Newport Beach, CA – We are going to start with a little quiz.  What automaker has recently started production at a new plant in Georgia?  Which automaker has invested $1.3 Billion + in facilities across the U.S. in recent years?  These facilities include a shiny new and very impressive corporate office in Irvine, CA, a state of the art design center also in Irvine, CA, an R&D center in Ann Arbor, MI and a custom built proving ground in Mojave, CA?  What automaker has been awarded, not once, but twice the prestigious “Top Safety Pick” by the IIHS?  Need more clues?  Popular Mechanics bestowed the “2010 Automotive Excellence Award” to this automaker and one of its models was named to Time.com’s “Most Exciting cars of 2010”.    The answer, if you’ve not cheated and looked at the pictures, is Kia and the model that has won all these awards is the Kia Soul.  One other accolade bestowed upon the Kia Soul was being added to Autoweek’s “10 Great and Safe Rides for Teens”.

                “The Power to Surprise” is Kia’s tag line and if you have not checked out what Kia has to offer you’re making a big mistake.  Obviously more people are checking out Kia, as Kia has been posting significant global sales numbers, up 53.2% year over year in November alone. 

                The Kia Soul you see here came late to the party of boxy, funky, forms of transportation.  Sewing machines with wheels some say.  Being late is not always a bad thing and in the case of the Kia Soul it gave them time to study the marketplace, trends, designs, demographics, Etc., and design what is in my humble opinion the best looking “box on wheels” out there today.  The trend started several years ago with the Element and then the Scion xB.  Neither of which could I really grasp as “real” cars.  The Element with its patchwork exterior styling and the Scion with teeny tiny little wheels and a rather large nose made it’s proportions seem out of whack, but they both were successful in the marketplace and not just with the younger demographic.

                Enter the Soul with more of a cut and chiseled exterior.  The more I look at it the more I think of a pre-adolescent G-Wagon, strong in stature but cute and cuddly at the same time.
                The fun starts when you order your Soul which offers trim packages named “!” and “+” along with Base and Sport levels.  Yes the symbols are the names of the trim packages.  As with all Kia models the standard equipment included with each trim level is impressive, and the warranty is one of the most comprehensive and longest lasting in the industry.  

                Base models come with a 1.6-liter four- cylinder making 122 horsepower and 115 lb-ft torque mated to a 5-speed manual transmission (only tranny offered on the base model) 15-inch steel wheels, A/C, power windows/door locks/Etc, Satellite Radio, CD/MP3 Player, 4-speaker stereo, USB and Auxiliary audio jacks, tilt steering wheel, 60/40 split rear seat, drum rear brakes, and more.  Move up to the “+” model and get the bigger engine, a 2.0-liter I-4 making 142 horse and 137 lb-ft torque mated to either the 5-speed manual or the 4-speed automatic, 16-inch alloy wheels, rear disc brakes with ABS, Bluetooth, steering wheel mounted audio controls, additional stereo speakers (which can be lit up and the light dances to the beat of the music – very cool!), cruise control, keyless entry, height adjustable driver’s seat, tinted rear windows.  Optional on the “+” is a sunroof, foglights and an upgraded stereo system.  The Soul “!”, as you see pictured here, includes all the above goodies plus 18-inch wheels, two-tone upholstery.  The Sport is optioned close to the “!” but adds the stereo upgrade as standard and cool red-black two-toned interior, sport tuned suspension, a few exterior mods and the sunroof becomes optional. 
                EPA estimates are 24 City and 30 Highway for a combined of 26 MPG.  During the Soul’s stay I did a lot of around town driving and only one extended highway romp up to LA and managed a 25 MPG return.
                Surprised was I?  Yes, I enjoyed the Soul very much and I’m not the target demographic for this vehicle.  Around town the size of the Soul is perfect, easy to park, holds the road well, doesn’t feel like it’s going to tip over at every turn and is frugal at the pump.  I would ask for a little more feedback through the steering wheel, which needs some heft added to it.  My excursion out on the highway did reveal a chink in the Soul’s armor.  While perfectly planted and confident on city streets the Soul lost its composure on the highway.  I thought it was the exceptionally windy day that was the problem at first, but once the wind subsided, the Soul still felt jittery on the highway, not sure if the 18 inchers were the problem, but my guess is that while they do produce some road noise, the chassis is the cause of the discomfort on the highway.  As an about town runabout the Kia Soul nails it, as a highway cruiser not so much.
                The Kia Soul offers a well built, highly accessorized, frugal, easy to own ($18, 595.00 for the very well equipped Kia Soul ! you see pictured here), practical, good looking alternative to the rank and file “box on wheels” out there today.  If you are shopping this segment add Kia to your list, right at the top.  The power to surprise indeed. 

Column and photos provided by Rich Branch, EVP of Race Central TV and Radio Network Partners.