#NNPA BlackPress

AUTO REVIEW: 2020 Kia Soul

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The 2020 Kia Soul maintains its boxy shape; I don’t know that it would be a Soul without it. And Kia continued to call it an urban runabout. It has virtually annihilated its competitors but more in the form of crossovers are here and are or on their way. What Kia wanted to do with the next generation was to keep the Soul fun to drive, functional and funky. They pretty much hit all three marks.

Published

7 years ago

April 10, 2019

Oakland Post

By Frank S. Washington, AboutThatCar.com

SAN DIEGO – It doesn’t seem like it has been around that long but we’re about to get a look at the third generation of the Kia Soul. This car has defied all odds. It struck a chord with consumers and Kia parlayed an innovative advertising campaign that corralled the public psyche and turned this vehicle into near icon status.

The 2020 Kia Soul maintains its boxy shape; I don’t know that it would be a Soul without it. And Kia continued to call it an urban runabout. It has virtually annihilated its competitors but more in the form of crossovers are here and are or on their way.

What Kia wanted to do with the next generation was to keep the Soul fun to drive, functional and funky. They pretty much hit all three marks.

The 2020 Soul has a sleeker design, more power, a better ride and more models. There are now six trim lines: the LX, S, X-Line, GT-Line, EX, EX-Designer Collection and that does not include the Soul EV.

There were two engine choices. A 2.0-liter normally aspirated four cylinder made 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. It could be mated to a six-speed manual transmission or what Kia has branded as an Intelligent Variable Transmission, Kia’s in-house developed CVT. With the I-VT it got 27 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway and 30 mpg combined.

The first thing I noticed when we got in the 2.0-liter was that it didn’t have push button start stop nor entry. Still, the engine was relatively smooth and quiet. The new Soul was certainly comfortable and roomy.

I found the transmission to be pretty good. The I-VT simulates gear shifts and that got rid of the monotonous drone and rubber band feel that accompanies most CVTs. The 147-horsepower engine did work to get the car up and over a couple of steep hills and they were not that steep.

The 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbocharged direct injected four-cylinder engine made 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It was mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This engine got 27 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway and 30 mpg combined.

We drove the turbo back from lunch. This car had power. The dual clutch was sharp. We got lost more times than I’m going to admit. But it gave us a chance to test the Soul’s maneuverability in the form of U-turns. The new Soul’s turning radius was 34.8 ft.

Turns were tight on the way back, but I never felt the frame warp during the tight turns or handling the twisting two lane state roads here. The frame was 35 percent stiffer.

I climbed into the back seat and found lots of room. Because the Soul is front-wheel-drive, the floor in the rear of the passenger compartment was almost flat. There was a sport-tuned suspension and with the seats folded the Soul had 62.1 sq. ft. of cargo space.

The interior of the car was sharp; the infotainment screen dominated. The 1.6-liter had heated seats, a heated steering wheel, push button start stop and it also had a sunroof.

Although the 2020 Soul had the same silhouette and stance as the old car, the headlights had been narrowed. And the three-dimensional wrap around LED taillights that were added looked like reverse boomerangs that formed ribbons. They narrowed the front headlights and the daytime running lights ran the width of the car and formed a thin ribbon under the headlights.

There was a larger grille with a two-tone treatment. They added some heft to the front fenders and there were three roof rack mounting points. The C pillars were designed to look like airplane wings, but I couldn’t see it. There was also a new Soul graphic on the C pillar.

Kia turned up the volume on the Soul’s audio system. The interior space continues to evolve in terms of sound. Available mood lighting emitted soft light from the center door panels and a 3D pattern surface was on the upper door panels. That light can synchronize the beat of the music with the interior lights.

Other interior technology included a rainbow of customizable colors, wireless charging, dual automatic climate controls and the Soul’s signature tweeter speakers.

The 2020 Soul was a little longer by two-inches. The width and height were unchanged but the wheelbase was a little more than one-inch longer. That inch gave the Soul a smoother ride.

