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10 Best Sedans Under $25,000

2011 Kia Soul

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2012 Kia Soul

Overview

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2011 Kia Soul Review

By KBB Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 7.0

Although the 2011 Kia Soul competes directly with the Nissan Cube and Scion xB, the Soul has a much broader appeal. It enjoys styling that is neither polarizing nor awkward and Kia has a hip ad campaign that turned a common hamster into a bona fide rap star. Brisk sales and rave reviews have helped the Soul get off to a good start, but questions remain about its long-term reliability. Of course, an impressive array of standard features, one of the most original and modern interiors in the segment and a price tag starting well below its competitors make the Kia Soul a tempting morsel indeed. Making our "Top Ten Coolest Cars Under $18,000" list and strong initial resale values doesn't hurt the 2011 Kia Soul, either.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you're looking for a vehicle that is both versatile and affordable, but you don't want to look like you're driving a car whose only attribute is that it's versatile and affordable, the 2011 Kia Soul is the car for you.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you're looking for rapid acceleration, all-wheel drive or the highest resale value, you'll have to spend more.

What's Significant About This Car?

For 2011, Kia will offer two Special Edition Soul models featuring automatic climate control and unique paint and trim.

Driving the Soul

Driving Impressions The 2011 Kia Soul looks cool, is loaded with features and has room for people, cargo, dogs and gear, but its ride and handling are nowhere near as impressive. The...

base model's 122-horsepower engine loud and makes the car slow. The upper-end models with the larger 142-horsepower 2.0-liter engine do a bit better, although they are also loud. The manual transmission is rubbery and no great joy to use. We say go with the automatic. When not pushed hard, the Soul delivers a comfortable ride. The steering and brakes are more than adequate. The overall feeling is that you're driving a run-of-the-mill economy car, but the experience is not unpleasant and is by no means a deal breaker.

Favorite Features

Comprehensive Audio System
The 2011 Kia Soul base model might be hampered with small steel wheels and the lack of remote keyless entry, but Kia saw fit to make sure every single Soul has a full-featured AM/FM/CD/MP3/Sat/Aux/USB audio system.

iPod Bin
The 2011 Kia Soul has the best iPod station we've seen (outside of another Kia or Hyundai): An open bin, in plain view and within easy reach, with readily accessible power and connection ports.

2011 Kia Soul Details

Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

We give Kia high praise for the Soul's interior. Not only does it feature radical themes, such as an available Hound's Tooth fabric interior and red backlit speaker grilles that pulsate to the music's beat (this feature can be turned on and off), it also is highly functional and just plain fun. Owners who choose the Sport model receive a black and bright red interior including a red dash and glove box. Functional features include front and center iPod bins, a dual-shelf glovebox, fold flush rear seats and a storage bin under the cargo area's floor.

Exterior

From its intricately detailed headlamp housing to its uncommon profile, the 2011 Kia Soul is anything but commonplace. Four differing trim levels – the base Soul, the Soul +, the up-level Soul ! and the Soul sport – offer varying visuals, in addition to their non-standard names. The base car sports black door handles and mirrors, while the others tout body-colored bits. A wide variety of accessories and wheels further distinguish the models. The Soul has 15-inch wheels, the Soul + rides on 16-inch wheels, and 18-inch wheels come on the Soul ! and Soul Sport. True to its hip and cool nature, the Soul also features a number of eye-popping color choices including Molten (deep red), Java (brown), Alien (metallic pea green) and Ignition (a metallic orange vaguely reminiscent of an orange Dreamsicle.)

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The base 2011 Kia Soul comes with a 122-horsepower four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. All other Souls feature a 142-horspower four-cylinder, with an optional four-speed automatic transmission. Other standards on the inexpensive base model include air conditioning, power windows and locks and a four-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3/satellite radio/USB audio system. All Souls feature six airbags and Electronic Stability Control.

