2010 Kia Soul Sport

New crossover is a super-value for buyers with active lifestyles

By Nina Russin

2010 Kia Soul

The Soul is Kia’s newest five-passenger crossover vehicle, aimed at urban denizens with active lifestyles. Pricing for the base model starts at $13,300: well below the $16,000 cap for our super-value category.

Kia is appealing to millennial buyers by positioning the car left of center. That’s wishful thinking. The Soul isn’t the first funky box to roll out on American roads, nor will it be the last.

While it’s no trend setter, the Soul has a lot to offer the budget-minded buyer. All grades come with an unusually high level of standard safety features, including front, side and side curtain airbags, antilock brakes and vehicle stability control. Kia’s ten year/100,000 mile warranty is an industry leader, including five years or 60,000 miles of complimentary roadside assistance.

Standard comfort and convenience features include an AM/FM/CD/MP3 compatible audio system, air conditioning, tilt steering column, power windows and door locks and a rear window defroster. All models but the base grade come with remote keyless entry. Read the rest of this entry »