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The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) was back this January for its annual gathering of auto giants in a place that is synonymous with automobiles. For 13 days, Detroit was once again the mecca for the latest and greatest in cars, trucks, SUVs and whatever else you can imagine that has a motor and wheels. One car is making headlines: The Kia Soul. The $14,000 USD (base trim price) Soul has been named small car of the year by FAMA magazine, amongst many other accolades. Let’s find out what the Soul has to offer for drivers in the market for a new auto.
Basic Options
The four door hatchback Kia Soul is available in four trims: Soul (base), Soul+, Soul! and Soul Sport. The base Soul is powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that provides 122 horses and 115 foot pounds of torque. That power is harnessed via a five speed manual transmission (your only option). The other models come equipped with a 2-litre inline four-cylinder engine that produces 142 horsepower and 137 foot pounds of torque. The above-mentioned five-speed manual comes standard, but for those who prefer an automatic, a four-speed version is available for a bit extra.
The base model Soul comes standard with 15-inch steel rims, drum brakes (rear), power windows, other various accessories and a four speaker stereo system with CD/MP3 (i.e. an auxiliary input jack for your iPod and such) capabilities and satellite radio. The Soul+ comes with 16-inch rims, cruise control, keyless entry, power driver seat, tinted rear window, Bluetooth Technology, audio controls on the steering wheel and a few additional speakers for more oomph! The Soul! comes with a sunroof, fog lights and an even beefier stereo system. Finally, the Soul Sport comes with everything the Soul! comes with, but also includes an even more impressive stereo system, a sport tuned suspension, a red and black interior and an optional sunroof.
High Safety Ratings
As you will see below, the Soul is one of the safest vehicles on the road and for good reason. Standard on all models are anti-lock brakes (the base model only has discs on the front wheels, while the other models have discs on all four wheels), stability control, front side airbags and side curtain air bags. Overall, the Soul scored five stars on three of the five categories tested by the U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, while the other two categories tested received four stars.
Design
For Kia enthusiasts out there, you probably know that Kias aren’t exactly renowned for their interior excitement, but rather, they have been practical. The Soul keeps the same practicality that Kia owners expect, but it does come with a bit more excitement. Besides the above-mentioned two tone color schemes, it comes with practical, yet stylish economy and stereo controls. In other areas, you would expect the car to be rather small, but many reviews give Kia credit for creating a rather roomy vehicle. The Soul’s seats fold down to provide room for storage, but there could be more room in many reviewers’ opinions.
Accolades
With all of the above-mentioned attributes, the bargain Soul has earned more than its fair share of accolades from the automotive community. As mentioned already, FAMA magazine named the Soul its small car of the year at NAIAS. Besides the FAMA award, the Soul was also named as one of the “10 Great and Safe Rides for Teens” by AutoWeek magazine. Kelly Blue Book also named the Soul one of the “Top 10 Back-to-School Cars.” For parents out there with a new driver or those sending a child to college, the Soul may be worth looking into if the family finances can swing it. TIME.com also named the Kia one of the “Most Exciting Cars of 2010.” Finally, if you’re worried about safety, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Soul two “Top Safety Pick Awards.”
It’s Got Soul
Needless to say, if you are looking for a safe and reliable auto, it may be worth the time to take the Soul for a test drive sometime soon.
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