If those hamsters in the Kia Soul commercial look like they are having a blast, I now know why.
The 2010 Soul is fun set of wheels that won’t break the bank. This latest addition to the world of Asian boxes is meant to put a smile on your face, just like the Volkswagen Beetle did years ago, but with much more practical surrounds.
Starting at $13,995, including destination, Kia’s new Soul falls in the price class of Toyota Yaris and Suzuki SX4, but is less than the Honda Fit and fellow box-like rides Scion xB and Honda Element. Its also a little less than another new arrival, Nissan Cube.
The catch – as with many price-leading models – is that the Soul Base model cannot be had with an automatic transmission and is powered by a smaller 1.6-liter, 122-horsepower engine. Upgrading to an automatic raises price to at least $16,595 and gets you a 2.0-liter 142-hp plant.
Neither engine will propel the Soul to first place in many races, but the 2.0-liter car is quite entertaining. It’s zippy, it turns quickly keeping its wheels firmly on the pavement and feels quite solid.
Still, the Base model has an appeal with somewhat better fuel economy – 26 miles per gallon in the city, 31 on the highway – and a decent run on standard equipment. On the safety side, you get antilock brakes, traction and stability control, tire-pressure monitor, side airbags and curtains. In addition, air conditioning, power windows and mirrors, and audio system with MP3 jack and CD player are included.
But beyond the spunky driving experience, what makes the Soul so much fun? Its look for one thing. Its boxy shape seems to have a little more attitude than its rivals. Plus, Kia let designers had a little fun with interior design on upgraded models – which by the way go by some unconventional names.
A host of stylized logos jazz up seatbacks in the Soul +. Two-tone dash trim and houndstooth checks on upper seat backs give set the !, or Exclaim, model apart. And the Sport gets a red and black treatment. Unfortunately, exterior colors are pretty much the same old stuff, except maybe for the alien Green. Kia, however, promises to add bright white Ghost, Denim blue and flame-emulating ignition later in the model year.
Fun too, is the fact that you can bring three or four friends along for the ride without having to squash them in the backseat. There is plenty of room for duffel bags and other stuff even without folding second-row seats, and there are lots of accessories for handling bicycles and other outdoor gear.
The ambient lighting option also is pretty cool and the warranty is reassuring at five years, 60,000 miles on basics and 10 years or 100,000 miles on the powertrain with 24-hour roadside assistance provided during the base period.
And regardless of how buyers equip their Soul, no one is going to berate this car as an econbox. Interior materials are impressive. Its interior look and solid stance reminded me of Volkswagen’s products, which have an upscale look, but cost considerably more than competing rides. Not so with the Kia’s price.
Kia describes the Soul as a “new way to roll,” and says it is the first in a line of next-generation vehicles set to launch in the next two years. I’d say the Soul is a heck of a start down that road and has me looking forward to the next arrival.
source: bizjournals