The new Soul picked up a little more leg room in the front and lost a little in the rear. The headroom was unchanged, so was the shoulder room in the front and rear. However, the Soul picked up 5 more cu. ft. of cargo space with the rear seats up for a total of 24.2 cu. ft. It will need it because most of its new competitors will be small crossovers.

The liftgate was wider and lower making putting stuff in easier. The Soul had a dual cargo board so that it could accommodate taller cargo. The front doors were larger because of sculpted panels. What they’ve done is make a snazzy vehicle a bit more practical too.

The new chassis used more advanced high strength steel than the old model and it had more hot stamped components and more structural adhesive.

It is all about being connected in today’s automotive universe. The 2020 Soul had a 10.25-inch color touchscreen with split screen capability, depending on the trim line. It had a rearview monitor and parking guidance. There was Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, a heads up display and a premium audio system that included 10 speakers and twice the wattage of the current car.

Kia offered a suite of what it calls Drive Wise features including forward collision avoidance, lane keeping assist, lane changing assist, driver attention warning, blind spot collision warning, rear cross collision warning, smart cruise control and high beam assist.

The car goes on sale this spring. Prices start at $17,490 for the Kia Soul LX 2.0-liter with the six-speed manual transmission and range up to $27,490 for the GT-Line 1.6 turbo with the seven-speed dual clutch transmission. And add the $995 freight charge.

Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com

Posts by

Up Next

Black Wall Street Spring

Don't Miss

H. Scott Young is Turning Atlanta Around

Oakland Post

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

Oakland Post

The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

AutoNetwork helps serious car shoppers inspect any new vehicle online before walking into a dealership. I’m Roosevelt — I’ve been reviewing cars and shaping digital car buying and credit union auto leasing since before YouTube car reviews existed.
You’ll find detailed walkaround reviews, POV test drives, and buyer-focused breakdowns covering comfort, space, features, and real-world value.
How to use the channel:

Watch the walkaround of the car you’re considering
Visit AutoNetwork.com for the full review
Check CouponsOffersAndDeals.com for current dealer specials
Walk in already knowing what you want — and what it should cost

Live talk show “AutoNetwork Reports” — Thursdays 3:00 PM ET.
AutoNetwork.com
CouponsOffersAndDeals.com
Affiliate disclosure: some links earn a small commission at no cost to you and help support the channel. Insta360 is one of those partners.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

Snoop Dogg Celebrates 10 Til’ Midnight at the Compound

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

admin

Snoop Dogg celebrated the premiere of 10 Til’ Midnight at his Inglewood recording studio & multipurpose facility, The Compound, but the night felt like much more than an album release. It felt like Los Angeles. It felt like legacy. And it felt like another major move from one of the city’s greatest cultural architects as he continues to prove that he is not just dropping music — he is building moments, shaping narratives, and pushing the culture forward in real time.

What made the event so powerful was the clarity behind the vision. During a panel conversation with DJ Hed, Snoop opened up about the heart behind 10 Til’ Midnight, explaining that the project was created to help bridge older and younger generations while also speaking to the long-standing divisions between Bloods and Crips in a unique way through film. That alone gave the project a different kind of weight. This was not just about songs. This was about using creativity as a tool for connection. This was about taking a story rooted in Los Angeles and telling it in a way that could bring people together.

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles. The film was shot in the city, including at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, which gave the entire project an even deeper hometown feel. It was not just a West Coast story in content — it was a Los Angeles-made production from the ground up.

That matters because, in a city like this, authenticity still carries weight. Snoop understands how to make sure that what he creates does not just represent Los Angeles on the surface, but actually comes from it.

What also makes 10 Til’ Midnight significant is that it represents another major step in Snoop’s evolution as both an artist and executive. Public reporting around the project identifies it as his 22nd studio album, but the bigger story is what it represents in this season of his life. This is one of several consecutive moves he has made in his 50s that show he is still building, still expanding, and still finding new ways to reinvent what the next chapter looks like.

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Now, as the head of Death Row Records and the newly aligned leader of Death Row Pictures, he is taking the brand into a new dimension. That is what made this moment feel bigger than music. Snoop is not just protecting the legacy of Death Row — he is stretching it. He is expanding it beyond records and into film, visual storytelling, and larger creative worlds that can continue carrying the label’s impact forward. Public reporting has noted that this project arrives as part of that broader cinematic push.

