You will have to wait until exactly 15 minutes before your tour begins before you'll be admitted inside. After paying for your tickets and a quick restroom stop you will descend 65 meters underground…

Another option for visiting Bunker-42, if you would rather not do the tour, is to visit the restaurant inside Bunker-42. Actually, I highly recommend visiting the restaurant before or after a tour as well!

While the food is not that great, it’s worth visiting for a drink. The restaurant is also located within the bunker and is decorated in the old Soviet style.

From time to time there will be live performances and visiting Bunker 42 is definitely an experience worth having while in Moscow! After all, how many people can say they've had a drink in a top-secret Soviet military bunker?

If you’re visiting Moscow during peak season (June-July-August), it would be worth making a reservation, to avoid having to wait. Otherwise, I would not say you need to worry about a reservation at the restaurant.

Bunker-42 is a short cab ride away from Red Square (10-15 minutes). But I recommend taking the metro to get there. The closest station is Taganskaya, which is a beautiful metro station very much worth visiting.

Park Zaryad'ye or Zaryadye Park is a lovely place for a stroll and a nice place to relax after a day of sightseeing in Moscow, especially when exploring Moscow with kids.

There are many things to see and do in this park, but I recommend starting your visit at The River Overlook , a 70-meter-long boardwalk with beautiful views over the river and the Kremlin.

Other interesting places to visit in Zaryadye Park are the Ice Cave, The Museum of Nature, and The Glass Crust. But most importantly, do as the Muscovites do and find yourself a nice place in the park to sit down and relax.

Enjoy the view, do some people-watching, and take a moment to think back about all the Moscow top sights you've seen in the past couple of days.

Where to stay in Moscow

There is a huge amount of hotels in Moscow, ranging from budget hostels to exquisite 5-star hotels. Below you can find three well-reviewed Moscow hotels (rating of 8.5+ on Agoda and  Booking ).

3-star hotel in Moscow: MIRROS Hotel Mokhovaya

This 3-star hotel is one of the best budget Moscow hotels and is all about location! From the hotel, it's just a 10-minute walk to the Kremlin and only 600 meters to the Christ the Savior Cathedral.

Set in a historic 19th-century mansion, the hotel features classic rooms with ensuite bathrooms.

The staff is friendly and there is a metro station nearby (Borovitskaya), making it easy to get to the Moscow attractions a bit further afield.

Click here to book

Modern hotel in Moscow: Barin Residence Myasnitskaya

The Barin Residence Myasnitskaya is a newly built hotel, located about 1.2km from the Red Square (about a 15-20 minute walk).

The rooms and bathrooms are very modern and clean, the beds are comfortable and room service is available. This hotel is an excellent choice for travelers looking for a nice hotel without a hefty price tag.

Luxury hotel in Moscow: Hotel National Moscow

Hotel National is potentially the best Moscow hotel. It's a gorgeous 5-star hotel located just a stone's throw away from the Bolshoi Theater, the Red Square, and the Kremlin.

The building was designed by architect Alexander Ivanov and completed in 1903 and has been welcoming international travelers ever since.

With its imperial architecture, luxury design, and charming classic rooms (some with a view of the Kremlin!), the Hotel National is a unique property.

Furthermore, you can enjoy an indoor pool, sauna, and fitness center as well as the well-reviewed Beluga restaurant that serves both Russian and European dishes.

While this hotel doesn't come cheap, your stay at the Hotel National will make your trip to Moscow an unforgettable experience.

Moscow itinerary and travel guide: in conclusion

I hope this guide to Moscow will help you plan a trip to this interesting Russian city. Feel free to ask any questions you may have by leaving a comment or  sending me an email !

Below you can find my other posts about the Trans Mongolian Express , and the stops we made along the way:

• St. Petersburg itinerary
• Irkutsk and Lake Baikal itinerary
• Ulaanbaatar itinerary
• Trans-Mongolian Express travel guide

This post was updated in December 2020.

• 11 Epic Road Trips Across...

11 Epic Road Trips Across Russia

A nation as immense and diverse as Russia beckons a traveller to get on the road and explore as much of it as possible – as well as rugged coastlines and ancient mountains, there are vast plains, lakes and open steppes to discover. Here’s our pick of the most epic road trips across Russia.

Driving across lake baikal.

Driving on a lake sounds like an idea that defies all logic, however in the middle of a cold Siberian winter, it is a totally plausible concept. Lake Baikal ‘s waters are completely driveable when frozen through, although it can be slow going over uneven passages. Many vehicles travel across the UNSECO World Heritage listed lake each year to get to Olkhon Island. In fact, for a window of time every year, when the temperatures plummet to a consistent -30ºC (-22ºF), a hovercraft or a well-equipped car is the only way to get there.

