This one is good. I like the functional layout inside and the space, in the front and back seats and in the cargo area. Even though there's a lot of plastic inside, the use of bright color breaks it up and the fits are excellent. The driving position is good and comfortable, with controls easily within reach. Equipment is substantial, including steering-wheel audio controls, for instance. Kia even remembered to put a slider on the sun visor, to make sure it has enough reach to block the sun coming through the enormous side window. Smart, and missed by too many otherwise intelligent companies when designing these kinds of cars.
The engine is enough to move this box, especially with the five-speed manual gearbox to work with, but it's not going to excite anyone. I found the suspension fairly taut, almost too taut for our harsh road surfaces--pitching fore and aft and drumming the pavement imperfections into the cabin. But the tighter ride pays for itself by giving the Soul sportier handling than you might expect from a tall box.
I like the Soul, and I think anyone looking for a practical, functional and fun sort of car--for not a lot of money--will find it to their liking as well.
NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: I did exactly what Kia would expect a young guy to do with this car: I took it to a Killers concert. Literally, that must be straight out of some kind of marketer's made-up scenario for what its target audience will do with this car. Unfortunately, I parked far away, so there was no chance to really gauge reaction from the crowd Kia is aiming for.
The look is over-the-top, I'll say that. It's different and weird. A lot of adjectives apply here, but it actually remains true to the concept of edgy and nonconformist wheels. Observing it in a parking space, the appearance is almost surreal, especially with those taillights and huge wheel arches.
The inside is a funhouse. I've never seen that much red plastic in one place. But it's functional, comfortable and offers a nice driving position for the road.
The five-speed is nice and the clutch is efficient. I encountered some turbulence on the road; a couple of times I reached speeds of about 70 mph on the expressway and had that shaky, about-to-tip-over feeling. OK, I get it--this isn't a low-slung Chrysler 300. But the Ford Escape and other small utes manage to avoid that lack-of-confidence feel. Most of the time, however, the drive experience was interactive and fun.
Honestly, the boxy, youthful segment doesn't do much for me. But among those competitors, this is a solid entry.
2010 Kia Soul Sport
Base Price: $17,645
As-Tested Price: $17,645
Drivetrain: 2.0-liter I4; FWD, five-speed manual
Output: 142 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 137 lb-ft @ 4,600 rpm
Curb Weight: 2,829 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 26/32.3 mpg
Options: None
