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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2010 Kia Soul

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 Kia Soul

Overview

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2010 Kia Soul Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

With the arrival of the 2010 Kia Soul and 2009 Nissan Cube, the original Scion xB becomes the progenitor of a bona fide little sub-segment defined by funky practicality. Surely, there's a good chance the Soul and Cube wouldn't be here today - in this country, anyway - if not for the success of the original box on wheels. While the Nissan Cube is more reminiscent of the smaller, first-generation xB, the Kia Soul is a more direct competitor to the latest xB. Does the Soul's mix of style, value and technology make it the right choice for you? Keep reading to find out.

You'll Like This Car If...

Versatility and affordability are admirable qualities in a car, but they sound so boring. The 2010 Kia Soul wraps both in look-at-me styling, creating a vehicle that combines niche appeal with well-rounded practicality.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you're looking for zip, you'll have to look elsewhere (outside the category, really). A four-speed automatic transmission doesn't help matters, and the Soul's highway mpg rating of 30 mpg (31 mpg for the smaller, less powerful base model) isn't anything to write home about.

What's Significant About This Car?

The arrival of the Kia Soul puts an end to Scion's near monopoly on economical, versatile, boldly styled cars aimed directly at the younger set.

Driving the Soul

Driving Impressions The 2010 Kia Soul is interesting to look at, roomy for people or cargo and offers an impressive array of audio and connectivity features. Less notable is the way it...

drives: like a run-of-the-mill economy car. It isn't particularly slow (although we haven't driven a base model with the smaller engine) or ill-handling, but the driving experience doesn't live up to the car's otherwise playful demeanor. The five-speed manual transmission doesn't offer the kind of car-driver connection you might want from a manual, and the four-speed automatic is at least one speed shy of flexible. Would the driving experience keep us from buying a 2010 Kia Soul? Absolutely not. Around town and on the highway, the 2010 Kia Soul is as easy and as comfortable as some of today's better compact cars. Just don't expect it inspire you to take the fun way home.

Favorite Features

Comprehensive Audio System
The 2010 Kia Soul base model might be hampered with small steel wheels and a lack 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. That's cool.

iPod Bin
The 2010 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.

2010 Kia Soul Details

Interior

The first thing new Soul owners show their friends are the available speaker lights in the front door speakers, which pulse to the beat of the music or cycle softly with adjustable intensity. Far more important in the long run are the Soul's overall interior design and quality, which we find especially impressive for a car that starts under $14,000. One of our favorite features is the front-and-center iPod bin, detailed further in the Favorite Features section of this review. The 2010 Kia Soul sport is offered exclusively with a very red-themed interior, our favorite part of which is the red glove box interior that makes it easier to see what's inside. Not surprisingly, the tall, boxy 2010 Kia Soul is a roomy and versatile little car.

Exterior

We like the simultaneously sporty, quirky and utilitarian look of the 2010 Kia Soul. We like it much better, of course, with the range-topping 18-inch five-spoke wheels than the base model's 15-inch covered steel wheels. The entry Soul is also hindered by black door handles and mirrors in contrast with body-color pieces across the rest of the line. At the opposite end of the price spectrum, the 2010 Kia Soul sport is distinguished visually by unique front and rear fascias and side sills.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

For a Lincoln less than $14,000, the 2010 Kia Soul offers a 122-horsepower four-cylinder engine, five-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, power windows and locks, a four-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3/Sat/Aux/USB audio system and an impressive list of standard safety equipment that includes six airbags and electronic stability control.

Optional Equipment

Check all the option boxes and your 2010 Kia Soul will include a 142-horsepower engine, four-speed automatic transmission, 18-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, moonroof, upgraded audio system, 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.

Under the Hood

Although the base model 2010 Kia Soul features a smaller 1.6-liter engine that's paired only with a five-speed manual transmission, Kia doesn't anticipate selling too many. And we probably wouldn't buy it, either. Most 2010 Kia Souls will feature a 2.0-liter engine, offered with a four-speed automatic or the five-speed manual.

1.6-liter in-line four
122 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
115 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/31

2.0-liter in-line four
142 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
137 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/30

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2010 Kia Soul Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.5

Out of 10

Based on 196 Ratings for the 2010 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

8.8/10

Quality

8.5/10
Reliability

9.0/10

Performance

8.5/10
Comfort

8.6/10

Styling

9.0/10

Most Horrible Car I have Ever Owned!

By Shaun (MD) on Sunday, February 24, 2013

I owned and sold this car
Reason: MPG, Cheap Interior, Engine Issues, Horrible Ride, Broken Audio System. - My approximate mileage is 4,250

10 1.0

overall rating 1 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 1/10
Value: 1/10
Reliability: 1/10
Quality: 1/10
Performance: 2/10
Styling: 1/10
Comfort: 1/10

Pros: "Good Sound System"

Cons: "Poor resale, Reliability, Slow, Ride quality, Cost"

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

"I have owned 8 cars in my lifetime. The Soul is by far the worst. I decided to give in after people told me it was a good car for the money and was great on MPG. What a mistake! The car was in the shop 8 times in the 6 months I owned it. It has engine issues and idled rough every time I drove it. The ride was bumpy and you could feel every tiny dip in the road right into your drivers seat. The engine gears were sluggish and it felt like it struggled to get out of it's own way, especially uphill. Another draw for my was the UVO system with touchscreen and sound system. However, whenever I plugged my iPod into it, it made a popping noise that the dealer couldn't figure out. I found out it was wide spread among all of the cars and they said they would have a fix in a few weeks. 6 months went by and no fix, so I guess if you own one you live with it. I was disrespected multiple times when I called KIA for service at the dealer and on the phone, they acted like the car breaking down was my fault and were very ignorant to me. How this car can be voted as a best buy astounds me. I paid $21,900 when I bought it and 6 months later, I was only able to get $15,000 for it. SO BE WARNED... KIA cars have the crappiest resale values of any car and when you get rid of it (which you will), it will hurt your pockets the most. Don't trust your test drive in this car because the things that will make you hate it are the things you won't pick up on driving it the 2 miles the dealer lets you. I hope I saved you from making a huge mistake like I did."

5 people out of 5 found this review helpful

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NOT JUST ANOTHER "compact clone" Hondarollacivic!

By OCsoulman (CA) on Thursday, February 21, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 5,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Driving dynamics, quality, incredible paint."

Cons: "Hmmmm....nothing comes to mind!"

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

"It's an interesting vehicle to drive, when is the last time you had a car that people actually walked by in a walmart parking lot and actually take notice of it? But thats NOT why people are flocking to the KIA dealers to snap them up. All age groups too..not just the initial targeted buyers...the young "urban" folks. But when we bought mine (our 3rd KIA within 1 year!) which is the 2013 Soul Exclaim, I saw a bunch of oldsters taking delivery of their brand new Souls...whe I asked them what made them decide on the Soul, universally it was comfort, roominess, fuel mileage, and VALUE! And the way KIA loads them up with standard equipment for the price is awsum! And top rated for safety and customer satisfaction. Plus the 10 year 100,000 warranty is icing on the cake!"

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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