The Mongol Rally

The Golden Ring to Finland

The Golden Ring is the name given to a string of historic and picturesque towns north east of Moscow. Spend a couple of days exploring idyllic places like Suzdal, Vladmir and Sergiyev Posad, the heart of Russian Orthodoxy, and then drive north. If you want to take your time and enjoy the scenery, give yourself a week or so to get from Suzdal to Helsinki . Pass through Moscow, Russia’s awe-inspiring capital, and spend a couple of days in St. Petersburg to take in the major sights and enjoy Russia’s most European city, before you cross the border into Scandinavia.

The Chuysky Trakt

This 1,000-kilometre (621-mile) stretch of road meanders through Siberia, into the Altai Republic towards the Mongolian border. It is also the Siberian leg of the ancient trader route, the Silk Road, which connected Europe to Asia, via Russia, through a network of paths. Journey through sleepy mountain villages and across breathtaking backdrops of snow capped mountains and sweeping open plains. Take in the republic’s rugged, remote beauty, and make sure you don’t miss out on Teletskoye Lake .

Black Sea to the Baltic

From one stunning seaside spot to another, this route ambles through Russia, around Belarus, into Latvia, Lithuania, and back into Russia’s green westerly enclave, Kaliningrad. From Sochi to Kurshskaya Kosa, Russia’s national park on the Curonian Spit, is around 36 hours of straight driving, so definitely breakup the long journey with all the many stops along the way. Highlights on the way are: Sochi’s beautiful azure waters and seaside air, Rostov-on-Don’s cossack heritage, Voronezh’s architecture, Moscow’s Soviet significance, the lush countryside and European stylings of post-Soviet states Lithuania and Latvia. And then, finally, Kaliningrad’s spectacular ruggedness.

St. Petersburg to Vladivostok

This is essentially the Trans-Siberian train route, but with an extra bit tacked on, so you get the full Russian experience. The roughly 9,000-kilometre (5,592-mile) journey will take you from the nation’s most European city, across Siberia to Vladivostok , a sometimes overlooked destination, but charming port town nonetheless. On this epic drive, you’ll discover places steeped in religious, Soviet, and imperial importance. The journey is almost seven days straight on a train, so this is a road trip for when you have time to spare.

St. Petersburg to the Kola Peninsula

The roads can be a bit treacherous above the Arctic Circle , so you’ll want an off-road vehicle for this trip, even though around St. Petersburg they are well maintained. Take a day to make the journey up to Murmansk, the largest city above the Arctic Circle. Once you’ve finished looking around there, head up towards Rybachy Peninsula at the top of the Kola Peninsula, and stop off at Titovka River to enjoy the rapids and waterfalls. If you go in summer you can catch the glorious midnight sun.

Astrakhan to Elista to Lagan

A comparatively short trip that will take you into the the Buddhist Republic of Kalmykia from Astrakhan, one of Russia’s most culturally diverse cities that sits upon the Volga River . Amble through rustic villages and rolling plains until you arrive at Lagan, via Elista. In both towns check out all the Buddhist temples that have been built since the fall of the Soviet Union. Off the beaten track, Kalmaykia is one of the most underdeveloped areas in Russia, and the republic’s people, the Kalmyks, suffered heavily during the Soviet regime.

Sochi to The Republic of Adygea

From the Black Sea to Caucasus mountain wilds , this road trip is still epic without being too time-consuming. Drive along the coastal road and then up into the mountains. Once you arrive in Adygea, stay near the Belaya River Canyon for an easy trek out to the Rufabgo Falls. The next day drive across to the Lago-Naki plateau, where you can look out on snow-capped mountains and sweeping vistas of pristine nature, before you take a slow drive back to the coast.

Moscow to the Golden Ring

Another great road trip that won’t take a month out of your life, the picturesque towns that make up the Golden Ring are an easy weekend trip from Moscow . Set in idyllic countryside, this cluster of towns is covered in history. There is Vladmir, an old medieval capital, and the charming Suzdal (which is also the probably the best for sleeping options) as well as Sergiev Posad, a place of religious pilgrimage since the 14th century. Magnificent gold-topped domes on top of centuries-old cathedrals hulk over sleepy village life, and the drive between the towns is through lush green fields and dacha holiday homes.

Chita to Irkutsk

The Amur Highway between Chita and Irkutsk is flanked with imposing mountains. Chita boasts one of the largest Lenin statues in Siberia , and Irkutsk is a popular stop on the Trans-Siberian railway, and so each city is worth an explore either side of the journey. Buddhist temples and rustic villages are scattered between them, and the highway takes you along the southern perimeter of the impressive Lake Baikal, which offers plenty of picnic opportunities. Drive through the heartland of the Buryat people, Russia’s largest indigenous population, and break up the 15-hour journey by stopping off at the capital of the region Ulan-Ude for a few days.

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Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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