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'This Car Will Be Missed': Kia Salesman Says It's The 'End Of An Era.' Then He Reveals He Sold The Final Model Ever Of This Car

'It was a great car.'

Kia salesman says it's the 'end of an era.

Photo by: Unsplash.com

Ljeonida Mulabazi

By: Ljeonida Mulabazi

Apr 11, at 4:00pm ET

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Over the years, many beloved car models have been discontinued, with recent examples such as the Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman making way for their electric replacements.

For one Kia salesman, this trend made one particular day at work more emotional than the others, as he sold the last model of a beloved car that stopped production after the 2025 model year.

In a TikTok video with over 3,000 views, creator Austin (@dribenexcellence) walks through his dealership, reflecting on the model’s run before revealing which car is reaching the end of the line.

Which Kia Model Is Causing The ‘End Of An Era’?

“Well, today is a bittersweet day,” he says. “Kia has discontinued a certain model in their lineup.”

He explains that his dealership has already sold its final unit.

“We have officially sold the very last one that we have at our dealership,” he says, adding that he’s confident they won’t be getting another since production has ended.

After years of sourcing inventory through dealer trades, he says supply has completely dried up.

“So I am 99% confident that this is the very last new version of this vehicle that we will ever sell here,” he says.

He then turns the camera toward the car.

“This is our very last Kia Soul,” he says.

The vehicle in question is a Snow White Pearl LX with the Technology Package. He describes it as a practical daily driver.

“Great commuter car. Great for those who want space and 30 miles a gallon,” he says.

The final unit has already been sold, with the buyer trading in a BMW 320i.

“I guess they're tired of spending the extra money on services and maintenance,” he says, noting that he will likely send the trade-in to auction rather than reselling it on the lot.

Austin points out that the Soul was one of the last “box” cars.

“You had the Scion xB, you had the Nissan Cube, you had the Honda Element, and the Kia Soul,” he says. “And now it's no longer.”

In the caption, he adds, “This car will be missed.”

Commenters Shared Mixed Thoughts

In the comments section, some drivers say the Soul earned its reputation as a reliable, practical option.

“Love my Soul! I’m so glad I got the last year,” one person wrote.

“We’ve had 4 different Souls 2010, 2012,2013 and currently one of our cars is a 2016 Soul. Never had any problems with them the only thing I did have to do to it recently was a clutch but it is a great car,” another shared.

Others were less convinced by the design or interior.

“I hated the Kia Soul but this is still sad,” one commenter wrote.

“Honestly I would’ve bought one long ago if Kia worked on the interior and infotainment center,” another added.

“Those are the ugliest model Kia makes,” a third said.

Why Did Kia Discontinue The Soul?

First introduced for the 2010 model year, the Kia Soul built a strong identity around its boxy design and distinctive marketing.

However, recent sales data show a decline. According to a report from Car and Driver, Kia sold 52,397 units in 2024, down 14% from the previous year and far below its peak of 154,768 units in 2016.

Some Kia fans also believe the Soul’s phaseout ties into Kia’s EV strategy.

“The EV2 is supposedly the Soul's replacement,” one Reddit user wrote. “Every spy shots so far show it at practically the same size.”

Others theorized it has more to do with production and cost factors, with one Facebook user writing that building the model in South Korea could make it less competitive as import costs rise.

What Was The Public’s Reaction?

The Kia Soul is iconic enough to have a strong, dedicated fanbase that was upset by the news.

“I had a 2015 then a 2021. I eventually traded up to a larger vehicle (Sportage), but I will always think of my souls fondly,” one Facebook user wrote, adding that the car “performed flawlessly and never gave an issue.”

“RIP the Hamsters; you got my Boomer mom so jazzed up about this car that she’s owned one for the past 12 years,” another user shared on Reddit.

What do you think?

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Comments

“Kia is now soulless,” one commenter joked.

Motor1 has reached out to Kia via email and Austin via TikTok direct message for comment.

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