Used cars in Omaha, Nebraska
Introduction
“ But he’s got a great personality!” When it comes to arranged dates, this is the default description for someone who might be lacking in the appearances department.
The Kia Soul, a compact multi-purpose car type thing that’s not quite a subcompact crossover due to the fact that of its lack of all-wheel drive, and not quite a hatchback due to the fact that of its towering height, is not just an automobile with character brimming from every crevice, however likewise has looks covering the range from charming to awful, depending on whom you ask. And just last year, Kia provided the Soul even more wit by slapping a turbocharger on the engine to make it even more personalized.
What Owners Say
2018 Kia Soul front quarter left photoThat last modification, offered entirely in the top trim level, resolved a significant complaint with this spunky little car. For this review, J.D. Power assessed a 2018 Kia Soul Exclaim equipped with optional floor mats. The rate came to $23,820, consisting of the $895 destination charge.
Prior to we go over the results of our examination of the Kia Soul, it is useful to comprehend who purchases this car, and what they like most and least about their Souls.
More females than guys own Kia Souls, with 52% of Soul owners recognizing as female. Compared to the Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle section, 46% of owners are females.
Soul owners are about the very same age as compact MPV owners (60 years vs. 61 years for the sector), but they delight in substantially lower typical annual home income at $59,286 (vs. $78,682). This drastic distinction might be explained by the automobiles in the competitive set, that include the Ford C-Max and Toyota Prius v, devoted hybrids that may interest more affluent buyers.
Approximately the very same variety of Soul owners and compact MPV owners determine as Price Buyers, seeming to verify that lower mean annual household earnings amongst Kia buyers is not, within the sector, dictating their choice in an automobile. Moreover, compact MPV owners are more worried about fuel economy and ecologically friendly vehicles than Soul owners are, reflecting the presence of devoted hybrid models in the competitive set.
In other respects, Soul owners and compact MPV owners are lined up with 2 exceptions. Soul owners are more likely to concur that they like an automobile that sticks out from the crowd (72% vs. 60%) which they like an automobile that provides responsive handling and powerful velocity (82% vs. 76%).
Owners report that their favorite features of the Soul are (in descending order) the exterior styling, interior decoration, driving dynamics, seats, and storage and space. Owners suggest that their least favorite things about the Soul are (in coming down order) visibility and security, the infotainment system, the climate system, the engine/transmission, and fuel economy.
What Our Expert Says
In the sections that follow, our professional offers her own perceptions about how the Kia Soul measures up in each of the 10 categories that consist of the 2017 APEAL Study.
Exterior
The Soul is a vehicle of cartoonish percentages, all designed to set it apart from its rivals. It’s boxy from the beltline up and a little lumpy down, with the wheel arches and the front headlamps adding blobby elements to an otherwise squared-off vehicle. The front grille (which isn’t one, actually) looks too little and the lower air intake looks too big.
Kia jazzes up the Soul Exclaim’s already extroverted exterior with red accent lines to represent the engine’s additional boost and larger 18-inch wheels to provide it a more assertive stance. The Soul is among those automobiles that you either like or dislike, but even haters might grow fond of it after driving it for a while.
Interior
Consider the base Soul. It has a tiny starting rate of $16,995 (with $895 destination), however it comes with a much nicer interior than you ’d believe a cars and truck of that cost might include. The quality level quickly makes sense in my more costly test lorry, or even a car priced closer to $30,000.
When compared to compact crossovers like the Chevrolet Trax or the Toyota C-HR, which have plenty of low-cost products, the Soul’s interior quality sticks out a lot more. The cabin is consisted of appealing soft-touch materials and sturdy, nicely ended up plastics, and collectively they provide the automobile a surprising amount of improvement.
The Exclaim’s exclusive cloth seats with leather boosts and red contrast stitching are likewise magnificent trendy.
Seats
For drivers, the Kia Soul is rather comfortable, and I constantly appreciate it when small, economical cars consist of a center console armrest, like many versions of the Soul do. Seriously, who does not need an armrest? Nobody keeps his/her hands on the wheel at all times.
For travelers, convenience is great except that the front right chair is installed too low and is not equipped with a seat height change unless you select the plan that includes power change. Without this upgrade, the traveler is dealt with to the equivalent of a dunce chair for a small time out. This, paired with an absence of thigh assistance, suggests pain.
Rear-seat passengers fare better, because the seat is installed greater. Foot space is numerous, but difficult plastic front seatback panels might prove uncomfortable for taller individuals. Shoulder area is great for two, however 3 will discover it tight.
Climate Control System
The climate control system is relatively fundamental, but in the Exclaim cut it is a single-zone automated system. A single knob adjusts temperature level, and since the cars and truck does not have a temperature level display you just make it hotter or chillier than you are when you call in adjustment.
Remarkably, however, the Soul has a Clean Air ionizer, which supposedly cleans up the cabin’s air and keeps the interior smelling nice. It’s simply difficult to inform if it’s dealing with my grade-school-age children in the vehicle.
Infotainment System
I was a little bummed to see that my test vehicle did not consist of the Technology Package, which includes speaker that pulse with light to the thumping beat of what’s playing on the audio system. They’re extremely entertaining, and along with all the other goodies that it includes, like a navigation system and heating for the seats and steering wheel, the Technology Package is a bargain.
Though, the Soul Exclaim’s standard infotainment system consists of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smart device forecast, so it was simple to get directions to locations.
