By Mary Ellen Ash

Yays:

• Lots of style
• Well equipped tech features
• Bang-for-buck value
• Super fun to drive

Nays:

• Imprecise shifting
• Limited cargo space
• Petite engine power

The Soul is Kia’s foray into the youthful box-car market, currently dominated by the Scion xB, Nissan Cube and the Honda Element. The Soul will definitely be attractive to first time buyers, with its low cost, curious design, vibrant interior and multitude of techie gadgets. But it’ll also be enjoyed by older family oriented consumers with its versatile drive, good fuel economy, and ample passenger space. For this review, we tested the top of the line 2010 Kia Soul Sport featuring a sports-tuned suspension and other modifications yielding a more responsive ride.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings:

• Seven passenger seating
• Outstanding value
• Super practical

Dings:

• Hit with the ugly stick ten too many times
• Gutless V6
• Low-hanging tailgate devours foreheads

Ruling: Comfortable and practical, but as sexy as a pair of orthopedic shoes.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Peter N.

Pros:

• B I G
• Powerful acceleration
• Nice luxury details (dual zone climate, seat & mirror memory, heated seats)
• Great stereo sound

Cons:

• B I G
• Rough ride
• Fit and finish rivals Detroit, not Japan
• Annoying telescoping steering wheel
• Difficult access to third row

Read the rest of this entry »

Who would have dreamed a year ago that the big names at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show would be Acura, Hyundai, Kia, and Mazda? Who would have ever imagined that a U.S. auto show would be dominated by companies from Japan and Korea?

Everyone thought the Chicago Auto Show would be a great opportunity for the Big 3 to pull out the stops and put a positive spin on a bad situation. But, instead of a much-needed infusion of confidence, all the Big 3 got was an old-school whuppin’ at the hands of the Foreign 4.

While the Big 3 was busy taking private jets to Washington D.C., closing production facilities and laying off workers at an alarming rate, it seems that the Foreign 4 has been hard at work.

Sure, the Big 3 did unveil some great new cars. But, questions still remain. How quickly can they get these vehicles to market? Are they earmarking bailout money for these projects? (They must be.) But, while the Big 3 wonders, the Foreign 4 plunders, and that’s the name of that tune.

4 new cars from the Foreign 4: The 2010 Acura TSX V-6, the 2010 Hyundai Genesis coupe R-Spec, the 2010 Kia Forte, and the 2009 Mazda MX-5 were displayed at the Chicago Auto Show.

Read the article from Kirk Bell, contributing author to CarReview and Search Chicago, after the jump:

(Continued on page 2)