CAR GAZING
Kia injects style with new Soul
Inexpensive car turns heads with sleek, boxy shape
By Derek Price
If you want a car that's fun, spunky and stylish enough to turn heads, you're probably not thinking about checking out the local Kia lot.
But maybe you should.
While Hyundai, Kia's Korean rival, has successfully moved its cars upmarket in recent years with better engineering and gorgeous styling, Kia still builds cars that get more attention for their price than anything else. They're good economy cars, just not exactly memorable.
The new Soul is trying to change that.
This boxy Kia follows in the hip footsteps of other square cars like the Honda Element and Scion xB, but it also has sportier lines. It's not just about right angles.
It's an interesting car to look at from any angle. Up front it's got a rounded hood, exaggerated wheel arches and blacked-out pillars by the windshield. In back there are the vertical taillights that stretch up to the sky, and from the side there's a straight roofline that slopes backward.
It's a pretty car, in a weird sort of way.
You find a bit of the spunky styling inside, but materials are just like you'd expect in a low-priced car. The seats can come with fabric that has an interesting houndstooth pattern, and a two-tone dash tries to make it look more upscale than chintzy.
Beyond the cool styling, the Soul doesn't do much else to stand out.
Its performance is only mediocre, with your choice of a whiny 1.6-lilter four-cylinder engine or a 2.0-liter version, making 122 and 142 horsepower respectively.
Handling, steering and braking are all bland and subdued, not quite as snappy as in the Scion xB or as refined as the Honda Element.
On the positive side, the Soul's boxy shape is incredibly practical.
It's a small car, for sure, but the head and shoulder room in the cabin makes it feel a lot bigger than it actually is. The front seats are spacious; the back seat is tolerable for adults; and the cargo area in back is more generous than most cars in this class.
Perhaps best of all is that this new Kia continues what the brand is known for: a very low price. It starts at just $13,300 in base trim and peaks at $17,900 with every single option on the list.
As a total value – considering the practicality and style for every dollar you spend – few cars can match the Soul.
Finally, it's a Kia that demands your attention.
(Derek Price is a newspaper editor and freelance writer living in Texas.)
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