By Mike Hanley
Cars.com National February 3, 2009Vehicle Overview
Kia joins the boxy wagon segment with the 2010 Soul, which competes with models like the Honda Element and Scion xB. Employing front-wheel drive and powered by a choice of four-cylinder engines, the Soul comes with a host of standard features and an attractive base price. It's offered in base, Soul+, Soul!, and Sport trim levels.
Exterior
The Soul is one of the better-looking boxes out there. Featuring a rounded front end that's reminiscent of a Mini Cooper, the Soul has short front and rear overhangs and a fairly raked windshield. Fifteen-inch steel wheels with wheel covers are standard on the base model, but the Soul+ gets 16-inch alloy wheels, and the Soul! and Sport get 18-inch alloy wheels. A moonroof, a rear spoiler and fog lights are available on higher trim levels.
Interior
The Soul has seating for up to five with its front bucket seats and rear bench seat. The bench seat is split and can be folded down to expand the cargo area.
Standard features in the base Soul include air conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, a CD stereo with USB and auxiliary inputs, and cloth seats. Stepping up to the + model adds cruise control, keyless entry, Bluetooth cell-phone connectivity and a height-adjustable driver's seat. The ! model, meanwhile, gains a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a beige and black interior, and an uplevel audio system with a subwoofer. Sport versions feature black and red seats and metal pedals.
Under the Hood
The Soul's base engine is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder that makes 122 horsepower and works with a five-speed manual transmission. The 142-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder that comes on all but the base version also works with a five-speed manual, but it can team with an optional four-speed automatic.
Safety
Standard features include antilock brakes, side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags, an electronic stability system and active head restraints for the front seats.
Additional Reviews
Cars.com Expert Reviews
| Kelsey Mays | Cars.com National | April 6, 2009 |
| Mike Hanley | Cars.com National | February 3, 2009 |
Affiliate Reviews
| Dan Neil | Los Angeles Times | July 31, 2009 |
| Tom Strongman | KansasCity.com | July 3, 2009 |
| Scott Burgess | The Detroit Newspapers | May 28, 2009 |
| G. Chambers Williams III | Star-Telegram.com | May 7, 2009 |
| Clifford Atiyeh | Boston.com | May 5, 2009 |
| Jim Mateja | chicagotribune.com | April 19, 2009 |
| Warren Brown | washingtonpost.com | March 29, 2009 |
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