Optional Equipment

Check all the option boxes and your 2011 Kia Soul will include front fog lamps, a moonroof, upgraded audio system including center subwoofer and 315-watt amp, leather-covered steering wheel and shift knob, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, cruise control and Bluetooth phone connectivity. The Soul sport gets a sport-tuned suspension, unique front, rear and side styling elements, metal-finish pedals and interior accents, and a red/black interior color scheme. Options for the sport include heated leather seats and a power moonroof.

Under the Hood

The base model 2011 Kia Soul features a smaller 122-horsepower, 1.6-liter engine that's available only with a five-speed manual transmission. Kia doesn't anticipate selling too many of these. We wouldn't buy it, either. Most 2011 Kia Souls will feature a 142-horsepower, 2.0-liter engine, which is offered with a four-speed automatic or the five-speed manual.

1.6-liter in-line 4
122 horsepower @ 6300 rpm
115 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/31

2.0-liter in-line 4
142 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
137 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/30

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2011 Kia Soul Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.4

Out of 10

Based on 163 Ratings for the 2010 - 2012 Kia Soul models.

Review this car

Value

8.8/10

Quality

8.5/10
Reliability

9.0/10

Performance

8.4/10
Comfort

8.7/10

Styling

9.0/10

Good vechicle if you don't suffer from back pain.

By Piglet (CO) on Saturday, May 26, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 162

10 7.0

overall rating 7 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 7/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 7/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 4/10

Pros: "Lots of great features. Fun to drive."

Cons: "Very uncomfortable seats."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 5

"I just bought 2012 KIA Soul base car a week ago and already have back, shoulder and neck pain. If you suffer back issues I do not recommend this there are better cars out there that will give you better support."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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How Quick The Tide Turns!

By Shaun (MD) on Wednesday, May 16, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 1,200

10 5.0

overall rating 5 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 5/10
Value: 4/10
Reliability: 5/10
Quality: 4/10
Performance: 6/10
Styling: 6/10
Comfort: 4/10

Pros: "Infinity Audio System, UVO Infotainment System"

Cons: "UVO Issues, Resale Value, Cargo, Rough Ride, Price"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 4

"I have been a Ford guy for years, the Soul was my 9th vehicle and I bought into it because it was affordable and pretty cool. I bought the car in April and loved it at first, I have the Exclaim! model with the sunroof, UVO System and all the extras. The longer I have it, the more things are starting to make me mad with it. For example, the UVO system that they charged me the extra $1,200 for has an issue with connecting an iPod where it pops and cracks and ruins your listening experience! I have called the dealer and KIA directly and they keep telling me they're working on an update to fix that! That has been months with nothing new. With the 18" wheels, the ride is borderline horrible if you don't have newly paved streets. I have also seen a significant drop in throttle power and MPG every week since I've owned it. At first, it was really fast, then it feels like it doesn't want to move. Thought I had an engine problem but KIA said it was fine. I also experience the shaking and vibrations when coming to a stop at red lights and parking spots that everyone else is complaining of, it's really bad too! It makes my head hurt sometimes because it chugs and shakes like the engine is going to blow up! The cargo area is not as generous as it looks, I went to pick up some large pizza's for a party a few weeks ago and I had to fold the back seat down to fit the boxes in! However, there are good things too. The Infinity audio system is totally awesome and the touch screen UVO system works flawlessly! It has some trouble when you ask it to play artists it doesn't know like Paramore. You have to slowly pronounce the name like your talking to a foreign exchange student before it picks it up. The seats are good if you aren't going far, but I sat in it for about an hour one day and I could barely bend my back when I got out of it, they are very hard seats! One other thing that annoys me is the resale value being poor. The issues I listed got on my nerves so much I actually tried to sell it and get the new Escape that just came out, but I just got low-balled by everyone and their excuse was "It's a KIA, they don't hold value at all." I heard that from 5 different people and that by far is the worst thing because it means you can't come out good enough to get something else if you decide you don't like it! The KIA soul is a good car, depending on what you're looking for? I would say take it for a test drive and then another. Then, take it one more time because the things that will annoy you about this car are things that you won't necessarily pick up on driving it for 5 minutes!"

12 people out of 13 found this review helpful

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