ShareThisOne look at the 2010 Kia Soul and you begin to understand how the automobile times are changing.
It's a vehicle that its developers say defies categorization. Yet they call it a sport wagon and refer to it as an "urban passenger vehicle." But it drives just fine on interstates and rural roadways. Others might call it a hatchback, no surprise because it has a hatch in the back.
It's marketed as a compact. But it has enough interior volume for passengers and cargo to be called a large car by the government. Five passengers fit easily inside and even the person in the center rear position can get reasonably comfortable -- a rarity that most cars cannot duplicate.
It's also tall, boxy and funky, with jazzy interiors aimed at younger buyers, the latest transportation temptation that also includes such vehicles as the Scion xB, Nissan Cube, Mini Cooper Clubman, Chevrolet HHR, Toyota Matrix, Dodge Caliber, Honda Fit, Pontiac Vibe and Chrysler PT Cruiser.
Its most direct competitors, however, are likely to be the Cube and the xB, which are similar to the Soul in size, concept and price class.
The Soul is regarded by Kia as a halo car for the brand. But with price tags that range from $13,995 to about $18,500, it fulfills that role from down around the knees, like a hula hoop.
Traditionally, a halo vehicle is a top-of-the line something designed to bathe lesser models in reflected glory. The Corvette does that from above for the Chevrolet lineup. The Soul reflects up and around.
In the Soul lineup, however, the halo role falls to the upper echelons. That's not to say that the base car is undesirable, but it is aimed more at the purely economy-minded.
At $13,995, the un-embellished Soul comes with full safety equipment, including stability and traction control, antilock brakes, brake force distribution, tire-pressure monitoring, side air bags and side-curtain air bags as well as air conditioning, and power steering, windows and mirrors. But it lacks such amenities as an automatic transmission option, cruise control, vanity mirrors, Bluetooth communications and alloy wheels.
The engine is a 122-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox that delivers 26/31 miles to the gallon on the EPA's city/highway cycle.
To get the stylish and useful accouterments that stir the soul of the younger buyer, you have to move up to the Plus, Exclaim and Sport models. They are powered by a 142-horsepower, 2-liter four-cylinder engine linked to either the five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission.
The $15,645 Plus adds to the base model such things as an automatic transmission (if you want to pay $950 extra), cruise control, remote locking, six-way adjustable driver's seat, vanity mirrors, map lights and 16-inch alloy wheels.
But the real grabbers come on the Exclaim (!) and Sport models. The latter includes a stiffer suspension system for more precise handling, as well as a gaudy red and black cloth interior that jumps right out at you and stays there. The question is whether you will love it in middle age as well as first infatuation.
Every bit as stylish, but a trifle more subdued -- and therefore more acceptable to a broader range of customers -- is the tested Exclaim (!) version. It has a price tag of $18,595 with an automatic transmission and comes fully equipped, including a motorized glass sunroof.
It has a two-tone interior similar to that of the Sport model, but it's done up in black and classy sand-colored cloth. (Leather is not available and not needed).
Most buyers likely will order the four-speed automatic transmission, but if you have even half an inclination to shift for yourself you might want to try the five-speed manual gearbox. The clutch action is smooth and the shift linkage is effortless and bump-free. The automatic, which struggles in some circumstances, could use a fifth gear.
Interior comfort is first-rate, with enough adjustments for almost any driver to find a decent driving position. The steering wheel tilts but does not telescope. However, the sun visors, as all of them should on every car, slide on their support rods to block sunlight from the sides.
Out back, there's plenty of head and knee room for regular-sized adults. And even the center passenger, thought shorted somewhat on seat comfort, can sit in reasonable comfort.
The 142-horsepower engine provides enough power, along with an EPA city/highway mileage rating of 24/30 miles to the gallon, to be competitive on both performance and fuel economy.
Despite its boxy profile, the Kia Soul tracks cleanly on the highway and handles curves competently. It's no sports sedan, nor was it intended to be.
Kia is part of Hyundai of South Korea. Both brands have been relentlessly moving up in quality ratings by independent testing organizations. A few years back, a critic might hesitate recommending any Kia. But the company has turned the corner and now deserves serious consideration, especially for a vehicle that appears to offer as much charisma for the bucks as the new Soul.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service. For more columns, go to scrippsnews.com)
DriveWays with KIASOUL-SPECS