In addition to smart device projection, Kia gives Soul owners complimentary access to UVO eServices telematics functions throughout of ownership. This includes services such as automated crash notice; speed, curfew and geographical border alerts for teenaged motorists; an app that keeps an eye on where you last parked the Soul; and a lot more.
Storage and Space
The Soul’s rectangle-shaped shape lends itself to carrying a lot more than you would think for such a small automobile, and storage is among things that Soul owners like about their Kias. This is not surprising, because in the cabin, storage area is plentiful. There is a huge glove box, thoughtful little bins and trays around the transmission shifter, and huge door panel bins to make organizing your things simpler.
That measurement consists of a covered, separated tray under the cargo flooring that arranges your things. Take that out and eliminate the freight flooring, and this little cars and truck materials access to 24.2 cu.-ft.
Without rear guests, you can fold the seats to develop 49.5 cu.-ft. of stowage, with a maximum of 61.3 cu.-ft. opening with the rear storage tray eliminated. These numbers extend beyond subcompact crossover SUV territory and into the realm of bigger compacts, however just if you take the trouble of getting rid of the useful tray.
Exposure and Safety
Chauffeurs enjoy outstanding forward exposure, however the view to the rear quarters is pretty abysmal due to the shape of the car and the width of the rearmost roof pillars. Luckily, big side mirrors and a basic reversing cam do their best to reduce this issue.
While Kia makes a blind area warning system with rear cross-traffic alert offered in both of the Soul’s greater trim levels, the turbocharged Exclaim can’t be equipped with functions like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automated emergency braking, or lane departure warning. That’s a disappointment.
The Soul does a good job of securing occupants in a collision. The NHTSA awards the Soul a 5-star total ranking for crashworthiness, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety provides it “Good” scores all around.
Engine/Transmission
Soul owners point out the powertrain as one of their least preferred elements of the automobile. Ideally, they’ll give the turbocharged Soul Exclaim a try, as it alters the character of the automobile, and for the much better.
With 201 horses on tap from the 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, the Soul Exclaim is not precisely a rocket, but it’s much livelier than it used to be. Lover publications declare it will speed up from absolutely no to 60 miles per hour in about 7.6 seconds, which is sufficient to instill your commute with some additional zip. Power delivery is fairly direct, although there is some turbo lag straight off the line.
Charged with sending out the power to the front wheels, a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission shifts properly but gracelessly. A little more smoothness and refinement would be good, as would a manual transmission that, undoubtedly, almost no one would choose. Missing is any kind of all-wheel-drive system, which would protect the Soul’s membership in the popular crossover SUV sector.
Fuel Economy
The EPA approximates that you need to get 28 mpg in combined driving (26 city/31 highway mpg) with a Soul Exclaim. My testing produced a return of 25.5 mpg, which isn’t outstanding. Nevertheless, the turbocharged Soul, in spite of making far more power than the naturally aspirated variations of the cars and truck, is really a little more fuel effective than the engines that enter into the base Soul and the Soul Plus trim.
Driving Dynamics
To assist maximize driving satisfaction, Kia slightly adjusts the Exclaim’s suspension tuning, sets up bigger front brakes, and includes larger tires and wheels.
While the Soul still chosen knocking about in the city, with its small footprint, nimble handling, and capability to absorb the ruts and bumps of neglected public roads, it nevertheless held its own on twisty back roadways threading through local mountain ranges. The steering had a reasonable quantity of heft to it, especially in Sport mode, but I wished for a little bit more feel, feedback and accuracy to make the cars and truck more satisfying to drive. The brakes successfully withstood fade throughout aggressive driving, too, and handled everyday driving jobs without bringing the automobile or grabbing to a scrambling stop.
No, the Kia Soul Exclaim will not be competing in autocross rallies with the Volkswagen GTI or Mazda 3 anytime quickly. But its happy-go-lucky character and newfound potency makes it a lot more enjoyable to drive than the tiny crossover automobiles against which it will most likely be cross-shopped.
Final Impressions
By now, everybody should recognize with Kia’s generous warranty that covers the whole lorry for 5 years or 60,000 miles, while the powertrain is safeguarded for 10 years or 100,000 miles, along with complimentary roadside assistance for five years without any mileage limitation. That interest the sensible side of your brain, along with the quality awards that both this cars and truck and Kia have received from J.D. Power in recent years.
What’s more, the Kia Soul has a personality. Yes, it’s a little peculiar. Funky. Non-traditional. It attract the weirdo in each people, but at the same time provides more than its reasonable share of utility, enjoyable, convenience, and flexibility. And now, with its offered turbocharged engine, it is more attractive than ever in the past.
There are a lot of individuals who drive the exact same thing everyone else does. With a Kia Soul parked in your driveway, you can proudly be among the others.
2018 Kia Soul front quarter left photoThat last modification, provided entirely in the top trim level, dealt with a major complaint with this spunky little cars and truck. For this evaluation, J.D. Power assessed a 2018 Kia Soul Exclaim equipped with optional flooring mats. For drivers, the Kia Soul is quite comfortable, and I constantly value it when small, low-cost vehicles include a center console armrest, like most versions of the Soul do. The Soul’s rectangle-shaped shape lends itself to carrying a lot more than you would think for such a little lorry, and storage is one of things that Soul owners like about their Kias. The turbocharged Soul, despite making much more power than the naturally aspirated versions of the automobile, is in fact a little bit more fuel effective than the engines that go into the base Soul and the Soul Plus cut.
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