That is a major Los Angeles move because the city has always been built on the intersection of music, film, neighborhood identity, and cultural storytelling. With 10 Til’ Midnight, Snoop is leaning all the way into that intersection.

The room at The Compound reflected that. It felt like a private premiere, but it also felt like a statement — a reminder that Snoop Dogg’s staying power has never been based only on nostalgia. It comes from his ability to remain connected, remain visionary, and remain in tune with how to move the culture without losing the essence of who he is.

That is why this premiere mattered. It was not just about celebrating another album. It was about witnessing a Los Angeles legend continue to evolve, continue to unify, and continue to use art to tell stories that hit deeper than entertainment alone.

In that sense, 10 Til’ Midnight became more than a project launch. It became another example of how Snoop Dogg is still taking Los Angeles to the next level — using music, film, and legacy together to build something bigger than a moment.

admin

Posts by admin

#NNPA BlackPress

OP-ED: Small Businesses Need Minnesota to Act on Pass-Through Tax Policy

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — A Twin Cities immigrant entrepreneur who built several businesses including grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods is calling on Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option before it expires, warning that its loss would hit small businesses already recovering from Operation Metro Surge with higher federal tax bills.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

admin

A Twin Cities Small Business Owner Is Urging Minnesota to Extend a Tax Policy That Could Save Thousands of Businesses

By Daniel Hernandez | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

I came to the United States as a teenager with a clear goal: to build something meaningful through hard work. I put in long days in construction, restaurants, and landscaping; doing whatever it took to learn, save, and eventually start my own business.

Over time, I built and ran several successful ventures, including an event photography company, a magazine, a tax and accounting firm, and now grocery stores serving neighborhoods across the Twin Cities where other retailers chose not to invest. I’ve created jobs, supported families, and committed to communities that deserve stability and opportunity.

That’s why I’m speaking out now.

Small business owners in Minneapolis and the communities we serve are recovering from serious disruptions, including the impacts of Operation Metro Surge. That event hit immigrant communities especially hard. In my own case, I lost nearly half of my 60 employees and saw revenue drop by about 85%. While I worked to provide competitive wages, health benefits, and paid time off, the real hardship fell on the people who lost their jobs and income.

Even as we rebuild, small businesses are facing another challenge. The Minnesota Legislature is considering letting an important tax policy expire: the Pass-Through Entity tax option.

Here’s what that means in plain terms.

Many small businesses, including mine, are pass-through businesses. That means the business itself doesn’t pay income tax. Instead, the owners report the income on their personal tax returns. But under current federal rules, there’s a limit on how much state tax we can deduct. That often leads to higher federal tax bills.

The Pass-Through Entity option fixes that. It allows the business to pay the state tax directly, which means the business can fully deduct those taxes on its federal return and lower the total amount of income taxed federally. The result is straightforward: small business owners pay less in federal taxes, without reducing what the state collects.

This policy is not new or controversial. Thirty-six states already offer it. It doesn’t cost Minnesota anything, it’s revenue neutral. And it benefits more than 66,000 businesses across the state.

In a state where the cost of doing business is already high, it’s hard to understand why we wouldn’t offer the same basic tax treatment as states like California and Illinois.

Small businesses have carried a heavy load in recent years, through a pandemic, rising costs and public safety disruptions. We’ve adapted, reinvested and stayed committed to our communities. What we need now are practical policies that support that work, not make it harder.

If the Minnesota House does not act soon, many businesses will face significantly higher federal tax bills. That’s money that could otherwise be used to hire workers, raise wages or reinvest in local neighborhoods.

I urge Gov. Tim Walz and members of the House Tax Committee to pass House File 3127 and extend the Pass-Through Entity election.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’ve proven our resilience. Now we need our state leaders to show the same commitment to us.

Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Colonial Market located at 2100 E. Lake St.

Excerpt:

Photo Captions:

Website Tags and SEO Keywords:

Twitter (X) Tags and Handles: