It's nice to see a manufacturer that's doing something right in this slumping economy. And with the launch of its 2010 Soul, Kia is definitely doing something right.
This oddly shaped vehicle may not look like much at a glance, but I encourage you to look again. When you do, you'll see a nicely equipped vehicle with air conditioning, a total cargo volume (with rear seats down) of 53.4 cubic-feet, seating for five and standard safety that includes six airbags.
Oh, and did I mention that you can get all this for less than $14,000?
Kia's tagline for the Soul is: "A new way to roll." The manufacturer has set out to create a cool vehicle that gives you everything you need and plenty that you want. The idea is to make consumers think differently about the Kia brand as well as provide a cost-effective ride that doesn't mean "cheap."
The manufacturer has made no secret that the Scion xB is in its sights. Nor has Kia hidden the fact that it thinks the Soul will beat the pants off the new Nissan cube.
As far as the xB is concerned, my brief time behind the wheel of the Soul leads me to conclude that the Soul has far surpassed that previous trendsetter. Scion made a mistake with the second-generation xB, not only by creating a second-gen vehicle in the first place but also by making it bigger and more expensive. The Soul has a base price that is a full $2,000 less than the xB, and it is 7 inches shorter. For an "urban" vehicle, every dollar and every inch counts. Not to mention the fact that the quality of the Soul exceeds that of the xB, and the Soul is an overall tighter package with better handling.
I haven't yet had any seat time in the cube, so I can't make any direct comparisons in terms of quality or handling. But, on paper, cube offers only one engine choice, a base 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine that delivers 122 horsepower, and it has a starting price that's just $5 less than the Soul. Visually, I like the warped "wraparound" window of the cube, but overall I like the interior creativity of the Soul better.
One of the things I really liked about the Soul is the different levels with unique trims for each. The base Soul is pretty minimal with three exterior color options (black, white and silver) and one interior color scheme (black). It is the only model that comes equipped with the 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine that delivers 122 horsepower. Plus at this level there is one transmission (the five-speed manual), and the only option is floor mats ($95). In addition to the aforementioned standard features, the entry-level Soul also includes a four-speaker audio system with AM/FM/MP3/SAT, USB and auxiliary jacks, 15-inch wheels, electronic stability control and tire pressure monitoring system. Base price for the Soul is $13,995.
Upgrading to the + model keeps it close to $15,000 with the five-speed manual transmission and the up-level 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that delivers 142 horsepower. This level adds standard features like three additional paint colors (green, red and titanium), 16-inch wheels, a six-speaker audio system and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity. Options at this level include the audio upgrade with subwoofer and speaker lights ($400), floor mats ($95) and power sunroof with fog lights ($800). The interior color scheme at the + level is black with a twist. The seating surfaces have textured inserts with the word "Soul" repeating throughout. This might sound kind of busy and distracting, but it covers such a small selection of the seats that it actually looks nice. Plus, the "Soul" glows in the dark. At this level you'll pay $15,645 for the manual transmission and $16,595 for the automatic.
The next level is !, and it does away with the white, silver and red colors and adds Dune and Java (my favorite) to the green, titanium and black. The ! also takes the options from the + level and makes them standard. So you'll add $2,000 to the price tag, and you get 18-inch wheels and $1,200 in options. Plus, yet again, the interior scheme changes. The basic seating surface is black, but the headrests and top of the seats have a black-and-sand colored houndstooth print that's both kitschy and stylish. There are no options available at this level. For the ! with the manual transmission, you'll pay $17,645, and for the automatic you'll pay $18,595.
The final level of the Soul is the Sport. It has the same pricing as the ! model, but it has a few differences in equipment and colors. The sunroof becomes a $700 option, but the Sport adds unique front and rear fascias, unique side sills and a rear spoiler. Dune and Java are dropped from the color lineup, and silver, red and white reappear. The interior scheme is also different with black-and-red sport cloth.
There were no base models for us to test during the press preview, so we were only able to look at models with the 2.0-liter engine. While 142 horsepower doesn't seem like very much in the modern world of 400-horsepower V-8s, I have to say that the Soul was well powered for an entry-level four-cylinder vehicle. It wasn't underpowered at all, and I think a Chicagoan in need of those frequent quick starts and highway merges wouldn't be disappointed. Plus the mileage ratings for a vehicle of this size will be hard to beat. For this engine you're looking at city/highway Environmental Protection Agency estimates of 24/30 mpg. The 1.6-liter engine sees slightly better mileage estimates of 26/31 mpg.
My driving partner and I had the opportunity to drive a manual transmission Sport model and an automatic transmission + model. While I liked the manual transmission, this is one instance where I will tell you to pay the extra $1,000 for the automatic -- even if you are adept at driving a stick. The automatic transmission was so much better and incredibly well geared for those quick accelerations, that I couldn't do better myself with the manual. And, let's face it, in Chicago the automatic is typically the preference anyway with all that stop-and-go traffic.
I noticed that the suspension in the Sport model was a little stiffer than the +, but it was a minimal difference. Ride and handling was pretty steady in both vehicles, and I liked the stiff, responsive steering. Additionally, interior quietness was incredibly good for a vehicle in this price category. Overall fit and finish was also well above what you'd expect for a vehicle in this price range.
Another key selling point of this vehicle for me was the driving position. The manual height adjustable seat and tilt steering column really helped me get the driver's seat exactly where I wanted it. An added bonus: The seats were comfortable in all positions for long stretches of time.
The interior of the Soul is simple yet attractive. I liked the red gauge lighting, and the controls on the center stack were intuitive and easy to reach. The thing that really struck me about the interior, though, was the genuine quality. In addition to being attractive, nothing felt cheap or flimsy. Even the storage compartment at the top of the stack was solid.
I really got a kick out of the optional audio package with the speaker lights. Even though I didn't get the full effect since we only drove in daylight, I could get the general idea with the vehicle parked in shade. The red speaker lights can be set to the rhythm of the music (my favorite), to a steady blink-blink-blink beat or simply to on.
Other standard features of note include the dual glove box that is large enough to hold a laptop computer, power door locks, power windows with driver's side auto down, rear window defroster and standard steering wheel audio controls and cruise control beginning at the + level.
As this was just a preview of the Soul, my time behind the wheel was brief. But my first impression of this hip urban vehicle is favorable. I liked the oddball looks and unique interior treatments depending on the trim level. I liked the ride and handling, and I really liked the four-speed automatic transmission. The Soul has a nice size and even better fuel economy, both of which are becoming increasingly important in today's society.
So with its new "halo" vehicle, Kia presents what it calls: "The right vehicle at the right time." I think it's spot on.
BY JILL CIMINILLO
Chicago Sun-Times
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