Kia: It's a real Soul machine

Hot new crossover turns heads, delivers fuel efficiency, comfort

It's sleek, stylish, and the kind of car that you'd expect a first-time driver to be cruising down the roadway.

But when it comes to the 2010 Kia Soul -- the new crossover vehicle that combines the style of modern automotive engineering with the reliability of Kia's legendary warranty -- the model destroys the mold of the typical buyer.

According to Kia Country General Sales Manager Dan Espino, the first buyer of the Kia Soul was a lady in her 60's who drove down from the foothills and hadn't purchased a new car in over 15-years.

While age specific additions like Bluetooth connectivity and an iPod ready stereo are at the ready, the roomy interior and the fuel-efficiency -- topping 30 miles per gallon -- help make the Soul appeal to just about everybody.

And when it comes to how the Kia Soul stacks up to the other competitors in its class -- the Scion xB and the Nissan Cube -- the Soul can hold its own in a dogfight with other compact crossovers that are starting to appeal to more fuel and cost-efficient drivers.

According to a Popular Mechanics test earlier this year, the magazine voted the Soul the best of the three competing models with an average combined mileage of 31.2 miles per gallon -- noting that it was the "canyon carver" of the group that claimed the grin-inducing persona that the testers enjoyed.

"This car has done very well for us and it's only been here for a short time," Espino said. "We've had several people say that they were going to look at other models like the Scion and that usually means that we've lost them.

"But we've had two of them come back and purchase the Soul, and that says a lot about what this car has to offer and the impact that it's making on buyers."

For those looking to get outdoors the Soul has a ton of practical features like a hidden tray in the cargo floor, a dual-level glovebox, cruise control, and ample center console storage.

Added features that only make the experience of driving that much more pleasurable include pulsating speaker lights, Sirius satellite radio, and a sunroof.

"This car has something for everybody, and it's something that you really have to look at to believe," Espino said. "Once you get behind the wheel of one you aren't going to want to let go."

By Jason Campbell
Manteca Bulletin