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RVROSE's avatar
RVROSE
Explorer
May 12, 2019

Kia Soul as a dinghy

The 2019 Kia Soul Base with manual transmission has been listed as a possible dinghy tow vehicle. We went to a dealership to check it out. All the 2019's have been sold but they had a lot of 2020 models, including 3 with manual transmissions. Drove it, liked it, put it on our short list of possible tow cars. The salesman assured us that mechanically the 2019 and 2020 models were absolutely identical. The only changes were cosmetic, some things in the interior and some styling changes with the tail lights on the exterior. BUT, when I checked the car manual, the 2020 version is NOT recommended for dinghy towing 4 wheels down. The salesman was flummoxed and didn't know what to say. No one in the service area could help him. I told him I'd take it to a higher authority, RV.NET. If nothing has changed, does that mean the 2019 and the models that came before it are also NOT Recommended for 4 wheel down towing?

He had a 2016 Soul stick shift on the lot that we also drove. The manual did not say it could not be towed 4 wheels down, so we took that as meaning it could be towed.

Please help me out on this. There are fewer and fewer available tow vehicles every year. We want to get one while they still exist. Our older tow vehicle might only have a few more trips in it's soul, so what about the Kia Soul?
  • STBRetired's avatar
    STBRetired
    Explorer
    May 12, 2019
    The 2016 through 2019 Kia Soul front wheel drive manual transmission models are all listed as 4 down towable in the FMCA towing guides. Have the salesman check with the parts department and see if the part numbers for a complete transmission are the same for a 2019 and 2020 Soul. If they are, then the 2020 should be 4 down towable. Sometimes the manufacturer will no longer recommend a vehicle for recreational towing for other than mechanical reasons. Towed miles do not appear on the odometer, but they still cause wear on parts of the driveline. Things like wheel and axle bearings and steering components still are being used while towing even though the miles don't show up. If I tow 10,000 miles per year, the 3/36,000 warrantee on those components just turned into 3/66,000 since the 30,000 towed miles are "invisible" to the dealer.
  • RVROSE's avatar
    RVROSE
    Explorer
    May 12, 2019
    Thanks for your response. I went to the Remco site you suggested and found the 2016 through 2018 Kia Souls were drivable for flat towing without restrictions. No information was available for the 2019 or 2020 model years.
  • RVROSE's avatar
    RVROSE
    Explorer
    May 12, 2019
    To STBRetired, I see your point. KIA could be saying we don't want to warranty vehicles with "invisible" miles so we will say the car is NOT towable anymore.

    I have posed my question to Kia directly and I'm waiting for their answer. I saw that the Soul Base was listed by FMCA for 2019, so that's why we checked it out. None available, drove the 2020 and liked it, but afterwards I checked the owner's manual and found that flat towing was NOT recommended.

    Thinking he had the sale all wrapped up (which might have been true) the salesman was not happy with what I found and lost the sale. Now, he's waiting for Monday to check with his "higher" authorities.
  • wolfe10's avatar
    wolfe10
    Explorer
    May 12, 2019
    Yes, could be a decision made for "other than mechanical reasons". Lawyers and bean counters are making more and more corporate decisions-- a fact of life.

    But (actually large BUT), no sure I would consider a brand new vehicle and immediately void the warranty by modifying/operating it against manufacturer's recommendations.

    Yes, I understand that the warranty would still apply to all components whose failure the manufacturer could not suggest were caused by towing, but.......
  • westernrvparkow's avatar
    westernrvparkow
    Explorer
    May 12, 2019
    RVROSE wrote:
    To STBRetired, I see your point. KIA could be saying we don't want to warranty vehicles with "invisible" miles so we will say the car is NOT towable anymore.

    I have posed my question to Kia directly and I'm waiting for their answer. I saw that the Soul Base was listed by FMCA for 2019, so that's why we checked it out. None available, drove the 2020 and liked it, but afterwards I checked the owner's manual and found that flat towing was NOT recommended.

    Thinking he had the sale all wrapped up (which might have been true) the salesman was not happy with what I found and lost the sale. Now, he's waiting for Monday to check with his "higher" authorities.
    Don't hold your breath. Kia is not going to give an individual a back door approval to flat tow.
    I am surprised any manufacturer specifically allows flat towing. The market is incredibly small and the risks high. We catch people pulling out with the brakes, steering or transmission engaged regularly. To a big diesel pusher the drag is not noticable to the driver. That cannot be good for any of the car's systems and I doubt should those towing mistakes lead to failures while the vehicle is under warranty that the owner would readily admit it was their fault. The downside for the manufacturer sure seems much greater than the upside.
  • mtofell1's avatar
    mtofell1
    Explorer
    May 12, 2019
    Can't help with the towing question but I can give a big thumbs up to the Kia Soul as an overall vehicle. My company has one we use basically for a delivery vehicle and it's been great for the last 5+ years. Reliable, good visibility, easy to drive and lots of bang for the buck.
  • cooper841's avatar
    cooper841
    Explorer
    May 12, 2019
    I have 2010 Kia Soul Manuel.Been towing for years.Great tow car no issue.
  • T18skyguy's avatar
    T18skyguy
    Explorer
    May 13, 2019
    I have a 2018 Kia Soul, and before I bought it I researched vigorously the issue. Kia did issue a TSB that it is ok to tow 4 down with the manual trans in neutral, and the key set to acc. The manual says nothing about it(as is usually the case) Be aware the 2020's are different in a couple of good ways. The base model with the stick shift is the one you want, and they are now putting the 2.0 liter in the base model instead of the 1.6 liter I have. That will be a nice improvement since the only complaint I have is not enough power when you get 3 people in it. The other difference is they have gone back to port injection instead of GDI(gas direct injection). There are problems with GDI in many different makes of cars, too much to explain here, but if you would like to know more go to youtube and search GDI problems. Don't buy a car with GDI unless it's a Toyota that uses two injectors per cylinder. With my Soul I use a Roadmaster base plate with a Demco Dominator tow bar, and an independent lighting system. The Roadmaster base plate is good, but if you can get a Blue Ox that's good also and a bit less weight I believe. Go to e-trailer and see what they advise for a 2020 Soul. You never know there may have been a slight frame change.

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