2011 Kia Soul Specs, Prices, Pics and Reviews

For a guy in his 20s, I am terminally unhip. I checked out this week's Billboard chart toppers, and I remain skeptical that Flo Rida is anything but a Sun Belt state.

Starting MSRP $13,300–$18,495

It's safe to say I am not one of the trendsetters Kia pegged to drive its 2010 Soul, a new hatchback that goes the way of the Scion xB and Nissan Cube. These cars are supposed to be cool.

Is the Soul? Perhaps, but as it turns out, the question is irrelevant. Whatever you think of its styling, it's hard to debate that the car packs a lot of value for the money, even for a value-oriented econohatch. That should appeal to plenty of buyers, hip or not.


Trim levels include the base Soul, Soul+ ("Soul Plus"), Soul! ("Soul Exclaim") and Soul Sport. (I'm sticking with Plus and Exclaim — no symbols, bro.) I tested a Soul Plus with an automatic transmission. All trims come standard with a stick shift; an automatic transmission is not available on the symbol-less base model.

Youthful Styling?

Relative to the xB and Cube, the Soul looks the most conventional — a bit like a miniature delivery truck. Compared to any other cars, though, its styling is left-field nutty. Some may decide the bug-eyed headlights and stunted tail have a certain charm. Others may find the whole look too cartoonish to take seriously. I never warmed to it, but most Cars.com editors disagree: It's unique, it's different, they said. It's the sort of look young drivers will go for. While they're listening to Flo Rida, apparently.

At about 162 inches long, the Soul falls halfway between the Cube (156.7 inches) and xB (167.3). Sixteen-inch alloy wheels are standard on the Soul Plus, while the Exclaim and Sport get 18-inch rims — impressive for a sub-$20,000 car.

Inside

If the Cube gets the award for richest interior materials and the xB wins for overall roominess, the Soul comes out ahead in cabin design. Click here for a full rundown on all three interiors. Suffice it to say Kia stuck to conventional shapes, so you won't find the upright facings and hard contours that both competitors employ. This feels distinctly more carlike, and elegantly so: Though the materials are hard to the touch, most have a textured finish that looks entirely respectable. The gauges have high-rent, if uninspired, backlighting, and the A/C dials and turn signals move with sturdy, well-oiled precision. Other areas lapse to econobox standards — the center console armrest is rock-hard, and the flip-down grab handles slam shut — but on the whole, quality is good.

I'm not as enthusiastic about the roominess. Relative to other small hatchbacks, there's less space around the gearshift for your knees to spill out. Headroom is good, even in my moonroof-equipped test car, but the driver's seat has limited range to move forward and back. I'm 5-foot-11, and I could have used an inch or so more rearward travel room. Driver's seat height adjustment is standard on all but the base model, but a telescoping adjustment for the steering wheel is unavailable. Telescoping steering is still rare among small cars, but with cars like the redesigned Honda Fit and Ford's upcoming Fiesta getting it, it's clearly on the rise. So to speak.

The backseat is adult-friendly, though the cushions could sit a bit higher for better thigh support. Amenities are limited: Cupholders are limited to one in each door-pocket cutout, and there's no center armrest, which the Cube offers. Folding the seats down creates 53.4 cubic feet of maximum cargo room, which is decent compared to the larger hatchback field, but less than the Cube and xB offer.

Hatchback Roominess Compared
	Kia Soul	Nissan Cube	Scion xB	Honda Fit	Toyota Yaris
Base price	$13,300	$13,990	$15,750	$14,750	$13,305*
Behind 2nd row (cu. ft.)	19.3	11.4	21.7	20.6	9.5
Behind 1st row (cu. ft.)	53.4	58.1	69.9	57.3	25.7
*Four-door hatchback; two-door hatch starts at $12,205. Source: Manufacturer information for 2009 models, except 2010 Soul.

No-Frills Driving

Piloting the Soul is a forgettable experience — it's competent enough to satisfy on the daily commute, but it's never really fun. I found power around town adequate, even with two additional occupants and some light cargo. A 122-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder goes in the base Soul, which only comes with the five-speed manual transmission. All other trims, including my test car, have a 142-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder. It teams with the five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.

At higher speeds, a fifth cog in the automatic might help. Its lack is especially noticeable in 30-to-50 mph highway traffic, where 2nd and 3rd trade places frequently: Second gear is clearly at the end of its rope, but 3rd leaves you short on power. I haven't yet driven the Cube, but the xB, which also has a four-speed auto but gets the Camry's 2.4-liter engine, has enough oomph to overcome such issues. Learn More...

Source : http://www.cars.com