The 2009 KIA Soul Preview
Filed Under ( Cars ) by Motormensch on 26-11-2008
Tagged Under : KIA Soul preview cube 2009
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you one hell-of-a good car for 2009!
Psssst – it’s a KIA!
By: Motormensch
Yup, while I was participating in the press days at the L.A. Auto Show, I came across a curious looking cube called the “KIA Soul.” I liked it straight off. In fact, I was kinda smitten. Not in a Jessica Alba in a bikini kind of way… more like a Rachel Weisz (cute outside, but the real good stuff comes from within.).
Whew, took me a while – that allegory…
I hate most cube cars. Let me say that again, I friggen hate the current batch of cube cars sold here! The original Scion xB was mildly amusing, its replacement is not. The Honda Element is great for functionality, but looks about as attractive as my prom date (just use your imagination).
The stylist at KIA actually made the Soul into something more-or-less interesting without being obnoxious. That’s a hard feat. What’s more, the internal configuration is very useable, eminently practical and somewhat stylish. Not to shabby for a car that should price in the $13,000 - $19,000 category (it’s an educated guess).
The base model Soul has a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine coupled with a five-speed manual transmission, which puts out about 120 horsepower. The Soul+, Soul! and Soul Sport have the optional (approximately) 140 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine which is available with either the five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy for both engines is approximately 30 or more miles per gallon (highway, I believe). Still, that’s damn good. 
Weight and towing were not available at press time; 2,900 lbs is my guess. If the KIA Soul can tow, it will most likely be around 1,000 lbs max. The more powerfulish140 horsepower 2.0 liter should keep the 0-60 times to less than 9 seconds. The less powerful, but more frugal, 1.6 4-banger ought to be above the 9 second mark. Straight-line speed will not be the KIA Soul’s forte… unless they introduce a turbo! Oooh, bring the 2.0 liter iron block (the 1.6 is aluminum) to about 200 horsepower and you would have something! All the same, it should zip around in either normally aspirated form with enthusiasm.
I was told by a buddy of mine (who tested the diesel version in Korea) that the good looking 18 inch wheels made the ride hard and didn’t help the handling much compared to the smoother 16 inch wheels. He had no qualms with the handling which he said was better than the current Scion box. I should note that this is the same guy who screamed like a kindergartener with a scraped knee when he rode in a Mazda RX8 (a car I consider tolerable). Oh, and if you were curious, there has been no announcement as to when the diesel or hybrid are coming here. I would imagine sometime after 2010.
Yup, mostly hard plastic. But it looks good.
KIA Soul has a major ace up its sleeve when it comes to interiors. Here’s KIA’s take, “The Soul’s interior design is decidedly influenced by the car’s highly specified audio system. An uncluttered dashboard with a three-dial instrument cluster, LCD illumination, a floating center stack design is the key visual feature and offers enticing access to the AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities and three months complimentary service. Standard auxiliary and USB input jacks also can be found in the center console with full iPod® controllability via the audio head unit and steering wheel controls.”
My take: this is a car that may appeal to drivers 18 – 88 years of age. No kidding, the seating position and instrument/control layout is nearly spot-on. Forget the stupid, poser-like center pod speedo or cup-holders that tear up your ankles in other car-boxes, this thing is a packaging champ. There is real room for 3 in the back and the storage is quite good. Despite its size, don’t let the box look fool you, this is a small car.
With an overall length of 161.6 inches and an overall width of 70.3 inches, the KIA Soul has a similar size to the Scion xB – minus about 7 inches in length. The Scion xB is 167.3 inches long. In fact, the KIA Soul is about an inch wider than the lowered mini-van looking xB. So, it is closer to the feel and look of the older (and better in my mind) xB. If KIA is smart, they will forego the silly youth campaign Scion has embarked on and simply show this unique little bugger to the masses. It is the first KIA I have met that would be worth owning on character alone. That’s saying something, EXACTLY the same way Samuel Jackson described the word character in “Pulp Fiction.”
Weather you decide to be real or a big fakie, the KIA Soul may be the car for you. And just in case you like saying you know cars (but don’t) and your KIA Soul conks out; KIA’s got you covered with one of the best warranties in the business.
In the KIA Soul, there is no reason to feel the need to FAKE counter culture, wear crappy looking baggy clothing, wear white sunglasses, wear your hat sideways, get a “tramp-stamp,” sport a “whale tail” (G-string constantly seen above the low-cuts) or even use the terms, “bounce,” “dawg,” “sup?” or anything else that stupid.
With this KIA Soul, I think it’s just enough fun for anyone who isn’t trying to act like “someone.”
But just in case you need to compensate for (ahem) something, there is enough room for huge speakers, amps, extra lights, 20 inch wheels, huge exhaust pipes, “original” paint schemes and a few inches for lowering.
Please god no!
Anyway, have a look and take a seat in a few months when the 2009 KIA Soul hits the showrooms. At the very least, I bet you’ll look at KIA differently. I know I am.
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