Article Comments - 2010 Kia Soul First Drive and Full Test

70 messages, Last post on Jul 10, 2009 at 2:34 PM

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What is this discussion about? Kia Soul, Future Vehicle, Coupe, Hatchback

2010 Kia Soul First Drive - First Impressions: Finally and quite fittingly, a Kia with some soul. (more)

2010 Kia Soul Full Test and Video - Bottom Line: Fashion sense is everything in a funky hatchback and the Soul has it. But we're more attracted to this box's driving dynamics, which are among the best in this class. (more)

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#61 of 70 Re: Focus Deal [borgward1] by jaxs1 May 16, 2009 (3:46 pm)
Replying to: borgward1 (May 16, 2009 3:21 pm) That sounds really dumb for that one particular aspect to be a deal breaker for anyone especially when they haven't even driven the car and the road tests reviews of the car do not indicate any problem related to that. I wouldn't buy the current Focus because it is a warmed over very old design and lacks stability control. Lots of space taken up in the trunk be the independent suspension strut towers on both sides plus factory subwoofer on the left. Not a design a good design for space efficiency at all. Even if you got a base model with the cheapest stereo that lacks the subwoofer, the cargo area is still cramped and awkward to load because of suspension intrusion into that area. I expect the fully redesigned new Focus to be nice though. The new Focus is still years away.
#62 of 70 Re: Focus Deal [borgward1] by csandste May 18, 2009 (9:38 pm)
Replying to: borgward1 (May 16, 2009 3:21 pm) You keep making the same statement. Did you actually drive the car? I can't imagine making statements based on platform engineering unless you actually did a test drive. I've owned some vehicles that had a solid rear axle that were surprisingly good handlers, although it's been quite a few years ago, and other items like tires have since improved. In my case, having strut towers greatly decreasing usable room would have been a negative.
#63 of 70 Strut by borgward1 May 19, 2009 (5:36 am)
You are assuming strut towers are required to achieve IRS. There are a variety of ways to achieve IRS. I have driven other KIA w/rear beam axle on twisty roads. It's handling while not absolutely terrible, it just did not feel right. Was not my car. A co worker had a KIA and she remarked that it just did not feel right. Actually, struts are not the best way to design an independently sprung suspension, they are a way to speed up production and cut down costs. KIA is marketing the car as a sporty item. Handling comes first, and zip second. Perhaps they would look more honest if they portrayed it is a mini minivan rather as a sporty zippy vehicle. Replies to this message: csandste (May 19, 2009 7:25 am) jyym (Jun 18, 2009 2:22 pm)
#64 of 70 Re: Strut [borgward1] by csandste May 19, 2009 (7:25 am)
Replying to: borgward1 (May 19, 2009 5:36 am) It's priced at under $15K before negotiations, will soon be discounted heavily like all Kias and is based on a modified Accent/Rio platform. That doesn't scream sophistication. On the other hand it appears to be a pleasant transportation box, less finished but a hell of a lot cuter than the second gen. xB.
#65 of 70 No Heated Mirrors! Again! by ike3 May 30, 2009 (5:55 am)
Love the look of the vehicle, really. Was at a Buffalo area dealer this past week. Being along the border, I curiously checked and compared the specs between the U.S. and Canadian models. They have 5 trim levels, not 4. But ALL their trim levels included "Dual power, heated, body-coloured mirrors." I look at the U.S. specs, and on the 3 upper trim levels all I see is "Body color, power-adjustable outside mirrors." Oh the base U.S. model is "Black, manually-adjustable outside mirrors." So, I beg the question, why was this feature "decontented" for the U.S. market? The heated mirrors can be turned on and off, but a life saver in climates as harsh as ours are in the winter months. I won't say its a deal breaker, and its too bad that a Canadian Kia dealer can't sell one to me if I plate it in the U.S. Why is it that Kia and Nissan (among others) delete this feature for the U.S.?
#66 of 70 Could be... by iluvmysephia1 May 30, 2009 (12:54 pm)
ike3. All I would say is this car is priced bargain-basement cheap. What a great car for the money. Kia just keeps getting better and better. And the last time I typed this was about a year ago!
#67 of 70 Re: Soul No Deal [cruzdreamer] by jyym Jun 18, 2009 (2:19 pm)
Replying to: cruzdreamer (May 14, 2009 1:14 pm) A solid-beam rear suspension is older (design), less sophisticated than a multi-link rear suspension, but the upside is that it is cheaper and allows for more leg/storage room in the rear. The Ford Mustang still utilizes a solid-beam axle and the reviews on the ride have been pretty decent/good (as it has been for the Soul).
#68 of 70 Re: Strut [borgward1] by jyym Jun 18, 2009 (2:22 pm)
Replying to: borgward1 (May 19, 2009 5:36 am) As "cute-utes" go, it is probably the best handling of the lot (not that it means much - but, hey, what do you expect from a box on wheels?).
#69 of 70 Re: Just checked out the Cube site [rockymtnhi] by jyym Jun 18, 2009 (2:25 pm)
Replying to: rockymtnhi (Apr 16, 2009 3:58 pm) An option closer to the Mazda3 would be the Elantra Touring which is basically Hyundai's European i30 wagon rebadged (too bad Hyundai didn't bring over the i30 hatch; or even better yet, Kia bringing over the cee'd/pro cee'd). Replies to this message: stephen987 (Jul 10, 2009 2:34 pm)
#70 of 70 Re: Just checked out the Cube site [jyym] by stephen987 Jul 10, 2009 (2:34 pm)
Replying to: jyym (Jun 18, 2009 2:25 pm) I just drove the Soul+ and came away pretty impressed. The handling isn't as crisp as that of the Fit, but it's less fidgety and more comfortable. The engine is stronger too. I didn't have the negative reaction Erin did to the gearbox--to me it felt pretty decent, though not as sporty as the Fit's. In the Soul, 1st and 3rd gear are very close to one another in a way that might cause you to accidentally try to pull off the line in 3rd, but I found my way through it without any problems. Right now I'm looking at buying either a Fit or a Soul before the end of July.