Styling
The Soul earns very high marks for its styling. The exterior is surprisingly interesting for a box-car and is completely different than anything that is on the road currently. The rear exterior isn’t as boxy as the Nissan Cube, or Scion xB and the front is attractive and extremely interesting. Its high stance on its large 18-inch alloy wheels also gives it a very aggressive posture. While out cruising on the roads, we noticed a few drivers and passengers rubbernecking to check out our ride which made us smile.
The inside may not be for everyone but I personally loved the contrasting red and black color scheme. It’s so simple but it imparts so much character to an otherwise black plastic interior that I think this was what I’ll remember most about this car. The steering wheel and shifter were wrapped in leather, and leather always has a nice feel.
Our Sport model also came with the sporty alloy pedals that had a nice feel and look to them. I was slightly disappointed that given the look Kia was going for, the exhaust of the car is nowhere to be seen which would increase its aggressive look. Nonetheless, inside and out there is plenty of creativity and funkiness in design which probably earned the Soul its name.
Fuel Economy:
Advertised: 30 in the city and 24 free-way
Actual: During our little test-drive, we achieved a solid 27.9 mpg combined, which is comparably better than some of the Soul’s competitors. As a car reviewer, I had no problems pushing this little car to see what it could do. The Soul took my abuse and still gave excellent mpg.
Value
The Kia Soul provides plenty of bang-for-buck that would make this a great buy for the cost-conscious urban consumer looking for a modest sized car that gets decent gas mileage with lots of features and a funky design. Features like, 18-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth® with hands free connectivity, Sirius Satellite Radio, Electronic Stability Control, sport suspension, and a great stereo system with glowing mood speakers and MP3 capability are not the typical features found in a $18,000 car.
The Kia Soul Sport is tailored towards a younger market with its unconventional style, low price tag and techie gadgets. We definitely felt its appeal beyond that and could easily suit older individuals and small families if the styling isn’t an issue. With its freshly creative interior and exterior styling, and an exceptional warranty, this car is a must see for those on a budget looking for a new car.
Conclusion
Of all the cars that I’ve driven this year, the Kia Soul Sport was the biggest surprise. The refreshing design and nimble handling made this car a lot of fun to drive. While the materials used for the car are cheaper than you would find on more luxurious vehicles, the build is strong and durable and the presentation is done in a manner that is appealing and makes you forget that you are in an econo-box. The smallish engine gets the job done and when coupled with the cars short length and sharp turning radius it really makes the Soul excel in the city. Most of all at, it is just under $17, 000 and with 31 mpg (city driving) you get great value with this car. The Soul has heart and its generous inclusion of features makes it a worthwhile look for anyone shopping on a budget.
| Build | Interior | Performance | Handling | Styling | Value | Overall | |
| Rating | 4.0 | 4.25 | 3.5 | 4.25 | 4.75 | 4.75 | 4.25/B+ |
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 The official website of Kia Motors – www.kia.com |
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Kia Soul ads becoming more hip with rapping hamsters:
http://jalopnik.com/5550370/kia-soul-ad-mocks-beige-cars-with-rapping-hamsters
I got to drive the Soul for a few days and was impressed by the overall package. The highlight is the styling and the interior. The interior and the sound system looks like it came from the Pimp My Ride garage. It is attractive and well constructed.
The lowlight for me was the suspension. On slow speed and high speed, I noticed that it was a tad rough. The chassis handled it well but it did seem there was a truck like jolt every time I hit somthing uneven. Handling was uninspired. On the freeway onramps, when I hit uneven pavement the vehicle would get unsettled and I would get an uncomfortable side motion. I looked under the car and the rear had no independent suspension. It was a solid axle so that’s why it drove like a truck.
Anyway, I don’t think the target audience will notice since there is a lot car here for the money. But for me, this would be a deal breaker.
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