I was able to drive my wife's friend's Kia Soul tonight. I expected I would not have any interest in buying one - if only from a financial point of view since they depreciate like they've got ants in the seat cushions. But as a comparison point I've been interested.

So. Immediate sense of quality from the solid "thunk" of the driver's door. Quickly dispelled by the key beeper and the direct injection clatter. Still, in many ways the car is more refined than the Fit. I won't say it's quieter, but it absorbs bumps well and shields the occupant from environmental hazards.

Seating position, windshield angle and dashboard immediately call to mind a small SUV. Exactly what they were going for, I imagine. If this is what you WANT, then you should get one of these over a Fit.

The car is easy to get in and drive immediately. If feels quick compared to the Fit, having either higher gearing or more torque in the lower end. Steering is perfectly fine to accomplish accurate placing of the car, but it feels just plain weird. It's as though the steering column is connected to the wheels through a very large rubber ball - as you turn the wheel it resists, then lets up, only to start resisting some more as you continue turning. Which is another way of saying, very disconcerting and somewhat unpleasant.

The car changes direction well enough, but with some duress. The steering, suspension and chassis do not encourage you to evaluate this response more than once or twice. If you've done it once, you've experienced what the car has to offer. You won't be carving a lot of corners in this one.

The seats are probably not uncomfortable, but they were for me. I have sat in Souls with the premium seats, and these weren't the same - forcing a forward caveman lean. Probably a cool posture for the kids. Ergonomics fine in my brief experience - every car has a different control placement.

This is a car for getting you from A to B, and fool you into thinking you're driving an SUV while you're doing so. Easy to get in, easy to exit. If you're thinking I didn't like the car, I guess you'd be right, but I think it's an acceptable car for acceptable people. I wouldn't not recommend one to someone intent on getting one.

Hope that helps :P

 

My brother-in-law tried to talk me into buying one before I got my Fit. They sell a ton of the Soul I just can not get beyond the looks.

 

I think they are just about the ugliest car on the road.

 

i want the blinking speaker light rings.

 

To be honest, the only thing that has stopped me from buying a Kia or Hyundai is the fact that they lose value so quickly.

At the rate I go through vehicles, I need it to have a high resale value.

 

MY friend Gets paid to drive that Kia Soul Hmm i wonder why :D

 

he's a dancing hamster?

 

I sat in one at the LA Autoshow and felt like it was a complete POS. The new Yaris wasn't much better either.

 

Mpg problems lol

 

I've driven a soul a bunch of times. It reminds me of driving a pickup truck in terms of handling.

On the plus side, it holds a ton of stuff.

I think for the price you pay and what it can do, it's appealing to someone who wants functional and inexpensive.

 

irev, I agree with you. I have actually had a friend describe it as an "SUV". Tragically this not-car-informed guy drives a BMW; wasted on him certainly.

I don't really understand why you would buy one over the Fit. Here's the only things I can think of:

1. it's cheaper.
2. I might even grant you it looks better.
3. It MIGHT be more comfortable (the ride is better for sure), the seats didn't work for me
4. I think it may appear to have slightly more cargo space; I'm not convinced it actually does.