Some of you may remember the ‘90s movie “Crazy People.” It was a Dudley Moore, Daryl Hannah classic where Moore plays the role of a burnt out ad exec. He comes up with a zany idea about honesty in advertising and carries through with a campaign for the Volvo 164 sedan proclaiming, “They’re boxy but they’re good.”
You might ask about the relevance of that story here. Good question.
We found this analogy relevant to the Kia Soul, a vehicle that defies traditional description as a car, SUV, wagon or hatchback. It seemed to have a little of each following a week of testing the set of wheels. Yes, it is boxy and safe. It has top crash-test scores across the board.
Soul is a radical design to be sure. But it is practical — with a host of available equipment and an impressive standard list for its base model including Bluetooth connectivity, full power accessories, three-mode selectable steering, six-speaker sound system and 16-inch wheels for around $16,000.
The Soul has seating for five. It accommodates six-footers with loads of head and legroom. Or it can become a generous cargo hauler with rear seats folded, providing more than 60 cubic feet.
The Soul is available in three trim levels: base, Plus and Exclaim. A Uvo eServices Package and Umber upscale leather interior option is new this year. Throw in “Sun and Sound and the Whole Shabang” (their term) option packages and the top-of-the-line model hits the mid twenties price point, a comparable low price in the subcompact SUV lineup.
It’s hard to know what to compare the Soul to. The Nissan Juke has a resemblance. So does Kia’s own Sportage model. However it is compared, the Soul comes up as a value-packed model that can be dressed to go out on the town with leather upholstery, LED lighting, heated and ventilated seats and navi — or kept in its minimal state for a youthful buyer.
Two engines are available. A 1.6-liter four cylinder powers the base model and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. A 2-liter direct-injection four cylinders powers the upper trim levels and is mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Our Exclaim model hit the 60-miles-per-hour mark in a sluggish 9.1 seconds, a bit slower than other small SUVs. Fuel consumption is 26 miles per gallon as tested by the EPA. Our real-world driving delivered the same result.
We found the Soul delivers a comfortable ride with passing power when needed and around-town versatility in parking and maneuvering. Electric steering can be adjusted from Comfort to Normal to Sport for driver feel variation.
The Soul’s design —with radical lines and boxy appearance — seems to be a big hit with consumers. The model sold 145,316 units last year. Current-year sales are expected to be higher.
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